Many of us grew up in a world before technology dominated schools and students were required to complete their homework online. I still remember going to the “computer lab” as part of a special class period to research or work on an essay. Growing up, the use of computers in school was very limited, and online homework wasn’t commonplace until college-- where you had unlimited access to school computers through the library or computer labs. 

Today it’s a different story. They no longer always have the luxury of visiting the computer lab to work on “special assignments” once in a blue moon; Kids at all grade levels need digital access to complete required homework assignments. When students don’t have access to the basic technological tools needed to succeed in school, they begin to fall behind and miss out on future opportunities and potential life successes.

The divide between students with digital access and those without is dubbed the “homework gap”. Oftentimes, the lack of digital access is stratified between low-income youth and their more affluent classmates; where low-income youth disproportionately lack in-home access to computers and internet compared to their middle- and upper-class peers. Students will often come to us sharing how they painstakingly complete their homework on their smartphones because it’s their only digital tool. This is unacceptable. The impact of the “homework gap” keeps STEM/STEAM from being accessible, prohibiting youth from developing skills needed to pursue higher-paying careers and especially affecting marginalized populations - girls, immigrants and refugees, youth of color, non-native English speakers, and those from low-income households.

We at Free Geek believe that digital access is not a privilege, but a right. No one should be prevented from fully participating in society because of their lack of access -- let alone from succeeding academically. To close the “homework gap”, we collaborated with Portland Public Schools to create our flagship Plug into Portland program. Any K-12 students who volunteer for a total of 24 hours at any nonprofit or community change organization in their community can receive a free refurbished Free Geek laptop-- something we lovingly call a “Freektop”! 

Our program provides an “earn as you learn” experience; participants develop a strong work ethic, an affinity for civic engagement, and an appreciation for our developing digital world. Plug into Portland encourages k-12 students to give back, learning valuable skills while earning a quality computer that will serve them for years. In 2018, 115 students participated in our Plug into Portland program and collectively completed over 2,760 hours of community service. 

Because there is more to digital inclusion and empowering youth through technology than simply putting a computer in their hands, our devices also come with access to technical support, computer education and ongoing resources, many of which are available in Spanish. Our commitment to the community does not end with enabling digital access, but continues with empowerment-- we invest in these students by offering education and a safe place to access resources they need. 

In 2017, we expanded the program to cover other Metro-area school districts such as Reynolds, David Douglas, and the Vancouver, WA area. In the coming years, we are hoping to expand the program even further, helping address the digital divide in rural America and bringing more students into the 21st century. Together, we are building a community that empowers people to realize their full potential -- that starts with empowering our youth and giving them the tools to succeed academically and in all areas of their lives.