LEARN
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2018 Grants Challenge

GoDigital! LA’s Digital Literacy Program

This project focuses on erasing the Digital Divide in Los Angeles, underserved communities. The project will provide education about the importance of engaging online and how to do so safely.

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Please describe the activation your organization seeks to launch.

ITA seeks to continue Digital Literacy education efforts in South Los Angeles, an area impacted by lack of broadband access. The funding will support community programming to provide valuable information about online City services, educational and job opportunities, health and business services, etc. The education will be designed to ‘meet people where they are’, with respect to how they are currently using technology to gain online access.

Which of the LEARN metrics will your activation impact?​

Enrollment in early care and education programs

Students’ immersion in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math content

Youth unemployment and underemployment

Will your proposal impact any other LA2050 goal categories?​

LA is the best place to CONNECT

In what areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?​

South LA

How will your activation mobilize Angelenos?​

Digital organizing or activism

Trainings and/or in-person engagements

Create new tools or technologies for greater civic/political engagement

Influence individual behavior

Describe in greater detail how your activation will make LA the best place to LEARN?​

Technology has changed the way we live and interact with each other and how we access services that aid our daily living. Not having online access to services or understanding how to participate in an online/always connected world can leave a community behind and drastically expand the digital divide. To address the needs of Angelenos who may be experiencing this gap in technology adoption, the City of Los Angeles’ Information Technology Agency (ITA) plans to provide Digital Literacy programming to under-connected residents to ensure all Angelenos have access to opportunities and services. This builds upon the current ITA OurCycleLA Digital Inclusion programming and the Digital Literacy education provided by LA Public Library System (LAPL).

As the City of Los Angeles is working to be a premier Smart City of the future there is continuous innovation to improve City services from traffic congestion to clean streets to air quality monitoring. Thus City is embarking on how to work smarter using technology and data. With this comes the challenge of ensuring that all Angelenos are digitally connected to their communities and to the City at large. Digital connectivity, or internet connectivity, is not only important for accessing City services, it is also a major component for educational advancement, job opportunity identification, healthcare services and remaining connected to friends and family.

As the City looks to a future where everyone has equitable broadband access in their homes or places of school or work, this GoDigital! LA’s Digital Literacy Program proposal will provide an interactive learning program for currently ‘under-connected’ families in South LA to understand the benefits on going online as well as how to do so in a safe manner. For those who are not currently active in the Digital economy, there may be a fear of going online, a lack of trust as well as a lack of understanding as to how it applies to their everyday lives. This population may not be connected for a variety of reasons - lack of interest, lack of access to affordable services, lack of access to technology. However through the City of LA’s Libraries and Community Based Organizations, there’s an opportunity for this population to gain the skills and grow the confidence needed to use online services to improve livability.

This project will engage parents, grandparents, students, etc. as a way of erasing the Digital Divide. The program will specifically teach safe tasks such as creating a secure login, as well as provide education on how to use computers, mobile phones and tablets to engage in activities from paying bills, helping children with homework, to engaging in activities as streaming faith-based programming or one’s favorite music.

The pace of technological changes is fast, this project will make sure no Angeleno is left behind and that they are prepared to actively participate in a mobile, digital economy.

How will your activation engage Angelenos to make LA the best place to LEARN​

With the knowledge and tools to participate in the Digital economy, Angelenos who were previously were under-connected can now lend their voice in many ways to make a difference in their communities. They will have access to information, as well as have the skills to advocate for change via online medium. They will also be able to influence the behavior of those around them, removing doubt, fear and lack of trust about participating in digital life, replacing it with discussions of hope and opportunity around community engagement, educational and job advancement, healthcare access and overall engagement within the City of Angels.

Please explain how you will define and measure success for your activation.​

Outreach to 1000+ Angelenos with Digital Literacy programming

Increased technology adoption

Where do you hope this activation or your organization will be in five years?

It is the hope that this activation will erase the Digital Divide in South Los Angeles by 50%. Also that families will be able to comfortably use technology to engage online together to manage household needs, access educational and job opportunities, as well as connect with families members near and far. It is our hope that through this educational program, we’ll see a decrease in joblessness, an increase in educational attainment, as well as increase in community economic development.