Digital Divide Programs

Publius actively encourages citizens to use the Web as an interactive conduit to government, and works with local governments to find creative ways to get public information systems online, in an ongoing effort to find ways to bridge the growing "Digital Divide."

Ten years from now access to technical knowledge will be a civil right. Participation in our democracy will be facilitated through interactive information systems. Cities like Detroit and rural areas in Michigan could either become the examples of how to tackle these issues head-on and develop solutions that work, or the epicenter of another profound division down all too familiar social, economic, and racial lines.
The following initiatives fall under The Publius Digital Bridge Program, each in varied stages of development. Some have been completed some are colloaboative efforts. All of these programs are based in our home community of Detroit:

The Publius Digital Bridge Program Summaries

Publius' Digital Bridge program acknowledges that the reality of the digital divide is that the Web is currently not relevant to everyone. In certain economically depressed urban and rural areas a lack of discretionary income removes the conveniences of commerce on the Web. The result, in these areas, is an information resource that has more encyclopedic value than local information. The story of the evolution of the Web is one of the proliferation of localized and even personal information creating fertile ground for commercial development. Where that localization has stopped or slowed due to access or income issues is the real rift of the digital divide.

The Publius Digital Bridge program constitutes a coordinated effort of several initiatives and opportunities for people in those areas who want to participate, but are denied access. It does not present the Web as a solution to the world's problems, and does not directly target those who do not feel the Web is important to them (they may be right).

Our Primary bridge program in 2002 is the Detroit Youth Technology Outreach (DYTO).

DYTO is an experimental “startup of high school students” based in southwest Detroit dedicated to promoting the use of technology in inner-city communities (www.dyto.org). The program is run as a civic engagement initiative through Publius.org, and Michigan State’s Kids Learning in Computer Klubhouses (KLICK) program A sample of thier work can be found at http://westernmedia.dyto.org.

Other and Past programs

Publius4Schools/The 1800 Project
Encourages pre-voters to use the Internet to research elections and to become involved and understand their upcoming responsibilities as citizens

Phone Access Portal (411-4ACCESS)
Enables users to quickly locate the nearest publicly accessible Internet terminal, computer training center, and other information technology resources over the phone

The Youth Tech Corps
An apprenticeship/entrepreneurship program where work-study students are allowed to participate in the implementation of major IT projects, culminating in access to resources to provide

Community Service Providers
Community Access web hosting facilities

The PC Recovery System
The PC Recovery system is a process that trains students (age 11 up) who have no experience to restore discarded computers to full functionality in 2 hours. The course can be integrated with a certified Pre-A+ Curriculum.

If you would like additional information on any of the programs listed above contact us here.