🌐💻 ⚖️ A New Executive Director Joins Bridging Tech in 2023
We are dedicated to expanding access to tech devices and education for K-12 students facing housing insecurity in the U.S.
Diyana Dobberteen, Our Executive Director
Dear Supporters of Bridging Tech,
I am pleased to introduce myself to you briefly and to share my vision for Bridging Tech. I deeply respect the prior leaders, Isabel and Margot, two Stanford University students who envisioned and stewarded this nonprofit from 2020 to 2023. An organization's founders tend to set the tone, and these leaders have created a phenomenal foundation. They represent the best in all of us, and both have demonstrated the power to transcend concerns about their lives at a time of uncertainty, and assist fellow North Americans.
Access to technology, and engaging tech for learning transforms lives, and due to the founders’ efforts through Bridging Tech nearly 6,000 thousand students have better chances. Over the past two months Isabel and Margot have introduced me to this nonprofit’s outstanding volunteers, provided orientation, and facilitated meetings with several of the organization’s partners. We’ve reviewed fundraising plans and how generous gifts from donors in our communities will facilitate giving personal computing devices to children (at no cost to their families). They’ve shared how their social justice values underpin this remarkable organization. What has come through clearly is that we are effectively addressing three interrelated issues: 1) Digital Literacy, 2) Educational Equity, and 3) Social Inclusion.
Digital Literacy
The use of tech is important to children: Digital literacy skills enable participation in school, in community groups, and within society. Internet connected devices are needed for school work, to complete homework, to research a community’s resources, and for children to feel a kinship with other people and our world. Due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic and major economic changes nationwide, family homelessness is increasing. Children are increasingly expected to have access to tech to keep up, and that is far easier to achieve using personal computing devices.
Educational Equity
We can help build more equitable systems: Policies for technology training standards in K-12 will contribute to educational equity, and our goals are to expand access to the tools and training as they are critical for success. In meetings with tech and nonprofit leaders, several have shared that they personally experienced homelessness. They know that digital literacy and access to online learning, can help our youth transcend limitations in K-12 education. These serve as a ‘channel’ to greater prosperity by connecting students to free tutoring, IT training, information about higher degrees, possible careers in STEM, tech certifications and other work opportunities.
Social Inclusion
It can feel awful to be the only one ‘not in the know:’ Another system-level impact that we are addressing is digital inclusion of families and communities. Access to tech is facilitating connections to family services, benefits and important social supports. We know that crucial tasks like obtaining personal identification cards, banking, healthcare services, and K-12 school communications are rapidly moving online.
Bridging Tech Values and Me
I have learned a lot by leading nonprofit programs in health, youth development, family stability and parent engagement. I understand the need to listen first, speak second, and to amplify the voices and values of students and families in low-income communities. Leading this social impact work gives me a clear purpose, and connects me to deeply inspired individuals.
The Bridging Tech team is committed to innovating and growing. In the coming months we look forward to meeting you (online), and sharing more about Bridging Tech’s work to link K-12 students to tech. I want to underscore how honored I am to serve our communities and to work alongside a talented group of board leaders in this role. Please stay connected with us: follow Bridging Tech on LinkedIn, share our social media posts, and join in future events. With your support, Bridging Tech will make deeper, positive impacts in high need communities across this country.
In partnership,
Diyana Dobberteen, Executive Director
Boldly They Go! ⚕️📚
Margot Bellon is attending the Drexel University College of Medicine.
More about Drexel
Isabel Wang is studying nearby at the Yale School of Medicine.
More about Yale
Leadership During A Global Crisis
Launching a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is daunting, and to take this on while enrolled in a competitive academic undergraduate program such as Stanford University demands exceptional leadership skills and organizing capacities. That was what Isabel Wang and Margot Bellon did, and these women deserve additional praise for their leadership during a time of global crisis.
In 2020, despite the considerable demands that being the founders of Bridging Tech would place on their time, Isabel and Margot stepped up. Bridging Tech, a tax-exempt nonprofit that has seen much growth and success, reflects their skills at enrolling partners and planning. The impact they had was accelerated by the input they received from members of the Board of Directors, and capable fellow Stanford students and advisors.
From June 2020 to today, with help from 20+ nonprofit partners, the Bridging Tech team has distributed approximately 6,000 personal computing devices to students across the United States who were facing housing instability, largely in shelter settings. Assembling the best team possible was key to being granted nonprofit tax-exempt status, managing incoming donations, and building a distributed volunteer team — one that continues to operate virtually.
Through the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bridging Tech’s founders demonstrated commitment, and that working together, we are capable of responding to crises. Their tenacity is as remarkable as their synergy — they show us that one plus one (Isabel and Margot) sometimes equals more than two.
Despite moving far from home, and setting tremendous personal goals, Margot and Isabel plan to stay involved and contribute to Bridging Tech. They will meet regularly with Diyana Dobberteen, Executive Director. As the new leader, Diyana is filling big shoes. She is also the organization’s first paid staff member.
If you would like to reach either Margot Bellon or Isabel Wang to connect regarding ideas you have for Bridging Tech, or about the communities they are now based in, they welcome hearing from you. Please send your personal contact information to contact@bridgingtech.org. The messages you send will be forwarded to them.
Bridging Tech Honored by Information Services Group (ISG) at this Year’s Industry Sourcing Awards Event 🏆💻
Bridging Tech’s positive impact was recognized by the Information Services Group (ISG)
The ISG team selected Bridging Tech for sponsorship at their Sourcing Industry Awards event on September 13th, in Dallas, Texas to celebrate what we’ve done in recent years to support K-12 students and because of our nationwide footprint.
Having a personal computing device is out of reach for K-12 students in many communities. ISG understands this fact, and highlighted Bridging Tech as an ally within the information services field. At the ISG conference and awards dinner, ISG members and guests were introduced to Bridging Tech by Paul Gottsegen.
The 200+ participants in ISG’s annual event had traveled to the U.S. from across the world, and they are aware of the need to address the digital divide. Paul presented the tech focus of our mission and presented a participant testimonial, which illustrated the educational needs that we meet. He shared how our female founders and board leaders moved quickly (with the help of nonprofit partners and shelters) to address a critical gap in access to tech devices.
Diyana Dobberteen, Executive Director, attended the conference as Bridging Tech’s representative. In conversations, she heard ISG participants’ concerns about barriers to tech access, and the need for strategies to bridge the digital divide. She had meaningful one-on-one conversations about how Bridging Tech has impacted thousands of lives by sourcing devices from tech refurbishers and giving them to children to meet their need for access to personal computing devices.
In their press release about the awards dinner ISG leaders shared: “ISG made a contribution in honor of ISG Sourcing Industry Week to Bridging Tech, a nonprofit public charity dedicated to providing educational opportunities and technology to K-12 students affected by homelessness.”
It was meaningful for Bridging Tech to partner with ISG, to learn about their work and to connect with their diverse network of members. We are grateful that they chose to help Bridging Tech as their one sponsored nonprofit organization in 2023. Our deep appreciation to Paul Gottsegen, Karen Healy, Laura Zap and everyone at ISG.
About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com. Source: Information Services Group, Inc. See details about Sourcing Industry Awards: ISG Press Release
We encourage you to get involved in Bridging Tech and reconnect in 2023!