ABOUT US...

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 Our mission since the year 2000 at Closing The Digital Gap (CTDG) has been to provide low-to moderate income residents of the service area the opportunity to earn or purchase a low-cost computer, receive Computer/Internet training and access internet services for low-cost, along with assisting participants in making connections with community resources through referrals for further training or resources that may lead to employment and/or educational enrichment for participants and their families.  We further service micro-enterprises/entrepreneurs and small non-profits to support with technology and training in Michigan and Texas both online, in-seat, remotely, and blended delivery of training, programs and services.  

We believe at Closing The Digital Gap that in order to bridge the digital divide we must compare the goals to building a three-legged stool, wherein if one of the legs are missing, instability ensues or is potentially possible.  The first leg of the stool needed is training, the second leg of the stool needed is computer ownership, the third leg of the stool needed is access to the internet, wherein if one piece of the stool is missing then the ability for a stool to stand as perfectly on it's own as possible does not become jeopardized.  Sometimes we offer a fourth leg to the stool, in which computer repair enters the equation, noting that if the technology equipment or internet fails, then the computer becomes a paper weight or pipe dream if it is not able to be utilized to it's maximum potential and this is why we offer refurbishing and computer repair to our students to maintain what was learned and to continue to practice within one's own environment when they can take a computer home and have affordable internet after receiving training, allowing for fixes of devices at reasonable prices through referrals or repairs at CTDG.  Testing is an add-on to demonstrates competency, therefore, if a participant desires to take an exam, test, certification we offer them to!   To learn about our board, our staff and our founder, please click here...
 

Closing The Digital Gap (CTDG) is a Lansing area headquartered organization that started as an economic development and community pilot program initiative in the year 2000, with funding by the City of Lansing, foundation grants and local contributions, under the original name of Closing The Gap.  In 2002 the organization became an IRS and Michigan recognized 501c3 non-profit corporation officially renamed to Closing The Digital Gap (CTDG) and has been assisting low-income residents of Michigan ever since, along with other non-profits, organizations and school districts. 

The former SeniorCorps program and the GM Job Bank provided some staffing in the early beginnings and several community organizations were represented on the board that provided the beginning strategic direction for CTDG that is still being carried out by the board today.  See "Our Team" for staffing, current and former board members at CTDG, along with of course information about our Founder, John S. Duley, of East Lansing, MI.

The CTDG past and present partnerships have included representation from various companies and organization, such as: ACDnet, BCFI Building Child and Family Initiatives (f/k/a Black Child and Family Institute), Capital Area District Library (CADL), Capital Area Service Center Head Start Program, City of Lansing, Greater Lansing Housing Coalition, MichiganWorks, Peckham, Lansing Community College, Lansing School District, Michigan State University and New Horizons Computer Learning Center.

Administrative headquarters for Closing The Digital Gap were originally located in the Black Child and Family Institute (Genesee School) at 835 West Genesee St. in Lansing Michigan and now Closing The Digital Gap is currently located at 809 Center Street, Lansing, Michigan, lower level Suites 7B and 8B for the past several years.

Closing The Digital Gap (CTDG) has Specialized in serving or training:  Seniors, At-Risk Youth, Disabled, Veterans, Immigrants, Prison Re-entry, Unemployed, Under-Employed, Disabled, and JET/PATH participants and those who are low-income.  While our primary participants had been adults in the 20 to 45 year old age range in our early beginnings, either unemployed or working in low-earning jobs, we have participated with Michigan groups and/or also run various pilot programs with several specific group types or organizations, including but not limited to the following:

• Origami training and service program
• Foster Grandparent training and service program
• H.O.P.E Scholars program and immigrant tech program
• St. Vincent DePaul’s Youth program and services
• Eastern High School laptop giveaway tech training program
• Lansing Community College (LCC) CIT program set-up assistance and shared instructor from CTDG
• Capitol Area District Library (CADL) assistance by CTDG with set-up of their 1st computer lab at the main library in Lansing, Michigan 
•  EagleVision- Prison Re-Entry program participants training for adults in computers, software and email creation/usage for attaching resumes, creating presentations/flyers/resumes/cover letters/spreadsheets/graphs/charts and much more
• Dream International - Training for at-risk youth and immigrant youth in computers and online safety
• General Motors (GM) Job Bank training and staffing services
• Americorp training and staffing services
• Senior corp training and staffing services
• AARP Foundation training and staffing services
• Michigan Works/Peckham training and staffing services
• Various girl scout troops in need of STEM/Tech/Computer badges
• Head Start Families program for young single mothers on assistance or working low-income jobs with children in pre-K childcare.
• Partnerships with LansingPromise and Lansing HOPE Scholars for youth programs/services and serving as committees support as needed
• Visually impaired or hearing disabilities training programs, equipment and software
• Hotspots/Internet to the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing, MI.
• Community Mental Health clients that have mental or physical challenges.
• Lansing School District youth identified as at-risk   (6th grade to 12th grade) in need of school credit recovery or tech literacy skills
• Refugees with minimal English language skills (primarily individuals from war torn countries sponsored by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown Lansing.)
• Brief training seminars to officials from Ghana, Africa which has also resulted in our providing over 300 computer systems and supplies for use in their schools.
• AND many many more...

CONTACT CLOSING THE DIGITAL GAP at:

     809 Center Street, Suite 7B

     Lansing, MI  48906

     (517) 485-7581

     Email:  info@closingthedigitalgap.org