Today, the nonprofit Mozilla is announcing $83,000 to support five creative, educational technology projects in the city of Eugene.
Mozilla is partnering with local nonprofits, schools, and companies, furnishing grants between $12,000 and $28,000.
“We’re focusing on projects that leverage gigabit internet speeds — up to 250x average speeds — to make a positive impact,” says Lindsey Frost, who directs the Mozilla Community Gigabit Fund.
The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund provides funding to technologists, educators, and entrepreneurs in Eugene and four other gigabit cities across the U.S. — Austin, TX; Chattanooga, TN; Kansas City; and Lafayette, LA.
“The gigabit projects we fund are built and piloted by community members to address real challenges in education and workforce development in their cities,” Frost explains. “It’s all part of our mission to build a healthy internet that fuels a more open, equitable, and inclusive society.”
The five latest grantees in Eugene are:
City Synth | Eugene, OR
City Synth will work with engineers, technologists, and students from the South Eugene Robotics Team to transform the city of Eugene into a musical instrument. A series of interactive mixed-media installations will remix audio and video. Led by Harmonic Laboratory.
Gigabit Residencies | Eugene, OR
This project provides residencies that will teach 200 students graphic design, audio engineering, and other skills by leveraging lightning-fast gigabit internet. The project also entails web-based professional development for teachers. Led by Lane Arts Council.
NEDCO | Springfield, OR
With this grant, low-income youth will have access to a mobile, interactive classroom that expands their horizons beyond the city of Springfield. The project entails high-quality interactive learning experiences and counseling opportunities. Led by NEDCO.
Redefining Women in Tech Interactive Video Learning Events | Eugene, OR
Redefining Women in Tech uses interactive 4K video alongside face-to-face meetings to help women navigate the often inequitable tech sector. This project will include job resource training, professional development opportunities, and community organizing to promote a more equitable industry. Led by Redefining Women in Tech.
Coder in Residence | Eugene, OR & Kansas City
The Coder in Residence program puts gigabots — gigabit-internet enabled robots — in elementary school classrooms. It provides robotics curriculum to students, and robotics curriculum professional development for educators. Led by Lane STEM.
About the fund
The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund provides grants and on-the-ground-staff to support projects that leverage gigabit internet to create more connected, open, and innovative U.S. cities. The Fund has granted more than $800,000 to over 60 projects during its four-year history.
The Fund is run in partnership with the National Science Foundation and U.S. Ignite.
Fund grantees can be individuals, nonprofits, and for-profits.
Fund cities are selected based on a range of criteria, including a widely deployed high-speed fiber network; a developing conversation about digital literacy, access, and innovation; a critical mass of community anchor organizations, including arts and educational groups; an evolving entrepreneurial community; and opportunities to engage K-12 school systems.
Past projects
The Mozilla Gigabit Community Fund has a diverse roster of grantees. Below, learn about just one: My Brother’s Keeper Coding Maker Space, which teaches young men of color web VR in Austin, TX. View other gigabit grantees here.
