Detroit shifts the dial on digital inclusion

In our two-part series on digital inclusion, we talk to Detroit's first ever Director of Digital Inclusion, Joshua Edmonds, about the city's data-driven digital inclusion strategy. Joshua shares lessons learned and winning strategies for bringing various stakeholders together to improve connectivity and access to devices for Detroiters.







Detroit is working tirelessly to implement a city-wide sustainable digital inclusion strategy on behalf of the a hundred thousand plus residents without fixed broadband access. From leveraging a creative win-win strategy for getting buy-in from important stakeholders to taking the time to discuss and engage locally with the community, the city of Detroit has already managed to shift the dial on digital inclusion in just over two years.

Directly reporting to the CIO at the City of Detroit, the Director for Digital inclusion is responsible for developing and implementing a citywide, sustainable digital inclusion strategy on behalf of the 100,000+ residents lacking fixed-broadband access. This position is a unique partnership between the University of Michigan and the City of Detroit with support from the Knight Foundation.

More from the Govlaunch Podcast

From the Wiki for local government innovation, the Govlaunch podcast shares the stories of local government innovators and their efforts to build better governments. Through conversations with cities and towns around the world, each episode explores creative solutions to the challenges communities face, and what local governments can learn from each other’s successes and failures. $ Click here for more stories and examples of local government innovation.$