Founder's story
How Dean Hendricks started Bridging the Digital Divide
My motivation to help others
Growing up in Boston with my mother taught me the unmeasurable values of care and love. She would give you the shirt off her back in the dead of winter; she would feed you and only ask for a smile in return. She spoke words of charity to my soul when my eyes could only see the inequity around me. She was the first leader to make me believe that equity was achievable. Even today she has played a key role in my life.
Now that I am older, I want to share the same spirit that she has given me and spread its joys to all. Taking action to bridge the digital divide worldwide. Since our founding, I have had the privilege to collaborate with countless eager volunteers, fearless change makers and impactful community leaders. Today I want to share that story with you.
Giving a laptop to a young man
at Boston Museum of Science
Doing a live repair for a laptop that would be given away
How Digital Divide
Transformed Me
Born in Portland, Jamaica in the late 90's I immigrated to the US before I knew myself. I grew up in Dorchester, a district inside Boston. As an inner-city kid, seeing beyond the veil of poverty that clouded my judgement was an active battle. Fast money, and the allure of sports were the main influences that controlled the conversations between my friends and I. We all wanted to be something; we just did not know what that looked like. In the early 2000’s transformative exposure to black leaders sounded like a fairytale from the aging era of Civil Rights. We knew about black judges, black scientist, black doctors, but they did not know us. I was fortunate enough to have a mother that pushed me to go to my local library. I had “read” books with pictures and imagined what it is like to be in them. My real interest was in the computer labs. I would take as many 30-minute passes as I could and explore what the digital world had to offer. That interest would drive me to Frankenstein my own computer out of discarded machines that I found. Allowing me to cross the digital divide at the age of 9.
A Sign To Make A Change
Bridging Digital Divide
OK, I’ll be honest, it took me a while to put that first computer together. I had no idea what I was doing. I remember putting all the wires in the wrong place and sulking at the idea of it never starting again. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t know windows was software that I would have to find a way to install at the time. Finding a CD with Windows XP can be extremely difficult when you don’t know they exist. Between me and you I had to break 3 until I finally fixed one. However, one is all it takes.
My mother had no idea what I was doing, yet she would show me her unwavering support. Granted that I wasn’t working on the computers plugged in. I was so excited when I was finally able to show her my first bare bones computer, now we just needed some internet.
I took my first real Tech class at Tech Boston academy in 8th grade. By that time tinkering with computers was one of my favorite pass times. Still, there was no formal training behind any of the things that I did. Imagine learning that you could copy and paste using your keyboard for the first time, after using a mouse to do it for so long; experiences like that we both humbling and exciting. It was hard to maintain my excitement for computing in those classes. My soul almost left my body when I learned about scratch, my first introduction to code. I thought computers just came as they were and all you had to use was the software they gave you. I didn’t realize that building your own games, blogs, online stores, and digital tools was something anyone could do. This lead me into writing my first “Hello World”…… at age 18.
I graduated from High School in 2016 and decided to take some time traveling to unfamiliar places. I got my first welcoming “What Up Doe,” in Detroit; what better reason do I need to stay? Well, that and the fact that I had a loving family there and my father, who wanted a chance to get to know me better. My journey into manhood was far from new at that point, but I was curious of what a father would be like. We would often struggle with our points of view. I couldn’t wrap my head around the Idea of someone having that kind of authority over me, I was already an adult. Still, through his leadership I learned about life from a perspective I had yet to consider. Though I didn’t grow up with him, he showed me that love doesn’t wither with age; it blossoms from the fruit of life’s tree and only sweetens with time.
When I lost my job, he offered for me to come work with him. He would pay my car note, provide me food, money, and a place to stay; all he asked in return was for me to learn from him. Sounds easy enough, but he’s the best tradesman that I know. This man would rewire an apartment, do pluming, set drywall, shingle a roof and lay tiles all in the same week. The best part is his customers would always request that he came back and do more.
One day I was in an elevator going down to pick up some tools, again, for my father. I had gone to get them the first time, but I forgot the wrench. On my way down I met two people who had a computer with them. They were discussing what to do with it and how they should discard it. I didn’t want to butt in, but I also didn't want that computer to be wasted. I told them about my background in computers, and they just gave it to me; charger and all. I couldn’t believe my hands when that happened. They were telling me they had a computer in them, but I swore up and down, no one would just hand off a computer like that. I began to wonder how often people thought about discarding computers like that, and how many students needed computers the same way I had when I was young.
My Journey Into Impact
Speaking with the principal of Happy Grove
The Digital Divide And The Modern Day
In 2021 I found out 66% of students globally have not crossed the digital divide. In Detroit that number is over 70%. I could not believe that the issues that I faced as a child were so prevalent today. I quickly started a campaign to gather as many computers as I could. I offered computer repairs to everyone I met and also spoke about my mission, which at the time had no name. I was fortunate enough to meet a local Detroit artist who invited me to the D-Brief. There I met Ang, director of Arts and Scraps at the time. She mentioned that I should start a nonprofit and I immediately got to work.
I was led back to the land of my birth for Christmas. I had not been back since 2018 and decided that it would be a great opportunity to learn more about the effects of the digital divide abroad. I carried 4 computers with me not knowing what I’d do with them; by the new year I was able to leave with my hands empty and my face full of smiles. I met many students who were struggling to effectively do their schoolwork, still I only had limited resources. This inspired me to foster more support when I came back home.
Our First Year
I hit the ground running looking for as many opportunities to spread the word about my mission. On March 17, 2022, the Hendricks Foundation got approval as a nonprofit. I had a conversation with an advisor that led me to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. I decided to go to as many meetings as I could and network my butt off. I went from a guy that would shiver when I spoke to strangers, to a confident connector. I went back to Detroit, itching to test out my newfound skills. An event about education in Detroit came to my interest. There I met Renee Yancy, 2023 – 2025 Rotary club of Detroit president, a woman who would push me to put service above self.
Since then, the Hendricks Foundation has had it's first major donation from Pattie Engineering; our first grant from the Boston Foundation and first event sponsored by the Rotary club of Detroit.
Our first ever computer donation drive
Changing Lives
Since our founding we have been reaching out to schools across the globe, to help their students bridge the digital divide. Happy Grove Highschool, in Portland Jamaica, was the first school we helped, awarding 6 well deserving students with computers for participating in an event. Just one small step toward bigger vision bridging digital access gap holding students back. With your help we can keep putting the power tech literacy within reach more students lacking resources pursue passions. Together we can bridge the digital divide worldwide.
Building futures
6 student received computers at Happy Grove Highshool, located in Portland Jamaica, after taking part in a presentation on making choices.
Teaching Classes
19 students in Detroit pattricipating in our first winter tech camp. Student learned how to repair laptops and by the end they were able to carry the computers home.
Call to Action
Rotary club of Detroit invited the Hendricks Foundation to do a presentation on the Digital Divide and how we can help students cross it.
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