WinstonNet

The digital bridges forsyth committee, formerly forsyth county digital equity (digitalbridgesforsyth.org) is comprised of community members and representatives of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who came together in 2020 with the goal of achieving digital equity county-wide.dbf mission - to make broadband internet accessible, affordable, and relevant for all residents of winston-salem/forsyth county.dbf vision - an engaged, inclusive community where all residents have access and the ability to advocate for themselves and their communities.

Winstonnet, through a united way nett grant, partnered with forsyth tech and forsyth county public library to provide digital literacy training to 891 total residents, of which 142 were unemployed/underemployed, or low-income residents who graduated from a 30hr basic computer/employment skills course through forsyth techs hrd program. Each student purchased a very low-cost, refurbished laptop computer with a 1-year warranty and was provided information on how to obtain affordable internet service offered. Winstonnet was awarded a building intagrated communities grant through the blue cross blue shield foundation to support basic computer skills training for immigrants and refugees new to winston-salem. Winstonnet was also awarded a 2 million dollar grant from the city of winston-salem, serving as the lead agency of the digital bridges forsyth, formerlly forsyth county digital equity initiative, where they proposed to provide refurbished laptops and digital literacy