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October 1, 2022
By Margaret Käufer, President, The STEM Alliance—
Researchers have shown that the greatest determinant of Covid-19 mortality was…internet access. It is a correlation, not a cause. But why are we surprised? Research also confirms that internet access determines success across multiple areas: heart health, voter turnout, reading scores and employability. Research explains what we intuitively know: internet access helps us be healthier and wealthier.
Westchester is a “Top 10 Digital County.” Despite that, we must acknowledge that thousands have been left behind in a digital divide defined by poverty, race and gender. Living an analog existence in a digital world is inequitable. Westchester needs systemic digital inclusion solutions from policies to coalition building to programs.
Since 2020, The STEM Alliance has been bridging Westchester’s digital divide with our Digital Equity Now initiative, providing over 1,000 clients with hotspots, Chromebooks, and 15 hours of basic tech education. We accomplish this through nonprofit partnerships and soon, with the support of AT&T, we will be launching a new outreach platform called Digital Pathways to expand our reach. Through device ownership, internet access and just fifteen hours of “on ramp” training, our clients triple their comfort level on workforce platforms like Google Calendar and Gmail.
Take the story of Consuela, an immigrant mother of two children. She worked full time as a home healthcare aide just making ends meet and had no digital connection to her daughters’ schools. Our Digital Equity Now program changed her prospects. At work, she was quickly promoted to Office Assistant with a pay raise and managerial duties. At home, Consuela can fully participate in her daughters’ schooling by following assignments on Google classroom.
This program has been transformational for Consuela. But the news is even better: in 2021, the Federal Government passed the Digital Equity Act, committing $2.75 billion dollars “to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital economy.” Those monies will flow through the States and, in New York, be dispersed through our NY Broadband office’s State Digital Equity Plan. How do we take action?
First, the County needs to represent our interests to the NY Broadband office. Second, we need to become Digital Inclusion Trailblazers as defined by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): write a digital equity plan, support coalition building, and fund digital inclusion work. Third, define digital inclusion success as a three part solution: internet access, device ownership and basic tech training. Digital inclusion is not just about high speed, broadband infrastructure. Skill-building is needed for tech adoption and workforce development. Fourth, expand current digital inclusion work so that Westchester is “shovel ready” for the imminent funding.
We are on the precipice of something big: historic federal funding to systemically bridge the digital divide for all Westchester residents. But County leadership will be key to our success. It’s a complicated problem with a simple solution: let’s blaze a digital pathway for all of Westchester by laying the groundwork now.
About The STEM Alliance
The STEM Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing K-12 STEM education and enrichment initiatives to benefit students, parents and educators in our schools and community. Their stated mission is to bridge systemic gaps to provide equal access to critical science, technology, engineering and math learning resources with the goal of empowering communities, inspiring innovation and creating opportunity for all.
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