How nonprofits get Ready to use AI responsibly. Dell Future Ready Nonprofits and TechSoup help five Canadian nonprofits build digital tools, cybersecurity and AI skills to serve their communities. Key takeaways: * Most nonprofits want to use AI responsibly, but some lack the infrastructure, governance frameworks, and trusted partners to do it. * Dell's Future Ready Nonprofits program, delivered in partnership with TechSoup, is addressing that gap in Canada, equipping five mission-driven organizations with the digital tools, cybersecurity support and AI skills training they need to strengthen the communities they serve. One of them is preserving Indigenous languages with AI. Another is connected to the foundation behind Data Dunkers. Nonprofit leaders doing important work in their communities know AI can help them do that work better. They've read the reports and they understand the potential. But often, what they don't have is the infrastructure, the governance framework or a trusted partner to help them move forward responsibly. A survey of 180 nonprofits across 44 U.S. states, conducted alongside Dell and TechSoup, a global nonprofit that connects organizations with affordable technology, IT services and digital skills training, found that capacity is the primary barrier to AI adoption. Nonprofits advance digital literacy and preserve endangered languages. They expand support for people with intellectual disabilities and teach financial literacy and life skills to children. When nonprofits can't access the technology to do that work, programs don't scale, languages aren't preserved, students don't get the advantages they deserve. What is the Future Ready Nonprofits program and how does it work? Dell Future Ready Nonprofits, developed in collaboration with TechSoup, helps mission-driven organizations build digital capabilities, strengthen cybersecurity and develop the skills needed to grow their community impact. In Canada, the program prioritizes nonprofits working within public-sector systems and Indigenous-serving organizations. In the U.S., the program runs through the Dell Veteran Technology Cohort. The program is a great example of meaningful collaboration meeting each nonprofit where they are. Each participating organization goes through a structured cohort journey that includes digital diagnostics, technology roadmaps, hands-on implementation support, and training in cybersecurity, data and AI readiness. The goal is to embed digital transformation as a lasting organizational capability. "The organizations that make communities stronger need technology that works for them, not against them," says Marnie Webb, CEO of TechSoup. "What we see every day is that nonprofits have the mission and the will. What they often lack is the infrastructure and the support to move forward with confidence. That's exactly what this program provides." Which organizations are part of Canada's first cohort? Five Canadian organizations are participating in the program's first Canadian cohort, each working on a distinct digital transformation challenge. Digital Moment, which builds digital and AI literacy skills among youth and educators, is developing a centralized digital solution to improve how the organization manages data and reporting. MediaSmarts, which advances digital media literacy for Canadians, is strengthening its cybersecurity, reducing administrative burden and developing a coordinated organizational approach to AI. Special Olympics Canada is adopting collaborative AI tools to improve operational efficiency and address cybersecurity challenges. The PS43 Foundation, which uses financial literacy, sports, and life skills to give children an advantage in society, is scaling its infrastructure to reach more of the communities it serves. PS43 was founded by NBA star Pascal Siakam, whose foundation is also a partner in Dell's Data Dunkers program, which uses basketball data to teach data and AI literacy to students who might otherwise never see themselves as data-literate. And the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, MFNERC, is exploring how AI and advanced digital technologies can support the preservation and revitalization of First Nations languages, in collaboration with community elders, educators, and local stakeholders. Using technology to protect what makes a culture irreplaceable is a clear example of what responsible AI deployment looks like in practice. Communities are asking how to use AI responsibly, and whether they will have the support they need to do so. The Future Ready Nonprofits program provides a bridge to the structure, support and partnership that lets organizations move forward with confidence rather than waiting on the sidelines. Across the nonprofit sector, there are organizations with the mission, ambition and community relationships to use AI well. What too many of them lack is the support to move forward responsibly. That's the gap this program exists to close. The question driving the Future Ready Nonprofits program is the same question driving responsible AI deployment everywhere: whether the organizations that need it most have what they need to use it well. In Canada, the answer is becoming yes. Frequently asked questions (faq). What keeps nonprofits from adopting AI? Capacity is the primary barrier to AI adoption, according to a survey of 180 nonprofits across 44 U.S. states conducted alongside Dell and TechSoup. Many nonprofit leaders understand the potential of AI. What they often don't have is the infrastructure, the governance framework or a trusted partner to help them move forward responsibly. Who developed Dell Future Ready Nonprofits? Dell Future Ready Nonprofits was developed in collaboration with TechSoup. TechSoup is a global nonprofit that connects organizations with affordable technology, IT services and digital skills training. The program helps mission-driven organizations build digital capabilities, strengthen cybersecurity and develop the skills needed to grow their community impact. What do nonprofits in the program actually receive? Each participating organization goes through a structured cohort journey. The journey includes digital diagnostics, technology roadmaps, hands-on implementation support and training in cybersecurity, data and AI readiness. The goal is to make digital capability a lasting part of how the organization works. Which organizations are in the first Canadian cohort of Dell Future Ready Nonprofits? Five Canadian organizations are in the first Canadian cohort: Digital Moment, MediaSmarts, Special Olympics Canada, the PS43 Foundation and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC). Each organization is working on a distinct digital challenge. For example, MFNERC is exploring how AI and advanced digital technologies can support the preservation and revitalization of First Nations languages. How does Dell Future Ready Nonprofits differ between Canada and the U.S.? In Canada, Dell Future Ready Nonprofits prioritizes nonprofits working within public-sector systems and Indigenous-serving organizations. In the U.S., the program runs through the Dell Veteran Technology Cohort. Carly Tatum is the Senior Director of Giving & Impact at Dell Technologies. Her team is responsible for Dell's global philanthropic portfolio of impact programs, partnerships and social innovation. She applies the company's capabilities- technology, skills and resources- to strengthen community organizations where Dell operates. She is also responsible for employee engagement programs and campaigns to support Dell's workforce culture and to put people's time and skills to work. Across Carly's career, she has stayed true to her goal of applying her creativity, problem solving and strategic skills in ways that can have a positive collective impact for business and for communities. Prior to leading Giving and Impact, she led Dell's Corporate PR and Public Affairs organizations, building positioning, advocacy programs, crisis and engagement campaigns like the Impact Makers Awards, Circular Gold jewelry collection and NextWave plastic consortium to both build Dell's reputation as an trusted, ethical company and drive real action in support of the planet and its communities.

Free AI smart glasses available to Visually impaired veterans. September 29, 2026 Visually impaired veterans in the community may be eligible to receive free AI-powered smart glasses through a program being distributed by the Suffern Free Library in partnership with TechSoup. The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 smart glasses are designed to provide hands-free assistance for people with low vision. According to the program information, the glasses can read text, books and signs aloud, describe a user's surroundings and assist with hands-free navigation. The glasses can also be used to take photos and video and to play music. Who can qualify? The program is available to veterans who: * Have low vision * Own a smartphone * Attend one of the required training workshops Participants must complete a training session to learn how to use the technology and its accessibility features. Upcoming training workshops. Training sessions are scheduled at the Suffern Free Library on the following dates: * September 22 at 4:30 p.m. with Senator Weber * September 30 at 1:30 p.m. with Senator Weber * October 27 at 4 p.m. * October 28 at 11 a.m. Interested veterans are encouraged to register online through the Suffern Free Library. The library is located at 210 Lafayette Ave. in Suffern, New York. For additional information, call 845-357-1237 or visit the library's website. The program is being offered as an effort to provide veterans with technology that may help them navigate their surroundings and perform everyday tasks more independently. Related Topics: Discover more Local News Demographics You may like. October 2, 2026 October is a time to celebrate the history, traditions and contributions of Italian Americans - and in Rockland County, that heritage runs deep. Every October, communities across the United States recognize Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, honoring generations of Italian immigrants and their descendants who have helped shape American life. In Rockland County, Italian-American heritage can be found throughout the community - in family-owned businesses and restaurants, churches, civic organizations and generations of families who have made the county their home. The story is part of a much larger American immigration experience. Beginning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of Italians came to the United States seeking opportunity and a better future. Over generations, Italian-American families established roots, built businesses, entered the professions and became active members of their communities. Their influence extends far beyond food and family traditions. Italian Americans have made significant contributions to the arts, entertainment, science, business, education, public service and countless other areas of American life. A heritage passed down. For many Rockland families, heritage is preserved through traditions shared from one generation to the next - from recipes and family gatherings to photographs, stories and the memories of relatives who came to America. Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month was first designated by Congress in 1989, establishing October as a time to recognize Italian-American history and contributions. The observance also coincides with Columbus Day, traditionally celebrated on October 12 and now observed federally on the second Monday of October. While Christopher Columbus remains a significant historical figure for many Italian Americans, his legacy and the consequences of European exploration are also subjects of ongoing historical discussion. The heritage month provides a broader opportunity to recognize the experiences and accomplishments of Italian Americans themselves. For Rockland County, October is a chance to celebrate a heritage that remains very much alive - not only in the traditions of previous generations, but in the families, businesses and communities carrying those traditions forward today. It is a celebration of where those families came from, what they built, and the legacy they continue to pass on. September 28, 2026 Medicaid members may qualify to have fresh and shelf-stable food delivered directly to their homes at no cost. Some Rockland County residents enrolled in Medicaid may be eligible to receive fresh, nutritious or shelf-stable food delivered directly to their homes at no cost through their health insurance plan. The program, offered through Project FoodBox, is part of a growing effort to address food insecurity and nutrition-related health conditions by connecting eligible Medicaid members with nutritious food and medically informed nutrition support. Food designed with your health in mind. Project FoodBox's food-as-medicine programs are designed to provide individuals and families with nutritious foods that can support their overall wellness. Food selections are planned with the guidance of registered dietitians, with an emphasis on quality fruits and vegetables and other nutritious foods. Eligible participants may receive: * Fresh fruits and vegetables * Shelf-stable foods * Nutrition-focused food selections planned with registered dietitians * Food sourced from local farms and kitchens * Delivery directly to your home at no cost, if covered by your Medicaid plan Who may qualify? Eligibility depends on your Medicaid health insurance plan and the specific benefits available to you. Not every Medicaid member will necessarily qualify. Rockland County residents who have Medicaid and are interested in the program should contact their health plan or care manager and ask whether they offer a food-as-medicine, medically tailored food, or Project FoodBox benefit. How to apply. If you are interested in receiving food through the program: 1. Check your Medicaid health plan. Contact the member-services number on the back of your Medicaid insurance card. 2. Ask about food benefits. Tell the representative that you are interested in learning whether you qualify for a.