Center for Digital Equity

Promoting Access to Digital Resources Across the Carolinas

The Center for Digital Equity (CDE) is committed to expanding digital opportunity across the Carolinas. In today’s connected world, access to the internet, technology, and digital skills is fundamental—not just for convenience, but for accessing work, managing health, and participating fully in everyday life.

Through collaborative partnerships, community-centered design, and systems-level coordination, the CDE ensures that residents across the Carolinas have what they need to succeed in a digital society.

Collective Strength in Action

The CDE’s strategy is built on collective impact—bringing together residents, public agencies, and private sector partners to co-create inclusive and sustainable solutions. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, the CDE leverages local assets and trusted networks to build a more connected, opportunity-rich region.
Together, this network is helping communities strengthen their capacity to navigate job opportunities, access healthcare services, pursue education, and remain connected to family and community life through digital tools and support.

Read more about the CDE’s work in the community by browsing our reports.

The Digital Navigator Service

At the center of the CDE’s efforts is the Digital Navigator Service, which provides no-cost, personalized support—by phone, online, and/or in person—to help residents confidently access and use digital tools that support their daily lives.

Services include:

• Guidance on enrolling in affordable internet plans.
• Support in obtaining low-cost or no-cost devices.
• Access to digital skills training & learning resources.
• Help with device setup & basic troubleshooting.

Community members can request support by submitting a ticket on the CDE website or by calling 3-1-1 in Mecklenburg County or 2-1-1 in surrounding counties and asking to connect with a CDE Digital Navigator.

Community Council & Focus Areas

At the core of the Center for Digital Equity’s collaborative model is the Community Council—a space where residents, nonprofit leaders, and partner organizations come together to shape the region’s digital opportunity strategy. The Council amplifies community voice, shares lived experience, and helps co-create scalable, inclusive approaches to digital access and adoption.

The Council works in tandem with the CDE Advisory Board, a leadership body composed of public, private, and nonprofit leaders that provides strategic alignment, resource mobilization, and accountability. Together, these groups guide the CDE’s evolving ecosystem model with shared ownership and a collective vision.

To drive this work forward, the CDE organizes efforts into five focus areas, each designed to meet community needs while activating existing assets and partnerships:

1. Digital Navigation and Technical Support

This area supports the growth and sustainability of the Digital Navigator Service, helping residents navigate internet access, device setup, technical troubleshooting, and digital platforms related to healthcare, employment, and education. Emphasis is placed on relationship-building and trusted guidance.

2. Digital Literacy and Skilling

Focused on building confidence and capability, this area connects residents to learning opportunities through local organizations, schools, and libraries. Training programs are aligned with workforce and life goals—including health literacy, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and upskilling pathways.

3. Device and Connectivity

This focus area ensures residents have the tools and internet access required to engage meaningfully in daily life. It strengthens partnerships with refurbishers, ISPs, and public institutions to build a coordinated distribution and maintenance system that centers on equity and long-term usability.

4. Policy, Advocacy, and Ecosystem Development

This area helps align systems—from local governance to national infrastructure—with the digital inclusion needs voiced by residents. It includes coalition building, feedback loops, and shared policy agendas that promote sustainable investment and inclusive civic infrastructure.

5. Data, Program Measurement, and Research

This area captures community insights, partner contributions, and system-wide outcomes to drive shared learning and accountability. By leveraging both quantitative and qualitative data, this focus area ensures the CDE’s strategy evolves based on resident experience and real-time impact.

Together, these focus areas form a connected framework that guides the Center’s collective impact efforts across the Carolinas—transforming digital access from a challenge into a catalyst for individual and community well-being.

A Foundation Built on Community

The CDE was formed by combining two long-standing efforts—Digital Charlotte and the Charlotte Digital Inclusion Alliance—and has grown into a trusted regional leader in digital inclusion. As the lead digital equity partner in the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative, the CDE has helped guide over $20 million in private investment toward equitable digital access.

Supported by the Knight Foundation and other funders, the CDE implemented a five-year plan to expand services and partnerships across every county in North and South Carolina, while also modeling replicable systems that can inspire nationwide change.

Join the Movement

Digital opportunity is a shared responsibility—and communities across the Carolinas are coming together to make it a reality for all.

There are several ways to get involved:

• Volunteer at community events and training sessions.
• Join the Community Council to guide regional digital inclusion efforts.
• Support or partner on project-based initiatives that expand access and build capacity.

Visit our website to sign up for updates, explore the calendar, or get connected to this growing movement.