1709C13079

The Chicago State University (CSU) "Advancing Broadband Equity Through Learning Intermediaries in the Neighborhoods of Chicago" (ABELINC) project, together with subrecipients Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), will implement a Community Navigator Program to address the digital inequity and exclusion among populations and in anchor communities that have endured historic segregation and disinvestment in Chicago neighborhoods.

The ABELINC Community Navigator Program, based at Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University, will use a multi-level approach in which full-time navigators work with student navigators to provide high-touch digital skills support with key underserved population groups. Each full-time navigator will develop an engagement strategy with community partners and provide mentoring and supervision to a cohort of student navigators.

The navigators will be trained in and will provide guidance around 4 key skills to foster household broadband adoption: a) basic digital literacy (e.g., introduction to devices, broadband technologies, and popular applications); b) digital conduct (e.g., online safety, privacy management, responsible social media practices, etc.); c) online resources and tools (e.g., food support, education/training, employment search, healthcare, childcare, government benefits, etc.); and d) internet subscription/enrollment and device purchase (e.g., introduction to service plans, government subsidy programs, community resources, and enrollment support).

In addition, the navigators will help local small businesses develop online commerce literacy (e.g., using social media to promote awareness, using business tools). The navigators will also provide laptops to households in the priority neighborhoods that have only smartphones and mobile plans.

In addition to the Community Navigator Program, CSU will upgrade its campus internet connection to meet the increasing campus demand for bandwidth. This program would enable CSU to serve as an informational hub for resources related to the social, economic, and educational missions of partners in the area, such as high schools, community colleges, small businesses, community organizations, and the public. Students, faculty, staff, and community members will have improved access to high-speed, reliable connectivity to realize educational, research, and outreach goals.

This project will serve the students of CSU, NEIU, and UIC, as well as their anchor communities in Chicago, IL, with a focus on returning citizens, seasonal transitory and undocumented workers, single parents, and unemployed and underemployed individuals without high school diplomas, as well as their households and the small/micro businesses that serve and employ them.

Returning citizens will gain transferable employment skills and access to new support resources. Seasonal transitory and undocumented workers will be able to connect to essential resources without fear of adverse state action against them. Single parents will have a more expansive support network for childcare and self-care and a pathway to adaptive lifelong learning. Those who are unemployed or underemployed will be able to more readily access benefits and connect to opportunities for reskilling and upskilling. The children within the households impacted will be able to study safely at home with access to online resources.

Community navigators will benefit from increased self-esteem and confidence, transferable employment skills and competencies, and connection to community resources.

Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) will be subrecipients for this project. NEIU will hire and manage community navigators. Both NEIU and UIC will coordinate and provide select training, provide facilities for training and community engagement, and help conduct community-based participatory program evaluation.

Chicago 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]

Chicago, Illinois 60628-1501 United States

Single Zip Code

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

COVID-19 $3,232,256 (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 02/28/25 to 02/28/26.