WHO WE ARE
Mission:
TLC drives the digital literacy, access, and inclusion conversation in Philadelphia by promoting professional collaboration, training, and networking among organizations and institutions that have a dedicated interest in moving these areas forward. 

Who We Are:
With over 300 members, the Technology Learning Collaborative includes a wide variety of sectors interested in addressing digital literacy in Philadelphia. TLC members include organizations that provide and promote:
  1. digital literacy programming (e.g.KEYSPOTs, Philadelphia FIGHT, Libraries, Rec Centers, etc.)
  2. media literacy (e.g. PhillyCAM, WHYY)
  3. career and educational training where digital literacy is required (e.g. Philadelphia Works, 1199c)
  4. technology access such as computer refurbishing or distribution of computers and internet access (e.g. People’s Emergency Center, OIC, Temple Tech for Philly, Drexel)

Not connected with us? Become a Member!
 
Who Our Members Serve:
·         Children, Youth, and Young Adults
·         Adults/Seniors
·         Under-employed and Unemployed Adults
·         People who are homeless and/or housing insecure
·         Immigrant Communities
·         People with Disabilities
 
Are you serving someone not on this list? Join TLC and help us reach those who we may not be reaching!
 
What We Do:
As a professional association TLC brings together our members to improve digital literacy programming across Philadelphia. Here are some of the ways we do it:
  1. Convene regularly to share best practices with other TLC members through the TLC Series, a set of quarterly trainings
  2. Host our annual TLC conference on digital literacy that is open to members and individuals to raise awareness of digital inclusion needs and digital literacy strategies around Philadelphia
  3. Share resources, program information, and opportunities to enrich our work
  4. Coordinate digital literacy programming and access for one-off events around the city
  5. Advocate for digital literacy needs and equitable internet access in Philadelphia
    ​
Our Impact:
The Technology Learning Collaborative has increased awareness of the tremendous need for digital inclusion programs and services and has armed our members with the knowledge to improve digital literacy and access in Philadelphia.

Our work has ultimately enabled organizations to provide new and better services and increased the life skills as well as employability of Philadelphians.
​
TLC is a proud partner agency of Partners Bridging the Digital Divide, and is an affiliate member of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
​
HISTORY
​
The Technology Learning Collaborative is volunteer-run and emerged from a group of Philadelphia nonprofit organizations who were Managing Partners in the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). These grants enabled Philadelphia to create 77 public computer centers (KEYSPOTs) and to offer over 200,000 hours of digital literacy training across the city. Thanks to this one-time funding opportunity, organizations hosting these 77 KEYSPOT computer centers developed robust digital literacy and media education programming. The City of Philadelphia remained committed to providing additional funding once BTOP ended. Today, over 50 KEYSPOT public computer centers still operate, managed by the Office of Adult Education in partnership with Parks and Recreation and the Free Library. More importantly, they have become stages on which other critical activities that are enhancing the lives of individuals and empowering local communities have taken place. The Technology Learning Collaborative is a natural outgrowth of this initial federal funding; it aims to continue to bring together the KEYSPOTs and organizations outside of the KEYSPOT network, and to broaden its scope to any organization that provides a public computer center or digital literacy programming.