New California State Partnership with CTN

New Grant Announcement – Community Tech Network (CTN) has been selected as one of three organizations to provide digital literacy training as part of the California Department of Aging’s Connections, Health, Aging and Technology (CHAT) program. The project, which runs until June 2023, will provide iPads to an estimated 4,000 low-income or disabled older adults. Once the tablets are distributed, CTN will offer personalized support to 500 individuals to help them use their device. The purpose of this project is to mitigate loneliness and isolation experienced by older adults, and we are thrilled to be a part of it!

New Funds Available for Digital Inclusion – The California Department of Aging is offering every county funding for devices, training, and other services through its new Access to Technology (ATT) Initiative. This grant is aimed to help seniors and people living with disabilities get online, which can reduce their social isolation and allow them to confidently use telemedicine and other online resources. CTN, which has years of experience creating and managing digital literacy programs, is supporting various agencies as they apply for these funds. Stay tuned for more!

COMMUNITY TECH NETWORK SPOTLIGHT

Partner Spotlight: CIty of Sunnyvale

Although Sunnyvale lies in the heart of Silicon Valley, a technological hub, there exists a major digital divide in the community, particularly among Spanish-speaking adults. To address this, CTN hired bilingual digital literacy instructors, such as Carlos Sivira, from the community. Says Carlos, “Being a local allowed me to relate more closely to the [learners]. Often, classes ran late because the learners would stay after to discuss class material.” Read more about CTN’s work in Sunnyvale

Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan Huang

After volunteering with CTN for several years, Ryan Huang recently became a CTN staff member. Ryan, an immigrant from China who teaches learners in Cantonese, says: “Many seniors cannot afford tablets, and even if they can, many are not comfortable using the devices. It’s important that they can connect with someone who speaks their own language and who can explain the technology to them.” Read more about Ryan.

Staff Spotlight: Kari Gray

Kari Gray, CTN’s Digital Literacy Program Director, has been fighting for digital equity in the Bay Area for over two decades. “I see digital literacy as a tool for equity,” she says. “Without access to technology, inequities only grow bigger.” She is proud to have joined CTN this year. “We hope to inspire [our partners] as they serve their communities. … We want to create an ecosystem of digital navigators.” Learn more about Kari.

EVENTS

ACP Workshops: CTN hosted two workshops in July about the Affordable Connectivity Program. First, we led an informational session about the program at the Senior and Disability Action Survival School. Later, we hosted another workshop at the Rosa Parks Community Center. Here, volunteers from AT&T were also in attendance to offer guidance and support as people filled out their applications.
Tech Support Pop-Up: CTN hosted a Tech Support Pop-Up event last month at the I.T. Bookman Community Center. Staff and volunteers helped over 15 attendees navigate their smartphones and tablets. They also troubleshot issues related to emails, applications, and software.