In early May, The Michelson 20MM Foundation welcomed their cohort of five Digital Equity Spark Grantees and mohuman is honored to be selected as one of the winners. Michelson 20MM has been unequivocal about stating the need to dismantle the digital divide. Their bold, holistic approach to tackling digital inequities has cemented their status as a leader in California among the philanthropic sector, making their partnership a natural fit for mohuman.  

If the pandemic has offered any clarity, it is that digital access should no longer be considered a luxury, but a public necessity that supports and sustains resilient economies. As Michelson 20MM pointed out in their announcement, broadband disparities persist in California for low-income, rural, African-American, and Latino households. With the help of the Digital Equity Spark Grant, a viable, scalable, alternative model is on its way. 

mohuman plans to bring the internet directly to you because (whether or not you know it yet) the internet is yours. mohuman’s approach is distinct because it is developed with the people and driven by the community. Our independence gives the communities we serve a voice, instead of monopolizing the market and leaving low-income residents with fewer ways to connect. Through a promising new model that weaves non-profits, universities, social good companies, and communities together as equal partners, mohuman provides advanced technology that delivers high-speed internet through a community network. By building this cutting-edge community network, we provide an affordable and accessible alternative to the millions of people the technology companies and internet service providers have left behind. 

Project Rise Up has already launched in the San Diego Promise Zone and aims to bring high speed internet to up to 3,000 low-income students, families, and individuals within the next twelve months. By 2025, mohuman plans to scale its project to all 22 regions designated as Promise Zones. Still, digital equity and (more importantly) digital resilience goes deeper than that, which is why mohuman also deployed a new digital platform called moDAT that offers digital services to spur economic mobility for families and business in Promise Zones.  

Thanks to partners like Michelson 20MM, Project Rise Up’s impact will be swifter and stronger to make real change that matters to those who need it most. The Michelson 20MM Foundation and mohuman align as fellow digital innovators and embrace their collective vision that uniquely qualifies them to accelerate systemic change. Additionally, 100% of the grant funds will be directed straight into the community. That’s what we mean when we say we’re committed to people-powered organizing. That’s why we say we’re making the internet more human. That’s how we are going to build resilient communities and sustainable economies.  

Learn more about The Michelson 20MM Foundation and mohuman’s partnership here. 

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