0609C13005

Project Purpose: California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH)'s Closing the Digital Divide with CSUDH Workforce Integration Networks (CSUDH-WIN) project aims to promote digital equity by providing access and training in digital technologies for CSUDH students. It also aims to encourage the adoption, expansion, and continued use of these technologies within the anchor communities by partnering with nonprofit organizations.

Activities: CSUDH-WIN will be a multi-faceted program that includes community-based conduits addressing the key goals for the Connecting Minority Communities pilot program: access, connectivity, adoption, and equity. The university will provide Wi-Fi access, equipment, technology, and resource support to the anchor communities. This will include distributing laptops and Wi-Fi hotspots to students, staff, and community members; providing technical support to community members served by collaborating partners; and helping to locate resources. The project will also build digital skills and IT workforce personnel in the anchor communities and at CSUDH. This includes teaching a capstone course for students followed by an internship in the following semester, including a digital project co-designed with a community partner. University staff will complete a digital skills course and then coordinate and manage projects to provide students with career readiness and will deliver workshops to community patrons. Finally, the university will conduct a program evaluation and research on the project implementation, technology access and adoption, and training. This includes assessing the effectiveness of each component, measuring and evaluating the impact of the project on the community partner, and the ability to improve from year one to year two. There are several collaborators on this project that will aid in intern placement, technology distribution, and host trainings for anchor community residents.

Outcomes: Expected outcomes from the CSUDH-WIN project include: 1) increased community member adoption of technology through digital inclusion, device ownership, and technical support; 2) advance their skills in career planning and job search, leading to participation and advancement along career pathways; and 3) increased levels of digital literacy skills in the anchor community. The program's focus on developing a digital literacy roadmap for implementation will support this project and integrate the work for the future.

Beneficiaries: CSUDH students, campus faculty, and staff, as well as the project collaborators and its patrons will benefit from the project. Students will have increased confidence in digital skills, advanced literacy and understanding of how to use technology, and development of proficiency in at least one key aspect of digital literacy to advance career readiness. Stakeholders in the anchor communities will receive laptops and hotspots once they complete a workshop series. The digital literacy of key staff involved in the project and individuals in the surrounding community will be advanced. Campus staff and faculty will learn advanced digital literacy, increased proficiency in technical applications of teaching methods in the discipline, and acquire increased knowledge of support resources and assets. This project will impact the communities of Compton, Gardena, Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Torrance, California.

Subrecipient Activities: The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.

Dominguez Hills California State University

TO PROVIDE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS IN ANCHOR COMMUNITIES: FOR THE PURCHASE OF BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE OR ANY ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT, OR TO HIRE AND TRAIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PERSONNEL; TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; TO OPERATE A MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE); OR TO OPERATE A TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE LACK OF BROADBAND ACCESS, CONNECTIVITY, ADOPTION AND EQUITY AT OUR NATION¿S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS), TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (TCUS), AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (MSIS), AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES. TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THROUGH REMOTE INSTRUCTION; AND TO CONSORTIA INCLUDING MBES OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO OPERATE THAT MBE OR TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. TO SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY BUILDING THE DIGITAL CAPACITY OF THE ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS AND FURTHERING BROADBAND ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND DIGITAL SKILLS WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS AND IN THEIR SURROUNDING ANCHOR COMMUNITIES.

11.028 - Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

Carson, California 90747-0001 United States

Single Zip Code

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (NTIA-CMCPP-2021)

COVID-19 $5,302,668 (100%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the CARES Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 11/30/24 to 05/31/25.