PROGRAMS
I.T. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
E2D’s I.T. Workforce Development program consists of two core activities:
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E2D’s Technology Labs: We hire, train and employ high school students (currently 75 on-staff) as computer technicians to refurbish and re-image decommissioned corporate laptops. These computers are then redistributed to families that remain on the wrong side of the digital divide. Since 2013, over 300 students have gone through training & employment, with 80% going on to college with the other 20% using their new skills to find excellent post-high school employment in the IT sector.
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E2D Technology Academies provide high school students with direct exposure to all sectors of the IT industry. We have been fortunate to have over 25 local corporations participate in our expansive workforce development programs. On-going programming and mentorship opportunities are offered with members of Charlotte’s IT elite and corporate communities to engage students in areas such as software development, web design, systems analysis, networking, communications, information technology, information systems management, cyber-security, coding, and financial technology.
These 2 programs create a perfect ecosystem of sustainability. Program participants have not only received their first-ever computers, but also acquired critical IT skills and connections that empower them to earn jobs making 2x the minimum wage…all while still in high school or college…building out the next set of computers for their classmates and beyond…creating their own pathways of opportunity and hopes for a brighter future.
DEVICE ACCESS
Thanks to the generosity of our corporate laptop donors, E2D is able to refurbish and give a second life to laptops, preventing them from ending up in landfills. These devices provide essential technology to families and individuals who might not otherwise afford it. Our student lab technicians refurbish each laptop by thoroughly cleaning it, reimaging with a new operating system, and performing quality checks to ensure it's ready for use.
We collaborate with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to distribute laptops at low or no cost. Additionally, we work with our partner, the Center for Digital Equity (CDE), to provide devices for free to Mecklenburg County residents. We also work directly with individuals to ensure they can access the devices they need. By expanding digital access, we empower families and individuals to pursue education, job opportunities, and economic stability, helping to close the digital divide across North Carolina.
DIGITAL INCLUSION/BROADBAND ACCESS
To use digital tools to their maximum productivity in this region, people need the following:
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Affordable, robust, reliable, and unlimited broadband internet service;
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Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user;
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Access to digital literacy training;
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Quality technical support; and
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Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation and collaboration.