About Digital Empowerment Leadership Program (DELP)

student with laptop

The Digital Empowerment Leadership Program (DELP) is funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. View more funding information.

Our Mission

The mission of the Digital Empowerment Leadership Program (DELP) is to address challenges related to broadband access, connectivity, and adoption at the university and in surrounding communities. NCCU will also develop innovative approaches to support residents who may need assistance building the digital skills necessary to pursue employment and manage day-to-day responsibilities.

DELP Four Core Activities

The assessment and planning core activity will bring together a team of NCCU faculty and members of the Digital Durham Collaborative to conduct a community-focused, multi-stakeholder evaluation of needs related to online education, workforce readiness, and digital skill development in Durham’s surrounding communities.

The training core activity is a multi-organization collaboration consisting of three interrelated efforts designed to support the needs of designated anchor communities in Durham. First, NCCU and its partners will deliver educational programs; expand digital navigator services for local residents; offer courses in software engineering, quality assurance, and digital skills for business and entrepreneurship; provide employment placement services; and deliver continuing education on a range of information systems topics.

Community engagement and service is an outreach initiative centered on hands-on learning and local collaboration. NCCU will provide participants with opportunities and resources to serve the community through volunteering and engagement activities, helping to enhance experiential learning and support workforce development.

The evaluation core activity will assess the project's effectiveness and measure the impact of the services provided to participants.

Outcomes
The NCCU Digital Empowerment Leadership Program (DELP) will enhance digital readiness in Durham, North Carolina. Through a university-led, community-focused consortium, the program will help individuals and organizations in NCCU’s surrounding communities build digital skills and expand their capacity to engage in an increasingly digital world.

Beneficiaries
The NCCU DELP project will benefit both the university and nearby communities in Durham, North Carolina. Local residents will gain access to tools and training to strengthen their digital abilities and actively contribute to community initiatives.