City Of Boston: Funding Awarded For Digital Equity Initiatives Across The City Of Boston

Press release from the City of Boston:

July 20, 2021

The Digital Equity Fund will support 19 organizations with nearly $500,00.

Digital Equity Fund awards range from $5,000 to $35,000 to support programming across a variety of Boston neighborhoods and communities. Boston-based nonprofit organizations serving Boston residents and neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic were prioritized in the funding, including the neighborhoods of East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Roslindale and Hyde Park. Focus was given to organizations serving older adults, persons with disabilities, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) or English Language Learner (ELL) students, residents of public housing or rental voucher holders, and/or adult residents who have lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The City of Boston's Broadband and Digital Equity efforts improve access to affordable and reliable high-speed Internet for households and businesses, expand the availability of high-speed Internet in public places, and facilitate ease of access to up-to-date digital tools. The Boston Equity Office joined with the City’s Department of Innovation & Technology and the Age-Strong Commission to support ways through the the Digital Equity Fund to build individual and community capacity for: 

• Using the Internet, digital skills, and digital tools to pursue professional, educational, and civic endeavors;
• Engaging with the Internet safely;
• Developing needs-responsive, community-driven digital skills-building opportunities;
• Increasing broadband adoption among Bostonians who do not subscribe to this service in the home.

Boston Higher Education Resource Center: The Boston HIgher Education Resource Center will use the funding to increase high school and college English Language Learner (ELL) students’ access to personal computer devices as well as provide training to these students in order for them to make the best use of these devices towards their education and career goals. This programming will take place at the organization’s Boston Public Schools partner schools including English High School, East Boston High School, Jeremiah E Burke High School, Margarita Muñiz Academy, as well as through our Community-based (after school) program at our Roxbury/South End site.

Center for Community Health Education Research and Service: The Center for Community Health Education Research and Service will use the funding to improve older African American/Black and Latinx (AA/BL) adults self-management of diabetes by increasing their self-efficacy in using technology. The proposal seeks to engage high school students (juniors and seniors) in training to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to help elders living independently to self-manage their diabetes. 

Found in Translation: Found in Translation will use the funding to support students and alumni in Dorchester’s Found in Translation program by providing the equipment and technology literacy training necessary to partake in a medical interpreting certificate training course and in the interpreting profession more generally.

Prince Hall: Prince Hall will use the funding to implement an innovative training program designed to close the digital divide for seniors by teaching them how to effectively and efficiently utilize technology in their daily lives. The program will provide 15 hours of instruction to all participants focusing on such topics as operating a computer, connecting to the Internet, finding needed information, and using email word-processing and virtual meetings.Those who successfully complete the program will receive a Chromebook and will be assisted in getting Internet access in their homes.

Zumix: Zumix will use the funding to connect Boston’s youth with media training. Through sequential program offerings, Zumix will help youth deepen their computer and digital storytelling skills, engage in paid production opportunities, and explore future careers in the film industry.

The Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) oversees and guides all technology related activities associated with the delivery of products and services managed by every City department. The department provides a strategic framework and direction for leveraging technology to create business value. DoIT centralizes common shared services while offering dedicated, customer-facing teams for each service group to improve service delivery.

This press release was produced by the City of Boston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.