Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

The Digital Divide is the gap between those who benefit from the rapidly evolving technologies of the Digital Age and those who do not. Poor and less-educated minority communities are more likely to be without digital devices and skills and therefore, unable to access the Internet and other information and communication technologies. This digital disparity has left these communities at an economic disadvantage where they are unable or less able to obtain digital information to better their lives. Long recognized as a barrier to prosperity, many agencies both at the national and state levels have taken steps to close the digital gap; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a bifurcation where the gap is closing for some but widening for others. Every day this disparity persists, and at-risk communities become more digitally excluded.

Mitigating the barriers to digital inclusion is complex and community-specific and cannot be resolved by a single approach. California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State), and members of the Consortium are taking a more collaborative approach. Sacramento State, a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), the fifth most diverse college campus among regional universities in the West, and an ‘Anchor University,’ Sacramento State is committed to bringing digitally challenged communities into the Digital Age by joining other like-missioned anchor institutions and community-based organizations to align and use their combined resources and human capital to even the digital playing field for communities similar to Lemon Hill in struggling with digital exclusion.

The overarching goal of this project is to empower both students and the Lemon Hill community with the capacity to significantly improve broadband access, adoption, and digital literacy that will serve as a model to expand to other neighborhoods in the Greater Sacramento region and create more opportunities for digital equity that lead to inclusive economic development. Lemon Hill community members will benefit from the following services offered at Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and the Community Engagement Lab (CEL): signing up for eligible low-cost Internet programs including the Emergency Broadband Benefit program (to be replaced by the long-term Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP); access subsidized or low-cost devices; access the Internet with existing resources; use broadband/internet services for telehealth, education, job seeking, and economic development; address concerns about security and safety and overcome language barriers; assistance with technical support; develop digital literacy skills to improve their quality of life. Community knowledge and trusting relationships are foundational to these outcomes.

Project Plan

This project will train 100 undergraduate students from Lemon Hill and the surrounding 95824 zip code using a Digital Skills for Community Curriculum developed by faculty at Sacramento State, Sacramento City College, and Consumes River College. The 4-week training will be offered three times during the two years, summer and winter breaks. Once trained, the Digital Navigator Interns will be deployed among funded and unfunded Community-Based Organizations members, and under their direction, they will serve as teaching assistants, interns, and mentors in digital learning spaces where they will help residents:

• assess their needs and guide them toward suitable resources;
• sign up for eligible low-cost internet programs including the Emergency Broadband Benefit program (to be replaced by the long-term Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP);
• access subsidized or low­cost devices;
• access the Internet with existing resources;
• use broadband/internet services for telehealth, education, job seeking and economic development;
• address concerns about security and safety and overcome language barriers;
• provide technical support, and
• help community members develop digital literacy skills to improve their quality of life. Community knowledge and trusting relationships are foundational to these outcomes.

In addition, Sacramento State will establish a Community Engagement Lab (CEL) at Sacramento State during the first year while building capacity for an additional CEL at Sacramento City College during the second year. The Sacramento State CEL will accommodate 30 people at a time and is a vibrant and welcoming center that will provide broadband and technology access to the community during the week and on Saturdays. The CEL will have all the essential software and equipment, be staffed by Digital Navigator Interns, and have scheduled access to community training or open lab time for both Digital Navigator Interns and community participants to work together or individually.

Community Based Organizations:

Please get to know our community partners!

Cosumnes River College

Cosumnes River College’s culture is built upon a foundation of respect, compassion, empathy, and shared decision-making. They value equity, inclusion, cultural humility, innovation, academic integrity, and sustainability. They embrace anti-racism and social justice for the communities they serve.

Cosumnes River College provides an innovative, equitable, and inclusive path for all students in diverse communities to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals. They promote the timely attainment of associate degrees, certificates, and transfer to other institutions and support the pursuit of individual enrichment and career aspirations. They uphold excellence in teaching and learning through diverse educational opportunities and effective student services.

La Familia Counseling Center

La Familia's mission is to improve the quality of life for at-risk youth and families of diverse backgrounds by offering multicultural counseling, support, and outreach services and programs to help families overcome adversity, become empowered, and succeed in their lives.

Serving the community is their top priority. They provide a range of services including classes, workshops, and special events around the year. Their exceptional programs are designed with you in mind. Kids, youth, adults, and families are always welcome.

No matter what your situation, they provide resources to help!

Sacramento City College

Since 1916, Sacramento City College has provided outstanding academic and vocational training to the Sacramento region. The college serves more than 20,000 students at:

• the Main Campus
• Davis Center
• West Sacramento Center
• online

For more than 100 years, Sacramento City College has remained committed to fostering a community that:

• celebrates diversity
• nurtures personal growth
• inspires academic and economic leadership

They place a high value on being an open-access institution–students enter as authentic human beings with their own cultures, abilities, experiences, and languages.

The California Emerging Technology Fund

The California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has been on a mission over the last decade to forge partnerships and foster public policy to close the Digital Divide. This work has been strategically focused, results-oriented, and people-centered. CETF has been guided by a Strategic Action Plan adopted by the Board of Directors in 2007 after reviewing existing research and gathering input statewide from community leaders about what works to advance Digital Inclusion. It was peer-reviewed by more than 60 stakeholders convened by the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy. It became clear through this fact-finding and listening process that the challenges were too great and the state was too big for CETF alone to get the job done—CETF had to become a “catalyst for action” by setting overarching goals for broadband deployment and adoption and then enlisting existing civic leaders and community organizations to help achieve them. They had to align efforts and leverage resources.

CETF catalyzed action through 5 Overall Strategies: (1) Civic Leader Engagement; (2) Venture Philanthropy Grantmaking; (3) Public Policy Initiatives; (4) Public Awareness and Education; and (5) Strategic Partnerships. These 5 Overall Strategies are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. They dedicated more than half of the seed capital to grants for non-profit organizations in 3 priority communities: rural and remote areas; urban disadvantaged neighborhoods; and people with disabilities. Their network of more than 100 grantees delivered digital literacy training to more than 800,000 residents and got more than 250,000 low-income households online. In addition, this network leveraged CETF grant funds 4-fold, documenting more than $126 million in matching dollars. These community organizations have emerged as a reservoir of expertise for getting all Californians online to participate in the Digital Economy.

CETF also advanced groundbreaking policies and launched pioneering initiatives: secured the Governor’s Executive Order on Digital Literacy; designed and managed School2Home, scaling to 12 districts and 35 schools to serve more than 14,000 students and 600 teachers; founded and funded the California Telehealth Network; led several projects to connect residents in publicly subsidized complexes; and developed model policies for smart communities, including promoting broadband as a “green strategy” to reduce impacts on the environment. They pursued Strategic Partnerships with other institutions, such as collaborating with utilities to get their low-income customers online for energy efficiencies.

Once the Legislature and California Public Utilities Commission established the California Advanced Services Fund to support broadband infrastructure, CETF became the steady force to obtain sufficient funding and improve implementation, including sponsoring the Internet For All Now Act of 2017 to add $330 million for broadband deployment and adoption. And, after years of trying to negotiate voluntary affordable broadband offers from providers, they reluctantly became a legal party in the regulatory arenas to secure tangible public benefits for broadband deployment and adoption from corporate consolidations. They are further pleased to report that they have operated with financial discipline: independent annual audits show that CETF cumulative expenditures over the decade are 94% Program and 6% Support. CETF has been a Catalyst for Action: FOCUS; RESULTS; PEOPLE.

Greater Sacramento Urban League

The Greater Sacramento Urban League’s mission is to empower Black and other historically marginalized people throughout the region in securing economic self-reliance, educational fulfillment, social justice, and civil rights while living well, being well, and thriving.

Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, The National Urban League (NUL) is one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the nation. NUL spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research, and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 90 affiliates serving 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than two million people nationwide. GSUL operates as one of the 90 affiliates across the Urban League Movement and routinely convenes and collaborates with NUL and other Urban League affiliates.

United Way California Capital Region

School is Square One for ending family poverty. Through their Square One approach, they are working to end poverty for local families starting in school. Currently, we are facing a housing crisis as well as deep roots of racial inequity. Through their Square One approach, they are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as they lay solid stepping stones to their path to help every family thrive.

United Way California Capital Region serves the counties of Amador, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo. They are committed to helping families succeed, so their communities can too.

Valley Vision

Since its founding in 1994, Valley Vision has grown to become a deeply respected leader in understanding and addressing complex, systemic issues. They bring communities together to tackle our region's biggest challenges and ensure a more livable future. By creating common ground built on facts through trusted research and meaningful coalition-building, Valley Vision brings "community-inspired solutions" to the frontlines of a regional agenda for prosperity.