Project Title:
Closing the Divide with CSUDH Workforce integration Networks (CSUDH WIN)
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
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 encouraging the adoption, expansion, and continued use of these technologies within the anchor communities by partnering with nonprofit organizations.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
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$5,302,668.00Funding Amount$5,302,668.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
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 hot spots 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 of 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 effectiveness of each component, measuring and evaluating the impact of the project on the community partner, and 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.
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.
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.
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.
The applicant does not fund a consortium. The applicant’s activities do occur in the surrounding anchor communities. Details of community involvement are described below.