Partner Spotlights Archives - Community Tech Network

Helping the Unhoused Community Access Technology in Texas: Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center and Community Tech Network

jess — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:05:25 +0000

Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center is the largest provider of homeless services in Austin, Texas. They offer pathways to housing for people experiencing homelessness through low-barrier access to wraparound services. Their innovative, trauma-informed, and person-centered programming engages communities and leads to systemwide transformation. From a clothing store and food line to mental and physical healthcare, substance abuse programs, and economic assistance, Sunrise supports individuals throughout their entire journey with homelessness. Sunrise also assists individuals with applying for jobs, housing, and government assistance. The organization helps locate vital documents (including birth certificates) needed for applications and even has an on-site notary. There’s also a mailroom where individuals can receive and store mail, ensuring they never lose important documents. However, many processes have a much quicker turnaround when completed online. To address this need, Sunrise opened its first computer lab in January 2024. To better support clients in the lab, Sunrise volunteers underwent training from Community Tech Network (CTN) as part of a grant from Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Quintasia Houston, Sunrise’s Digital Connector, stated: “This training has been really helpful in teaching us how to talk to clients in the computer lab, engage them, and provide them with the best resources and assistance. […]

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Empowering Community Health Workers as Digital Navigators: MHP Salud and CTN’s Journey

jess — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:40:18 +0000

In an effort to promote digital equity across South and Central Texas, Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) funded Community Tech Network to train 30 agencies across the region, preparing each team’s staff to bridge the digital divide in their community. One such organization that received training was MHP Salud, a health-based nonprofit. At the heart of MHP Salud’s work are Community Health Workers, or CHWs. CHWs are directly from the communities that they serve, which allows them to understand the area’s unique needs and resources, speak the same language, and build trust with the population. According to Jill Spannagel, MHP Salud’s Vice President of Community Initiatives: “When outsiders come in, it’s going to be very difficult to build that trust. CHWs, though, live and breathe the community they are advocating for.” Essentially, CHWs are “boots on the ground,” according to Spannagel, who serve their fellow community members by providing health information (including but not limited to nutrition, sex education, and falls prevention). They also assist folks with applications for government benefits and healthcare and connect them to critical health resources and services. Now, thanks to Community Tech Network, MHP Salud’s CHWs in Maverick County and Rio Grande are also certified digital […]

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Council on Aging and Community Tech Network: Helping Older Adults Get Online in Sonoma County

jess — Tue, 28 May 2024 16:07:02 +0000

Council on Aging (COA) is a Sonoma-based nonprofit organization that has been serving older adults since 1966. They provide nutritional, fiduciary, and social services and now, thanks to a partnership with Community Tech Network, access to technology support. As part of Sonoma County’s Access to Technology (ATT) initiative, funded by the California Department of Aging, Community Tech Network partnered with COA to help reduce older adults’ isolation by teaching them to use technology. CTN provided in-person group technology classes at Council on Aging offices. COA also referred some of their clients who were homebound or unable to attend the on-site classes to participate in CTN’s Home Connect Program, which offered folks the chance to receive one-on-one, virtual digital skills training from their homes. All learners received training in their preferred language at no cost. They also received tablets, a six-month data plan, and assistance in signing up for low-cost home internet to use after the initial six months. COA promoted Home Connect with newsletter articles and advertised the opportunity on its website and through its popular Lunch & Learns. As part of its nutritional services, COA delivers thousands of meals daily to homebound older adults and also offers Drive Up […]

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Empowering Older Adults: A Successful Digital Literacy Program in Collaboration with the City of Oakland

jess — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 23:55:03 +0000

At Community Tech Network (CTN), our commitment to bridging the digital divide and fostering digital literacy is a journey marked by meaningful collaborations and impactful programs. Recently, we concluded a digital literacy initiative in partnership with the City of Oakland, funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), aimed at empowering older adults with essential computer skills. Program Overview The initiative, approved in 2019, faced challenges during the pandemic, causing delays in implementation and low participation early on. However, our dedicated team pressed on, and we are proud to share the success of this program. Key Highlights Funding and Objectives: The CPUC-funded program set out to train 100 seniors in Oakland in basic computer skills. The program targeted four senior centers in the city, with the goal of equipping older adults with fundamental digital skills to enhance their everyday lives. Curriculum Progression: The program commenced with foundational topics such as email, Google Search, and Android tablet applications. Over time, we evolved the curriculum to cover more advanced subjects in both English and Cantonese. These included practical skills like password management, email management, and cybersecurity awareness. We also delved into the realms of video and music streaming, photo editing and sharing, […]

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Peninsula Family Service: Getting Older Adults Connected to the Internet in San Mateo County

jess — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:00:10 +0000

Peninsula Family Service, a nonprofit based out of San Mateo County, is changing the lives of everyone from infants to older adults. The organization provides a wide range of comprehensive services, such as early learning, child care, workforce development, financial assistance, and robust services for older adults, including transportation support, meals, health checks, counseling, and more. One of PFS’ particularly noteworthy initiatives is Help@Hand, which helps older adults get connected to the internet. As part of this program, the team’s two Digital Navigators host various series of six-session, weekly workshops, which teach basic digital skills. This is paired with additional monthly workshops that dive deeper into particular, more specific topics. Additionally, the Navigators provide tech support both before and after classes, and by appointment. These offerings are available across 16 different partner sites throughout the county. To bolster this program even more, PFS teamed up with Community Tech Network, which has been working with San Mateo County to implement a large-scale digital equity initiative as part of the state’s Access to Technology plan. Through this partnership, PFS refers learners to CTN’s Home Connect services, which provide free tablets and remote, one-on-one technology training. “It was becoming a lot for just […]

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Puente: Bridging the Digital Divide in San Mateo’s Rural South Coast

jess — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:07:42 +0000

In the rural communities of San Mateo County’s South Coast, internet access is pretty sparse. “The area we live in is super rural. The closest hospital is one hour away, and the supermarket is 30 minutes away,” says Ophélie Vico, the Community Health Director of Puente, a local nonprofit. “There are limited internet providers, and some areas do not have any internet service at all. Many people have never used technology before, and for some of our participants, English is not their first language. It can be a very challenging area to work in. … We live in the same county as Silicon Valley, but the connectivity looks very different here.” Ophélie adds that COVID-19 highlighted the need for internet access. She says: “The pandemic really brought awareness to the issue. Many kids couldn’t attend school from home because their household didn’t have a computer or Wi-Fi, and a lot of older adults began asking us how to use telehealth to talk to their doctors.” In order to address this digital divide along the South Coast and in other parts of the county, San Mateo County applied for the state’s Access to Technology (ATT) grant and partnered with Community Tech Network […]

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CTN’s Exciting New Digital Equity Initiative with EAH Housing in the Central Valley

jess — Mon, 08 May 2023 14:29:54 +0000

Community Tech Network has partnered with EAH Housing to launch a new digital equity initiative in California’s Central Valley. The program is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is designed to equip individuals with the skills that they need to navigate the digital world and take advantage of the opportunities presented by technology. The first cohort of learners at Summer Park in Fresno, California, recently completed the program. Each graduate received a certificate of completion, a new Samsung A8 Galaxy tablet, and a case protector for the device. The learners attended eight hours of technology classes to receive these rewards. It was the first time that many of these learners have ever used a tablet. Sandra Taylor, one of the learners who completed the program, describes her experience as “outstanding.” She feels passionately that “everybody should know about this class” because she believes that learning how to navigate technology is essential in today’s world. According to Taylor, “It’s an asset to learn about different apps and different websites, and I think it’s very important that everybody learns.” The digital equity program offered by CTN covers a wide range of topics, including basic technological skills, internet safety, and […]

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CTN Customizes Digital Literacy Curriculum to Support Texas-Based Latinx Organization

jess — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:00:00 +0000

El Buen Samaritano (EBS), located in Austin, Texas, is a powerhouse organization. Serving mainly the Latinx community, EBS offers its clients access to a food pantry, assistance in applying for government benefits, youth and adult education programs, and even health resources. Prior to the pandemic, EBS offered in-person, bilingual (Spanish/English) digital literacy classes in its computer lab. The classes were meant for people who had never touched a computer before and covered the basics of technology — including how to use a mouse and keyboard. The organization had to temporarily pause this course due the outbreak of COVID-19. Determined to continue serving the community, EBS pivoted at this time and began offering virtual digital literacy training for adults who already had some computer skills. These intermediate classes taught more advanced skills, such as using Google Suite. Now that EBS has finally been able to open its doors again, the organization has continued with both its in-person and virtual instruction. However, it decided that it wanted to take its digital equity offerings to the next level. Isabel Bernal, the education program manager at EBS, says: “I realized that our previous curriculum from pre-COVID was really outdated and it wasn’t what we […]

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CTN Partners with San Mateo, Sonoma Counties to Implement California Department of Aging’s Access to Technology Funding

jess — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:00:06 +0000

The California Department of Aging recently awarded millions of dollars to counties across the state to help bridge the digital divide for older adults (60+) and adults with disabilities (18+). Community Tech Network has paired with San Mateo and Sonoma counties to help them efficiently implement their funding. The goal of this statewide initiative is to reduce learners’ isolation, increase their social connections, and enhance their self-confidence and self-sufficiency in navigating digital and online resources. In order to meet this target, we’re taking a nuanced approach that includes numerous components of digital inclusion. We first partnered with agencies throughout the counties that serve older adults and adults with disabilities so that these agencies can refer potential clients to us. This collaboration with nonprofits and government entities is crucial because it allows our work to be sustainable. These groups will continue to support digital equity in the community even after the grant period ends. We then purchased tablets, which we will provide free of charge to all learners. We will also make arrangements to ensure that the learners have access to reliable internet and help eligible low-income households sign up for discounted internet service through the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program. […]

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CTN Hosts First Graphic Design, Photo, and Video Editing Class

jess — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:00:51 +0000

Each year, 4.2 million young people across the United States experience homelessness. Did you know that about 1 in 3 of these homeless youth live in California? Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Northern California has been working to address this issue by providing housing and other tools — such as job training, mental health support, and education — to ensure that these youth have a stable future. As part of these efforts, they’ve teamed up with Community Tech Network. In past years, CTN has taught LSS youth how to do things like build a resume, search for jobs online, and create spreadsheets. Gaining these digital skills helped many of the young people gain meaningful employment. For the first time ever, CTN recently offered a cohort of LSS learners one of our brand-new trainings: a course on Canva, a program used for graphic design as well as photo and video editing. CTN’s Jessica Pasquarello, who taught the classes, says: “Nowadays, young people aren’t just using social media to post cute pictures of themselves. They’re using it to launch their careers. For example, if you make music, you can get noticed by producers by having a strong social media presence. If you […]

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