Civic Tech

Amazon is launching a racial equity audit to examine any uneven effects of its policies, programs and practices on hourly employees, and it has enlisted former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to conduct it.

NASCIO's first study focused on diversity and inclusion in state IT — building on the findings of previous workforce-related studies — includes recommendations for states to launch diversity and inclusion efforts.

Plus, one of the most successful public fiber networks in the country is now partnering to bring high-speed Internet to rural California, New York state is committing more than $1 billion to connect residents, and more.

Supported by $100 million of charitable investments, plans for the lab will see the country’s preeminent civic tech organization working with 15 state government partners over the next seven years.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is expanding the learning management system it first evaluated last year to broaden education opportunities for offenders and better prepare them for their re-entry transition.

Gov. JB Pritzker has proclaimed April as “Innovation and Technology Month” in the state as part of an effort to highlight technological achievements in quantum computing and support education and workforce growth.

When it comes to accessibility and inclusion, there are steps local and state agencies can take — and others that should be avoided — to provide an equitable government service experience across populations.

Plus, the FCC authorizes $313 million more through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, Maine creates a web page to track broadband work in the state, government agencies look to hire digital inclusion staff, and more.

Those wishing to view the inner workings of the elected Governor’s Council will have to trek to the Statehouse again, as a motion to restore the livestreams cut earlier this month died without a second.

Thirty years ago, a group of women in Georgia launched Women in Technology because they didn’t see other women in leadership roles, and in recent years their organization has continued to evolve and grow.

Local officials, voting rights supporters and the election security community have spoken against Georgia’s latest voting bill. Multiple officials said the bill would create needless “security theater” busywork.

A report released last week by the American Library Association underscores the role of public libraries in expanding digital equity during the COVID-19 pandemic through partnerships with government entities and other efforts.

The Google information technology certification course provides training in computer software and maintenance, as well as a $4,500 stipend and child care to help lower-income workers improve job skills and income.

Jersey City, N.J., is working to bring more citizens' voices into city funding decisions with the launch of a participatory budget pilot program that allows citizens to submit and vote on their ideas online.

Tucson Connected, a public-private partnership, hopes to combine the digital inclusion efforts at play across the region to connect a range of stakeholders to the subsidies and all residents to more equitable Internet.

Plus, a rural broadband association has launched a new digital inclusion series; New York is hiring its first-ever digital equity director at the state level; ConnectMaine has won a $28 million grant; and much more.

While seniors have long been a population on the wrong side of the digital divide, the evolution of tech like video chatting and telehealth makes digital inclusion for older adults more important than ever.

The Coleridge Initiative’s Democratizing Our Data Challenge will fund the efforts of 10 winning teams from 21 government agencies and seven universities to expand projects related to education and employment outcomes.