Enroll Boston 2024 Retrospective: One Year Later, The Impact of True Digital Equity

At TEK Collaborative, our mission goes beyond equipment distribution. It’s abo

ut dismantling the digital divide and ensuring that everyone has the necessary tools for opportunity.

Looking back at partnerships over the last year, like Enroll Boston 2024, clearly shows how essential something as simple as device access is to a person’s well-being.

The Digital Divide is a Health Crisis

Enroll Boston 2024, which took place during Digital Inclusion Week last October, was a citywide event organized by Link Health. Our shared objective was to promote health equity by connecting underserved residents to vital public benefit programs, particularly those providing affordable internet access.

For us, this event was truly illuminating. Being hands-on and interacting directly with residents, the digital divide stops being a dry statistic and becomes a profound personal obstacle. When you see the immediate need, you understand the urgency of this crisis.

We firmly believe that digital exclusion is one of the most pressing social determinants of health (SDOH). Without connectivity, people are excluded from modern services, including vital healthcare access. Countless vulnerable Boston residents face serious obstacles like complex government applications and missed telehealth opportunities simply because they can’t get online.

Our primary role was clear: to eliminate the very first barrier—device ownership.

As our founder, Jeff Williams, states: "The digital divide isn't just about internet access—it's about opportunity. We aim to ensure digital inclusion so that everyone... can thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

The Power of Collaborative Impact

The 2024 campaign perfectly showcased the strength of partnership, proving that a device is the access point to a healthy, stable life.

The transformative power of technology is only unlocked when the tech itself is accessible. We provided the essential hardware, while Link Health provided the crucial human element, guiding residents through complicated benefit applications.

Here is the concrete impact we achieved together:

• 75 Laptops Distributed: Our teams successfully placed 75 free, internet-enabled devices directly into the hands of Boston residents at no cost.

• ~$150K in Resources Secured: The campaign connected 81 residents to vital public benefits, securing an estimated $149,497 in resources for affordable internet (Lifeline), energy assistance (LIHEAP), and nutrition (SNAP, WIC).

Sustaining the Change

We view every device we distribute as a long-term investment. That’s why the focus on programs like Lifeline is so important; it ensures that the free device can be used sustainably by making the monthly cost of internet affordable.

Our work in 2024 is clear evidence that combining strategic partnerships with direct, personal assistance is the most effective method for closing the digital divide. By connecting people to reliable technology, we are actively supporting the creation of healthier, more resilient, and more connected communities across Boston.

We remain fully committed to building on the success of Enroll Boston 2024 and ensuring every resident has the technology they need to fully access healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.

See the Impact: Enroll Boston 2024 in the News

The success of Enroll Boston 2024 resonated strongly. We are proud that our collaborative model with Link Health—which demonstrated how technology access is critical for health equity—garnered attention with the people of Boston. Take a look at Boston Neighborhood Network Media's (BNN) coverage below to see the tangible results of our boots-on-the-ground efforts: