What: Digital Independence Community Computer Drive

When: Friday July 29th, 2011, 10am to 4pm

Where: Joan Lorenz Park, The green in front of the Cambridge Main Library located on 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138

What’s happening: Donate your old computers and technologies. We’ll refurbish them and pass them along to families with low-income who may not have the resources for their own technologies. We’re also giving away two computers in a free raffle.

In his State of the Union address, President Barrack Obama stressed America’s leadership in technology and research as of the utmost importance in our great nation’s success. Yet looking around the community one can see many people who are less than well-versed in the field of high technology. That’s the playing field onto which three Cambridge Rindge and Latin students stepped during the winter of 2009. Noting the nationwide community’s lack of technical proficiency, Arjun Agarwala, Bandhan Zishanuzzaman, and Tom Barrasso started Digital Independence to alleviate the endemic lack of understanding. One and half years later, Digital Independence now has office space both in the Cambridge Innovation Center and the Main Branch of the Cambridge Public Library, and employs a team of nine interns funded by the city of Cambridge.

While Mr. Obama may have been speaking to those members of the national community already highly invested in technology, Digital Independence sees the greatest investment in the future of America in the children who will one day grow up to run its government and industries. Yet many of these children, the ones who will need to lead America one day, who will need to be the most technology savvy individuals in the world if America is to truly succeed, lack the basic technology on which to learn. In response to this problem, and to a general lack of access to technology by many Americans, Digital Independence started “Project Refurb” during the summer of 2010. Taking donated computers, refurbishing them, and donating them back into the community, “Project Refurb” aims to bring technology to those who wouldn’t normally have such access. To support this program, Digital Independence is holding a computer drive on July 29th from 10am-4pm so that enough computer donations may be secured to successfully meet the needs of our community. This drive aims to bring in enough donations to help build a computer lab for the Boston Public Schools, as well as to be able to donate refurbished computers to several less fortunate families in the Greater Boston Area.

(Written by Henry Eccles, Project Refurb Supervisor)

Digital Independence, Inc. is sponsoring Project Refurb:

The purpose?
Project Refurb will provide families with low income, or new-immigrant status whom have not been exposed to computer technology their own refurbished computers at no cost.

Why refurbished?
The computers we will build are going to be just like the ones you can get in stores. Obviously they may not meet the same technical specifications, but realize that this project is only a gateway into the technological realm.

How does this project work?
Digital Independence will host this project with many other partner organizations. The goal is to have connections with larger organizations who will donate their computer(s) waste to us when say perhaps they receive computer upgrades throughout the organization. Digital Independence will take the donation(s), refurbish them, and then pass it along to another community partner organization . The community partner organization can be schools, or other organizations that are in contact with families with low income, or new-immigrant status. Donations will also be given directly to families or individuals.

How much will this project cost?
As you may already know, Digital Independence, Inc. is a non-profit organization and hence, money is necessary for sustainability. Any donations towards Project Refurb will help Digital Independence continue to provide service to our community, whether in the form of volunteer support, cash, or computer hardware.

How can I help?
Project Refurb is not as simple as it sounds. To build refurbished computers, we are going to need used computer parts! And lots of them! If you have an old computer lying around, even if it doesn’t work, shoot us an email or call us and we can schedule a meeting. All donations will help us out tremendously in making this project a success. Better yet, if you are part of a larger organization, any word that you can pass throughout your organization will be greatly appreciated.

We are hoping that Project Refurb will be a success, and your help is greatly appreciated!

PS. Keep your eyes open for an upcoming blog post. We plan on having a public computer refurbishing drive event soon!
Illustration by Mino Thongsavatdy

Technology is rapidly advancing. Recently, President Obama mentioned in the State of the Union address,

Maintaining our leadership in research and technology is crucial to America’s success.

As a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and develop technical skills in everyone, we make sure during our services that customers know exactly what we are doing. We’re out there to make an impact in the lives of our customers. With the rapid advancement of technology, the number of people falling behind, unable to keep up with the advancements, is increasing.

Over our past year of existence, we have noticed how easily frustrated people become when they fall behind. People are left feeling hopeless and decide to give up on technology. We want to make sure this happens to nobody. Not only is technology crucial to America’s success, but day-by-day, it is also becoming more vital to human society. Technology is what allows us to communicate with friends and family across the globe in matter of seconds. What will we do when we run out of oil? What other resource do we have to turn to, but technology? The answer is none. It is our duty to make sure as we make this rapid assimilation into a technology-driven world, that your transition is as smooth as possible.

A recent customer calls himself a “non-technoid,” yet appreciates the computer counseling we were able to provide. What makes Digital Independence stand out over any other computer organization is that we want our customers, whether tech-savvy or not, that Digital Independence is here for them so that when a problem arises, they will not feel restricted to have to make another house-call, spend money and time fixing a problem; Instead, they will have the joy to know that they can fix their own problems, or easily ask for free assistance via Digital Independence.

Recently, we launched Project Refurb. Project Refurb is a cyclic process where we are asking for computer donations, -whether it functions or not. Our job is to refurbish these computers and then send them back out to the community, specifically to those who don’t have resources to purchase their own. We’re asking for your help in joining our mission, to make it possible for everyone to enjoy technology and live their lives with simplicity.

As mentioned, we are now offering free assistance via SMS and email. Digital Independence will provide free answers to appropriate tech-related questions that are sent through text message (6172996934) or through email at question@mydigitalindependence.com. Questions we find are frequently asked, or stand out may be posted in our community blog with expertise answers.

If you are interested in learning more about Digital Independence, our mission, or even about technology, please email us at contact@mydigitalindependence.com