reIntroducing reWerk: How does reWerk really work?

This year, we’re entering our third year of working toward our vision of bridging the digital divide for communities of color. Thanks to our donating partners and supporters who’ve fueled our mission with grants, we’ve been able to facilitate donations worth $4.5 million to community organizations and schools who’ve been able to put high quality technology and office furnishings to good use. 

But since it’s been a while since we’ve first introduced ourselves, we figured it might be time for a quick reIntroduction to reWerk. How does reWerk really work?

reWerk redistributes the tech industry’s excess and unused office furnishings and resources to equip low-income communities and communities of color. 

With the majority of tech companies either moving toward remote work, shifting office layouts for social distancing, or experiencing downsizing, we accept inventory from corporate donors and allocate those resources to communities who can put them to use. We prioritize sourcing high-demand materials including IT, network equipment, and computers for direct donation to community organizations and nonprofits, and for the (coming soon!) reWerk marketplace.

We like to think of ourselves as rocket-boosters, supporting and making connections for community organizers and nonprofits who are already doing great work…

to bridge the digital divide, support returning citizens and invest in low-income communities of color who haven’t historically received equitable support and opportunities to thrive. That means facilitating donations, knowledge-sharing and collaborations between donor companies and nonprofits.

While many people may already be familiar with income disparities, an urgent downstream impact of the widening wealth gap is the digital divide.

The digital divide is the gulf between those who have ready access to technology and the internet, and those who do not. That digital divide only further widens the opportunity gap we’re trying to close. We rely heavily on quality tech donations because technology spans across all industries and is a great resource in helping to bridge access to opportunities.

Our guiding principle is our belief that talent is equally distributed but opportunities are not. So our goal is to create more equitable opportunities for communities of color. We’re constantly working toward a win-win-win ecosystem where: 

• Companies can donate and write off excess high-quality tech, furniture and supplies to be repurposed.

• Students, returning citizens and low-income communities can repurpose and use these resources to fully reach their goals and potential.

• The environment benefits from reducing waste associated with disposing of or storing unused materials that can still be of value.

Lofty goals? Sure. But we’re hopeful that we all can do our part in getting there together. 

If you’re interested in helping us bridge this gap, you can donate to support our cause, contribute high-quality tech or furniture from your organization or if you’re a nonprofit, let us know how we can support you in bridging the digital divide for the communities you serve.