From left: Comcast Executive Vice President Broderick Johnson, Bitwise co-founder Irma Olguin Jr., Bitwise staffers Gigi Pruett, Esperanza Perez and Arturo Ceballo. Photo by Ben Hensley.

The Comcast Corporation provided Bitwise Industries with a surprise donation of $200,000 on Thursday during a planned panel discussion featuring Bitwise founders, apprentices and Comcast representatives, hosted at the Bitwise 41 building.

The panel discussion, hosted by Telemundo 51 News Reporter Alejandra Quezada, featured Broderick Johnson, Comcast Corporation’s executive vice president of digital equity and public policy, as well as Bitwise co-CEO and co-founder Irma Olguin Jr. Bitwise staffers Gigi Pruett, Esperanza Perez, and Arturo Ceballo were also on the panel discussion.

Each speaker shared stories from their experiences working in the digital landscape with the audience, which was composed of Bitwise apprentices and employees.

The donation from Comcast is part of the company’s Project UP, a $1 billion commitment to help close the digital divide by providing people with tools, resources and skills needed to succeed in various digital fields.

“Comcast’s significant investment in Fresno will expand workforce development initiatives and show their commitment to connecting those who have largely been underserved with life changing opportunities in tech,” Olguin Jr. said.

Johnson, who worked with the Clinton administration in the 1990’s, explained how over the years his focus shifted from focusing on extending the reach of physical connectivity to increasing digital literacy.

“Over those decades the digital divide has become, not so much in urban areas especially, about access…but it’s more about whether or not people are actually subscribing or adopting broadband,” Johnson said. “In so many parts of urban America, there’s well over 90% of broadband access.”

Johnson added that closing the digital divide relies on showing individuals that increasing digital literacy and access will help them in the workforce in the long run.

“Among the things that we stress about relevance is workforce development,” he added. “If you are online and taking advantage of the internet – working at programs like the apprenticeship programs here, you understand the relevance of developing the technology-based skills in order to pursue jobs and establishing your own business.”

Fresno Deputy Mayor Matthew Grundy said that closing the digital gap is something that Mayor Dyer’s office is focusing on in their “One Fresno” vision.

“At the heart of that vision is that every person matters, every person has value, and every person irrespective of where they live or any social identifier they might have, should have an opportunity to thrive in Fresno,” he said. “That includes having access digitally to options that allow them to move not just from cradle, but all the way to career.”

Grundy added that while Fresno has seen record unemployment rates in 2022, many residents still struggle to make a livable wage.

He said that the connection between Bitwise and Comcast is just one example of where the city has pushed to close the digital divide, hopefully giving people the option to find financial comfort in their prospective search for employment in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

“We’re well aware of the historic disinvestment in certain parts of town,” Grundy said. “I think all eyes are now on Fresno to remedy some of those past issues.”