UPFRONT
DIVERSIT Y // BY ALE X EMER SON
Crossing the Digital Divide Craig Arnold receives Diversity Center’s humanitarian award.
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10 COMMUNITY LEADER | MAY 2022
COURTESY DIVERSITY CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO
raig Arnold, chair“When you support our man and CEO of Eawork, you are helping a new ton, has taken home generation of students and futhe Diversity Centure leaders embrace their difter of Northeast Ohio’s 2021 ferences and become change Humanitarian Award for his agents for inclusion and diwork addressing the city’s digversity in our region,” said ital divide. The award was Arnold when receiving the presented by Peggy Zone FishCraig Arnold Fred Nance Peggy Zone Fisher award. “We are fortunate to er, president and CEO of the continue impacting the youth Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio facing education, opportunity and of Northeast Ohio alongside longtime and Cipriano S. Beredo III, executive workforce development, especially in community partners such as Eaton. board chair of the organization. the wake of COVID-19. And your sponsorship[s] will allow Arnold is credited with helping launch “During COVID-19, and after us the opportunity to empower more an initiative that donated more than the murder that we all witnessed of than 10,000 youth and educators in 10,000 computers and other digital George Floyd, Craig called out to the 11 counties during the 2022-2023 acequipment throughout the community. business community, and he rallied ademic year.” “The award is given to individuals them,” Zone Fisher says. “His goal Arnold also credited the Diversity who exemplify their commitment to was to address the digital divide. It re- Center when receiving the award. diversity, equality [and] fairness to ev- ally affects poor people of color who “The Diversity Center has aderybody in their work life and in their do not have access to the internet, to dressed the problems that have personal life as well … they’re individ- laptops, to many things.” plagued our city for decades. It is beuals who have done something for the The digital divide is an issue that cause of their efforts that I remain community,” says Zone Fisher. Arnold talks about frequently, not- hopeful that one day we will create Working in partnership with the PCs ing that it has grown in severity and the diverse and equal community we for People organization, the individu- became more apparent during the deserve,” he said. “I am asking the als who work on the initiative encour- COVID-19 pandemic. business community to do more to age corporations and companies in the “Given what’s happened today in lift up others.” area to donate old computers, which are terms of remote learning and remote If you’d like to help the Diversity then refurbished and given to students work and given what’s happened more Center but don’t have an old computwho need them for remote learning. broadly in society, specifically around er laying around, there’s an event just Fred Nance, global managing partner systemic racism, this was absolutely around the corner to mark on your of Squire Patton Boggs, and Bill Lacey, an important issue to weigh in on in calendar. president and CEO of GE Lighting, also the business community and try and The Diversity Center is celebratcontributed to the program’s success. make a difference,” says Arnold. ing the 20th anniversary of its Walk, Those three community leaders are enNance points to the digital divide Rock, Roll and Run event on May 7. couraging other Cleveland area compa- as well. The fundraiser features a 1- or 3-mile nies to become involved as well. “In Cuyahoga County, there is a divide walk and a 5K run. It can be attended Addressing the digital divide — for those who have access to the inter- virtually or in-person at the Rock & or the lack of connectivity in under- net. When our Cleveland school children Roll Hall of Fame. Contact the Diverserved and often disadvantaged neigh- started to learn remotely, as many as 50% sity Center at 216-752-3000 or visit diborhoods — is one of the key issues did not have that access,” he says. versitycenterneo.org.
