After growing up with limited access to technology, nonprofit founder wants to bridge digital gap for others
Nishal Mohan’s parents struggled and worked in their village in Guyana until he was 8 years old, later applying to become teachers in the Bahamas, where they moved with a few suitcases and a few hundred dollars. In Guyana, they didn’t have running water, indoor plumbing, or technology at home. In the Bahamas, it was the first time he’d seen people drive cars and ride escalators. After a few years, his parents had saved enough money to buy a 32-bit computer and send him to computer classes.
While he went on to graduate from high school at 15, teach himself to code and write advanced mathematical algorithms while earning his doctorate in molecular biology from Princeton, he saw very early on what it could mean for the trajectory of someone’s life to have more equitable access to technology.
“I have lived experience on both sides of the digital divide, with a deep understanding of the complex systemic inequities perpetuating it, that go beyond devices and internet access. And I know how to fix it,” he says. “I want everyone to have an easier time than my family and I did, to succeed. People and their communities are all different, and technology can easily and affordably support everyone in the way they need it, and that’s the key. Working with people and communities, first.”
For him, that fix was founding Mohuman (mohuman.org), a technology nonprofit founded in 2018 to provide access to the internet and other digital services for school, work, health, business, and government engagement, to those most adversely affected by the digital divide. During the pandemic, he was recognized for his work in bridging this technology gap, nationally and locally, through a 2020 Federal Communications Commission Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition, and a San Diego Next Century Cities Local Leader.
Mohan, 43, is also CEO of Mohuman, consulting director for digital equity at UC San Diego Extension and founder of the San Diego Digital Equity Coalition, among involvement in a number of other organizations and boards of directors. He lives in Scripps Ranch with his wife, Indira Molai, and a 9-year-old son, Ash. He took some time to talk about his work at Mohuman and his desire to make the world a better place for those with fewer resources and access to opportunities.
Q: Tell us about Mohuman.
A: Mohuman is a technology-driven nonprofit, founded in 2018 to drive the transfer of power and resources to those most affected by the digital divide, through access to the internet and digital services. After more than a decade in Washington, D.C., working on next-generation science and technology initiatives, it was very difficult to get leaders to support a human-centered approach to creating and deploying public benefit technologies. I created an organization to do just that and a global movement to change that narrative.
The name Mohuman came about for a few reasons: It stems from the movie, “Mo’ Money” (and mo’ problems). We like to think of it as “mo’ human, no problems.” Mohuman is more relatable and of the people, instead of a name like “the Institute for Human Centered Design in Public Benefit Technology.” Some people thought it was a joke at first, but everyone remembers it, and it’s awesome to hear everyone from global leaders to kids say Mohuman! It’s sticky branding, and it means “modus operandi,” the “human” movement in science and technology. Mohuman is an ideal and is meant to be a global movement people can build together. Some people believe it’s related to my last name, but they’ll never know.
Q: Why was this something you wanted to create?
A: It has always been my aim to be the Mahatma Gandhi who eats steaks, changing the world while inspiring others, especially my son. Communities of color, immigrants, and other marginalized people are continually left out of the decision-making process and technologies that have significant impact on their daily lives, and for generations to come. I am a scientist, technologist, maker, and policy architect, and bringing digital resilience to communities that need it the most is the way I can contribute to the world. I feel that my life’s experiences, challenges, and hustle to survive and change the world have uniquely prepared me to embrace a “go big or go home” mindset.
What I love about Scripps Ranch...
The people! The West Coast, and especially San Diego, lifestyle and mindset are so different from the East Coast. We have amazing neighbors and colleagues who have become close friends. It is not something I ever anticipated or thought I would find, but I am so grateful for it.
Q: Walk us through how Mohuman works, exactly. What are the steps for someone who is looking for help from your organization?
A: Our aim at Mohuman is to support both community-based organizations (CBOs), as well as residents to become digitally resilient. For CBOs, they join the digital resilience coalition, work with us and other community champions to identify real digital needs, followed by an action plan to get those needs met by other local collaborators; or work together with us on digital inclusion grant or government funding opportunities for resources to solve the problem. We also provide access to other tools, like our digital inclusion events analytics platform (https://mohuman.org/events/); networking events; coauthoring letters to city, state, and federal governments for digital inclusion policy; and more. There is no cost to join, except that it is a democratic process and organizations have to be voted in to join.
For residents, either directly though our website, contacting us by email or phone, or by working with a CBO, they can access our moDAT digital inclusion search engine platform (https://modat.org) to be guided to finding a listing and service provider that matches their needs. Each listing has eligibility requirements, any related costs, contact information, and more. They can directly communicate with that service provider though our platform, or contact them directly to get that service. We provide access to local and online services for devices, internet connectivity, digital skills training, workforce development, and digital services for everyday tasks such as telemedicine, housing, finance, legal services, and more. There is no cost for residents to use any of our services.
As we launch our mesh network [a local network where nodes connect to as many other nodes as possible, to route data more efficiently] in San Diego, those who can’t afford to pay for internet will not have to pay. It will always be free so that you can go to school, work remotely, and become digitally resilient.
Q: What’s an example of a systemic inequity blocking access to technology for low-income communities?
A: There is a horrible practice called “digital redlining,” where a red line is drawn around low-income communities. The majority of communities that have a lack of modern, digital infrastructure and slower internet speeds, but more expensive internet access, are low-income neighborhoods and mostly communities of color within this redlined area. For example, the communities of the San Diego Promise Zone [comprised of three of the city’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods] are digitally redlined. We have worked with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and other national organizations to ask the Biden FCC to ban digital redlining.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: It was later in my life, but the amazing Mei Lin Fung — co-founder of the People Centered Internet, a mentor and a Mohuman board member — said, “Nishal, activate networks of people, not single people for the most impact,” and that has always stuck with me.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: People always seemed surprised that I am a trained scientist who researched RNA viruses, like the COVID-19 virus, and founded the first international virtual biosecurity center at the Federation of American Scientists to protect the public from biological threats, natural or man-made.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: A Saturday would start with a trip to the Scripps Aquarium with my family, followed by a walk through Balboa Park to an awesome, favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant. For the evening, grilling at home and watching the sunset, with a firepit going for s’mores and drinks. Sunday would be a trip to Coronado beach so my 9-year-old son, Ash, can enjoy the beach, sand, and breezes while Boogie Boarding. I think the salt water in my blood from living in the Bahamas may have passed down to him. We’ll have lunch by the water and head back home with an evening hanging out with the neighbors to some reggae music, while the kids have a Nerf gun battle or a virtual battle on their Nintendo Switches. And, of course, it wouldn’t be ideal if I didn’t sneak in some exciting Mohuman work for San Diego because there are always more people to help than there are time or resources.
Gloss