Member
news&Notes DIVERSE SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: It all started with the gift of a computer. While Markevis Gideon didn’t know it in eighth grade, that one simple present was the start to a groundbreaking organization in the state of Delaware: NERDiT NOW. Upon receiving this gift, he taught himself the art of IT repair. After becoming Microsoft certified, attending school for computer science and accounting, and living in China for several years, Gideon found himself back in his home state and wanting to address a problem impacting so many communities: the lack of access to basic technology. “I saw my community needed help, and I remember how that one computer changed my life,” Gideon recalls. “I wanted to afford the opportunity to donate technology back into the community.” And he did just that. What began in a two-bedroom apartment in 2015 has grown exponentially in less than a decade. NERDiT NOW currently has a retail location that offers affordable IT repair for phones, tablets, computers, and gaming systems. Additionally, NERDiT’s infamous ambulance takes the business on the road, bringing valuable repair services and education directly into the community. NERDiT CARES is the organization’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate, which has two main functions: providing both
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NERDIT NOW
BY REGINA DONATO
technology and workforce development opportunities to the community, free of charge. Since the foundation of the nonprofit in 2016, over 7,500 devices have been donated to individuals in Delaware; in many cases, a device from NERDiT is the first a family has owned. Their workforce development effort, NERDiT Academy, provides
individuals with key technology skills to earn a living wage and a rewarding career. The program consists of a preapprenticeship and apprenticeship portion. The former is a twelve-week program that allows participants to earn four tech certifications, qualifying them for most entry-level technology positions. The year-long apprenticeship that follows allows students to earn additional certifications while also gaining valuable experience. Upon completing the program, graduates are guaranteed a job with NERDiT and have the qualifications to make at least $18 to 20/hr. Despite launching
the program during the pandemic, over 70 students have already completed the program. When founding NERDiT NOW, one of Gideon’s main missions was to create a sustainable business. Worldwide, there is an estimated 40 million dollars of electronic waste every year. To eliminate some of this waste, recycling programs are essential. However, Delaware did not have a single Responsible Recycling (R2) certified IT recycler until NERDiT NOW took on the task. All Delaware businesses who are considering recycling their electronics or already doing so through an out-ofstate organization should consider switching. “When you recycle with NERDiT, you are helping to create the next generation of tech skills, IT careers, and empowered students,” explains Gideon. Sometimes all it takes is the power of one man and one computer to make a difference. NERDiT NOW’s impact on the community in the last seven years is tremendous as the company works to close the ever-present digital, income, and wealth divides. “For us, Delaware is home. We are looking forward to expanding towards Kent and Sussex County soon,” says Gideon. “One day, we hope to have a presence in every county and every state so that we can truly say we closed the digital divide in the United States.”
May / Jun e 2022
| DELAWARE BUSINESS
