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KC Digital Inclusion Orgs Support Refugee Families
The following is a recap of a presentation by Amber Schrage, Johnson County Community College ESL Coordinator and Adult Basic Education Instructor, Leslie Dykstra, Johnson County Community College Adult Basic Education Program Director, Pam Rooks, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas Refugee Digital Access Coordinator, Maiwand Momand, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Arish Rustami, JVS Digital […]
KC Digital Drive Collaboration with New Programming at Literacy KC
Kansas City non-profit Literacy KC has expanded its services to include not just traditional and digital literacy, but health and financial literacy, as well. These topics now fit nicely into the online and in-class hybrid learning that Literacy KC offers. In health, this includes things like knowing the roles of various practitioners, choosing a health […]
Skills in the States Forum looks toward infrastructure funding
The Skills in the States Forum recently hosted by the National Skills Coalition brought together professionals from all over the country in the workforce, government and education sectors as well as those supporting them through credentialing and other related services to talk about trends, best practices and innovative solutions. Much of the conversations focused on […]
Bridging the Digital Divide through Digital Divide Simulation
The first Digital Divide Simulation event on Nov. 9 at the Central branch of the Kansas City Public Library increased awareness for the socioeconomic setbacks faced by Kansas Citians living on the wrong side of the Digital Divide. Participants were asked to take on the persona of an individual to complete tasks for “one month” measured as four, 15-minute long, “weeks.” Tasks assigned to participants included enrolling their children in school, finding housing information online, and applying to government programs, such as the Affordable Connectivity Program.
Missouri and Kansas Publish Broadband and Digital Equity Plans, Look Towards Implementation
The following is a recap of a presentation by Kimberlyn Jones, Kansas Office of Broadband Development, and D’mitri Farthing, Jr., Missouri Office of Broadband Development given to the Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion on November 3, 2023. Important Links: Missouri BEAD Five-Year Action Plan Missouri BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 1 (comments close 11/26) Missouri […]
Defining Digital Discrimination
NDIA defines digital redlining as “discrimination by internet service providers in the deployment, maintenance, or upgrade of infrastructure or delivery of services. The denial of services has disparate impacts on people in certain areas of cities or regions, most frequently on the basis of income, race, and ethnicity.” KC Digital Drive was recently invited to […]
Bridging the Digital Divide with Digital Corps
In 2022 the Kansas City Public Library (KCPL) launched its Digital Corps program to provide dedicated technology assistance and personalized digital literacy training to library patrons. The Digital Corps is made up of a team of AmeriCorps service members stationed across seven library branches to provide one-on-one digital navigation assistance to community members.
Fall Into Technology Showcase Highlights Organizations Providing Tech Education to Students in the Urban Core
For its September meeting, the Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion held a showcase featuring presentations by six organizations providing advanced digital skills training to students in the urban core. The following is a brief recap of the goals and programs of each organization. Urban TEC (presented by Ina P. Montgomery) – Urban TEC was […]
ESL Instructors Level-up Support with ACP Training During Sec. of Ed Bus Tour
Immigrants and refugees participating in English as a second language (ESL) classes face a variety of challenges as they acclimate to a new country. Some may have literacy difficulties, making it even harder for them to learn a new language since they are unable to read their native language. Additionally, they may also be brand […]
Preparing for Public Comments on State Broadband and Digital Equity Plans
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $65 billion in funding from the federal government to expand broadband access and promote digital inclusion across the United States. To do this, the IIJA established two programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program (BEAD), which will […]