September 29, 2022

Wayne State to host City of Detroit 2022 Digital Inclusion Week and Research Symposium

Digital Inclusion Week is an annual campaign to highlight digital inclusion efforts and promote digital equity across the country. Detroit will be among 56 communities across the nation this October 3-7 marking Digital Inclusion Week with activities and programming designed to celebrate, connect, educate, and activate.

On October 4, as the capstone of 2022 Digital Inclusion Week hosted by Wayne State University, the 2022 Connect 313 Research Symposium will amplify the implications of digital inclusion research from the last decade and raise awareness about the research that modern-day initiatives stand on. Designed as a day of learning, the symposium will consist of interactive presentations, panel discussions and screen-side chats that showcase historic scholarship led by academics from institutions including Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Boston College.

“The Internet is an increasingly integral part of daily life. We have seen how a lack of digital access means fewer employment options, reduced learning opportunities, and little to no access to remote healthcare and other essential services,” said Joshua Edmonds, Detroit’s Director of Digital Inclusion. “Eliminating the digital divide will improve the quality of life for all residents and result in stronger, sustainable communities for all of us. We are very excited to bring academic institutions together to share their findings and discuss best practices, and we are grateful to Wayne State University for hosting this important day of learning.”

The goal of Digital Inclusion Week, and the symposium in particular, is to increase partnership, broaden exposure to the Connect 313 footprint and deepen the impact of the digital inclusion ecosystem and Wayne State’s leadership within that ecosystem.

 “I am pleased Wayne State University is partnering with Connect 313 and the City of Detroit to bring scholars and community leaders together to explore the impact of the digital divide, said Mark Kornbluh, Wayne State University Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “The symposium will showcase Wayne State’s role as a catalyst for moving work forward to identify and establish best practices around digital equity, inclusion, and empowerment.”

In addition to academic leaders in the field, the symposium will include a cross-section of stakeholders in policy, technology and advocacy. This will include digital inclusion practitioners and advocates, technology change makers, policy leaders from all levels of government, philanthropist interested in closing the digital divide, community members and non-profit leaders.

The symposium will be held from 9am – 7pm on October 4 in Wayne State’s McGregor Memorial Conference Center. RSVP is required and can be accessed here.

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