SUMMARY:

The Digital Literacy & Devices Task Force held its eighth meeting on Feb. 8, 2022, and included representatives from multiple sectors interested in resolving the digital divide in the Los Angeles County region.

The purpose of the Digital Literacy & Devices Taskforce is to host discussions to assess the needs and opportunities to provide ongoing culturally relevant and age-appropriate training at scale for underserved communities, and determine the types of equipment needed to provide adequate Telehealth, remote work, online learning, and small business internet success to address the digital divide.

The Task Force was given updates on the Campaign Workgroup, CPUC Rulemaking on Local Technical Assistance, the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD) motion and EveryoneOn’s report on digital skills and trust. ​

Later, Amy Cortina Mathias, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, UNITE-LA, and Paulina Chavez, Senior Director, Programs & Special Projects, EveryoneOn, led a discussion on a request from the California State Librarian on ways county and local libraries can help address the digital divide. The Task Force was asked for input and ideas for recommendations which would then be considered for inclusion in the State Librarian’s budget request for additional support for our libraries.

Ideas that were discussed included:

• “Drop In” centers for parents similar to L.A. Public Library’s “Cybernauts” program

• Need to assess needs for computer bundles and hotspots

• Need to develop repository of resources

Resources

• L.A. County Board of Supervisors motion to addressing the digital divide.

• Cybernauts, an L.A. Public Library program with trained computer aides that offer technology assistance, computer support, and mobile device support.

• EveryoneOn’s report on digital skills and trust. ​

Updated: 6 days ago