Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 – Today, the City of Detroit announced the City’s first eight “Certified Tech Hubs.” Among the first locations granted this certification are three Lift Zones – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern MI – Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus, SAY Detroit Play Center, and the Detroit Housing Commission Envision Center.
The City of Detroit’s Office of Digital Equity & Inclusion launched the Certified Tech Hub initiative to ensure Detroit residents had equitable access to basic digital literacy resources, with the ultimate goal of providing residents with one central location to find the closest Tech Hub near them and learn which digital equity resources each Tech Hub provides.
“Comcast is proud to partner with the City of Detroit, Human-I-T and our Lift Zone partners to provide Internet access and support for digital skills training across Detroit,” said Craig D’Agostini, Comcast vice president, government & regulatory affairs. “Comcast has been working to make digital equity a reality in Detroit for over a decade, and Lift Zones are a natural fit for the Certified Tech Hub initiative—spaces designed to combat digital inequities and connect Detroiters to the resources and skills they need to succeed in a digital world.”
To be granted a City of Detroit Certified Tech Hub, locations must provide free Wi-Fi, have devices available for residents’ use, offer basic digital literacy training software and be considered a safe environment.
Starting today, the three Lift Zones with the Certified Tech Hub designation will host free, self-paced digital skills programming from our partners at Human-I-T: a Detroit-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing digital inclusion. Human-I-T will provide Basic Digital Skills courses, CISCO Networking Academy content, and tech support for Lift Zone programming.
Comcast has now installed more than 1,250 Lift Zones nationwide, with more than 30 across the city of Detroit.
The award-winning Lift Zones program is a core component of Project UP – our comprehensive $1 billion initiative to connect people to the Internet and provide digital skills training in the communities we serve.
Lift Zones are spaces where students can do homework or apply for college, adults can work remotely or apply for a job, seniors can learn digital skills or access telehealth appointments, and veterans can advance their careers and access their hard-earned healthcare benefits.
With the City’s support for Lift Zones as Certified Tech Hubs, and the resources Lift Zones and Human-I-T provide to students, families, seniors and veterans, Comcast remains focused on ensuring Lift Zones continue to make an impact in the city of Detroit.
Certified Tech Hub Lift Zone Locations:
- SAY Detroit Play Center at 19320 Van Dyke Ave, Detroit, MI 48234
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern MI – Dick and Sandy Dauch Campus at 16500 Tireman Ave, Detroit, MI 48228
- Detroit Housing Commission Envision Center at 1047 E Canfield St, Detroit, MI 48207
To find additional Lift Zones near you, please visit Comcast’s interactive map HERE.
*In the header photo, from left to right: Veronica Armstead, Warrendale resident; Gwendolyn Jones, Franklin Park resident; Fred Durhal III, Detroit City Council Member, District 7; Shila Rivers, Executive Director Dick & Sandy Dauch Club; Keonda Buford, DEI Manager, City of Detroit; Todd Bettison, Deputy Mayor, City of Detroit; Shannon Dulin, Director Community Investment, Comcast Michigan, Indiana & Kentucky; Christine Burkette, City of Detroit Digital Equity & Inclusion Director; Jerome Record, Government Affairs Manger, Comcast; Coleman A. Young II, Detroit City Council Member At Large; Craig D’Agostini, Comcast Vice President, Government & Regulatory Affairs; Art Thompson, City of Detroit Chief Information Officer
