Total by Verizon in Inglewood, CA

Total by Verizon celebrated one year since it first launched to consumers, bringing no-contract wireless on the Verizon network to value-conscious consumers. Since then, Total by Verizon has launched in more than 50,000 national retail locations and has opened hundreds of Total by Verizon exclusive stores throughout the country, with hundreds more planned for the remainder of the year.

In September, the brand celebrates its expanding Los Angeles footprint with an open house event at its newest store opening in Inglewood, CA, located at 11336 Crenshaw Boulevard. The event featured remarks from Total by Verizon leadership and a celebration with local city council members, city staff leaders, and the community at large.

Verizon Announces Verizon Forward Community Enhancement Awards Across the Country

Verizon is proud to be the network moving the world #forwardtogether. That’s why they are launching the Verizon Forward Community Enhancement Award for ten organizations advancing digital equity across the country.

These grants will be used to give individuals of all ages, races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and more the digital skills they need to thrive. Click below to learn more about how they are bridging the digital divide in this nationwide initiative!


Maine:

Verizon awards $100K to Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce to advance digital equity in Maine, 11/21/23

Massachusetts:

Verizon grants $100K to Associated Industries of Massachusetts to launch digital inclusion program, 11/21/23

New York:

Verizon invests $400K in NYC small businesses to advance digital inclusion, economic prosperity, 11/10/23

Verizon invests $100K to support Small Business Digital Inclusion in New York State, 11/09/23

DC, Philadelphia & Baltimore:

Verizon, Centri Tech Foundation team up to boost digital inclusion in DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore, 11/09/23

Verizon partners with African-American & Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in greater Philadelphia area, 11/08/23

Safelink (Español)

Verizon se compromete a hacer avanzar a todos y eso incluye proporcionar acceso asequible a un servicio telefónico y de Internet de calidad para los hogares con ingresos limitados. SafeLink es otra forma en que Verizon está trabajando para ayudar a las familias de California a obtener la conectividad que necesitan para vivir sus mejores vidas. ¡Contáctenos hoy para inscribirse en SafeLink!

ACP In the Community: Easter Seals Greater Houston

Walter Prescher, a Digital Navigator with Easter Seals Greater Houston BridgingApps, and U.S. Veteran Pete Dibello sat down with us to talk about the importance of internet connectivity to veterans, their families, and those living with disabilities. Walter also addressed the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the need for Congress to extend funding. He warned that many – including those in rural areas – will be crushed if the program doesn’t continue.

Watch the video to learn more.

Small Business Digital Ready Introductory Webinar

ICYMI! Navigating the e-commerce landscape can be complex for any small business owner. That’s why we were proud to present this introductory webinar to learn more about how Verizon’s free Small Business Digital Ready program can be leveraged for your enterprise!

Verizon’s SBDR program is committed to providing entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and funding they need to dream big—all for free. We’ll also be discussing how you can apply for a chance to receive a $10K grant from Verizon to further your business.

Watch below to learn about the program!

Supporting Detroit Communities Through Tech Empowerment

Verizon’s long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility is a central part of our mission. Through Citizen Verizon, our company-wide responsible business plan, we are leveraging the power of technology and collective action to move the world forward for all.

Hyper-local engagement lies at the heart of this approach. By nurturing grassroots partnerships, we are deepening our societal impact and shaping meaningful advancements in communities across the U.S. Detroit-based partners like CODE313 and Connect 313 serve as a testament to this work as we support their efforts to bridge the digital divide and cultivate the next generation of tech leaders.

Detroit is one of several cities where digital inclusion is an ongoing challenge. Data from the city’s Department of Innovation and Technology shows that more than 30% of families lack computers in the home, relying instead on smartphones (if any device at all).  These disparities hinder meaningful participation in today’s increasingly digital world. That’s why organizations like CODE313 are working to advance digital inclusion by providing equitable access to education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). 

CODE313 works closely with Detroit public schools to teach primary students foundational tech skills. From shaping courses, classwork, and afterschool programming, to hosting coding camps and other STEAM workshops, CODE313 is preparing students to thrive in the digital age. Events like their free annual STEAM Slam and Virtual STEAM Academy expose young people to a robust curriculum that includes coding, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Since our partnership began in 2019, thousands of K-12 students have participated in Verizon-sponsored CODE313 events, with a majority hailing from marginalized communities. Local Verizon employees take great pride in volunteering at these events, helping with everything from setup to staffing teaching stations on a range of topics.

“Equitable access to STEAM education unlocks a world of possibility,” shares Bartel Welch, founder and executive director of CODE313. “We’re grateful for the continued support of corporate partners like Verizon, which enables us to provide essential resources that pave the way for students’ success.” 

The growing push for digital equity in Detroit inspired the 2020 launch of Connect 313, which convenes residents, policymakers, community-based organizations, and businesses to identify holistic solutions for fostering city-wide digital inclusion. This includes policy advocacy, providing grants to digital equity-focused organizations, and hosting the now annual Detroit Digital Inclusion Week, which Verizon has sponsored for the past four years. 

Brianna Ellison, a director on Verizon’s Public Policy team, is a frequent volunteer with CODE313 and sits on one of Connect 313’s planning subcommittees. “Verizon has seen firsthand that local challenges have local solutions, which is why we love working with these impactful organizations and prioritize equity in our philanthropic investments.”

Our Detroit-based partnerships underscore the value of on-the-ground community engagement. Thousands of local youths have gained invaluable STEAM/STEM skills and career exposure because of these collaborations. Building on this momentum, we recently expanded the Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) initiative to include three Cornerstone Charter Schools in Detroit. Over three million students nationwide have received digital skills training through VIL. To mark the official program launch earlier this month, we held an event in partnership with education nonprofit, Digital Promise, and the charter school network, where we distributed 1,000 data-enabled devices to students and teachers. In a show-stopping display, students demonstrated their coding mastery by proving that robots really do know how to dance. 

As the lines between technology and daily life become increasingly blurred, locally focused initiatives like these are essential for ensuring that no community gets left behind in the digital age. Detroit exemplifies what’s possible when corporations and communities come together with a shared vision.

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US Tech Future is a Verizon-led community-focused initiative working to engage local communities in a discussion about technology and how it can improve the lives of local residents for their benefit and the benefit of the community as a whole.

Verizon Takes Part in New Orleans Family Justice Center’s 5K Walk

Last weekend, Verizon was proud to take part in the New Orleans Family Justice Center’s incredibly moving 5K Walk, Walk a Mile In My Shoes. The Walk called attention to the recent trend of increased domestic violence cases, and demonstrated the community’s unwavering support for survivors. 

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, victim advocates, allied professionals, survivors of abuse, their loved ones, and the surrounding community come together to mourn the lives lost to domestic violence, celebrate the progress that has been made to end this epidemic, and connect with others working to create change. The event was supported by the City of New Orleans, Orleans Parish Sheriff Office, New Orleans Police Department and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.  These organizations work very closely with NOFJC to help survivors on a daily basis.

Councilmember Helena Moreno and Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson both provided remarks.  Councilmember Moreno also ran in the event! Verizon has been a partner of the NOFJC for years, and Tandra Lemay has been on the Board for 4 years. Verizon was proud to be the title sponsor and participated in the event by having VEC there to distribute information about 5G Home and ACP as well as a team walking–and Verizon swept the top 3 place finishers in the walk portion! 

We’re proud to partner with such an impactful organization. Check out photos from the event, below!

Be a community partner in the 4th industrial revolution.

Learn More

US Tech Future is a Verizon-led community-focused initiative working to engage the local community in a discussion about technology and how it can improve the lives of local residents for their benefit and the benefit of the community as a whole.

Our mission is to engage with citizens and community stakeholders in USA to provide information on how technology can work to have a dramatic impact on the way we work and live in our communities.

@TheUSTechFuture