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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 […]
Local agency to host U.S. Secretary of Education and FCC Chairperson as part of “Back to School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar”
KC Digital Drive (KCDD) central to community efforts to help students, families, and educators access broadband internet service KANSAS CITY—September 2, 2023 — On Tuesday, Sept. 5, local nonprofit KC Digital Drive will host U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on the first day of their “Back […]
National Community Health Worker Awareness Week
It is estimated that only 10 – 20 percent of a person’s health status is related to direct medical care. The rest is taken up by what the World Health Organization says are the “conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” Our social circumstances play the dominant role in how healthy we are.
New Effort Offers Steep Discounts on Internet Access
Eligible Households in Kansas City Metro Can Save up to $30/Month KANSAS CITY— July 26, 2023 — Eligible households in the Kansas City metro area can now sign up for steep discounts on their monthly internet service through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has contracted with KC Digital Divide to help […]