The Equitable Internet Initiative is a collaboration between the Detroit Community Technology Project, Allied Media Projects, Grace in Action Collectives, NEWCC, and the Church of the Messiah's Boulevard Harambe Program. In 2016, we began working together to ensure that more Detroit residents have the ability to leverage digital technologies for social and economic development.

EII Southwest is in the process of developing a worker owned, utility cooperative to continue to increase Internet access through the d

Distribution of shared Gigabit Internet and fiber connections in and around Grace in Action while increasing digital literacy by offering trainings to residents of Southwest Detroit.

What is EII?

We address Internet access in Detroit through neighborhood-governed community wireless networks. Since 2015, Detroit has been one of the country’s worst connected cities. In a city with a median household income of $26,249, 38% of homes have no Internet connection, 63% of low income homes have no in-home broadband, and 70% of school-age children have no Internet access at home.

Through the Equitable Internet Initiative (EII), we are creating the world we want to see! It’s a world with a healthy digital ecosystem that allows our communities to fully realize their right to communicate, participate, and fully engage in all areas of society. Within our communities, we practice consent, prioritize privacy, and establish best practices to secure our networks and customer data.

The goals of this initiative are to:

Increase Internet access in underserved neighborhoods
Increase Internet adoption through digital literacy programming
Train and develop residents as Digital Stewards
Strengthen neighborhoods through community organizing, participation, collaboration, and resiliency

Southwest Equitable Internet Initiative

Support us in bridging the digital divide in Southwest Detroit

Team Members