Social Innovation Starts Here: Rethinking Tech, Access, and Community Empowerment with Gabe Middleton '11

Social Innovation Starts Here: Rethinking Tech, Access, and Community Empowerment
Gabe Middleton '11
Co-Founder & CEO
Human_I_T

Gabe Middleton is the co-founder and CEO of Human‑I‑T, a nonprofit social enterprise that turns obsolete technology into opportunity. Based originally in Los Angeles and now operating nationally and with teammates across multiple countries, Human‑I‑T partners with corporations to securely refurbish electronics and reinvest them into underserved communities through device donation, training and internet access initiatives. To date, the organization has diverted over 20 million pounds of e‑waste and distributed more than 500,000 devices into the circular economy across all 50 states and thousands of partnerships with businesses of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies.   Gabe and co-founder James Jack began building Human‑I‑T while working out of his grandfather’s garage into a multi-state, impact-driven operation. His leadership bridges sustainable operations with social justice, championing conscious capitalism, and purpose-led leadership. The work has earned recognition from Coors Light Líderes, a HALO Award in 2016, and the eBay SHINE Award in 2017. A graduate of CSULB (B.A. in Psychology), Gabe applies a human-centered lens to nonprofit strategy and team building.