Project Title:
Connecting Minority Communities
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, Connect Eagle Nation, is a collaborative pilot program led by Coppin State University to close the digital gap in Baltimore City. The Connect Eagle Nation proposal will focus on outreach and education, through the use of digital navigators; upgrading technology skills through a practical curriculum to develop workforces skills; planning & capacity building; providing access to computers; and providing an assessment in technology and telehealth in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
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$3,990,880.00Funding Amount$3,990,880.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The Connect Eagle Nation project is an innovative project with five activities: 1. purchase and distribute laptops to targeted community recipients; 2. the partner firm WIS Education will create a curriculum for the new Cyber Apprenticeship Program resulting in industry certification; 3. a new Digital Navigator program will assist community members in affordable internet adoption, device acquisition, technical skills, application support and the use of computing devices; 4. the Coppin School of Nursing will collaborate with Baltimore County to provide health and technology assessment in Baltimore County/City with the help of Digital Navigators; and 5. a planning and capacity building committee will map services to analyze community readiness and needs for broadband. It will also Partner with government leaders, other institutions, K-12 schools, business organizations, and non-profits to combine resources, evaluate existing digital infrastructure for a coherent strategy, and present a unified community voice.
As a result of project implementation, the project aims to: develop a pipeline of device delivery to low-income households, prioritizing households with school-age children; enhance the capability of Coppin State University and Enoch Pratt Library to provide outreach support and digital skills training; and create a planning and capacity building committee that support local efforts that help educate the Eagle Nation Communities on identifying needs and goals, start conversations with providers, evaluate options, and move towards implementing infrastructure projects.
The Connect Eagle Nation project aims to connect the Mondawmin, Coppin Heights, Easterwood, Walbrook, Panway/Braddish Avenue, Sandtown/Winchester, Penn North communities and surrounding anchor communities in Baltimore, Maryland by providing outreach, access, equipment, and support services to facilitate greater use of broadband services.
The subrecipients are: (1) National Forum for Black Public Administrators providing project evaluation, WIS and NPower coordination, and health assessment coordination; (2) Baltimore County, providing health and technology assessment in Baltimore County/City with the help of Digital Navigators; (3) Enoch Pratt Free Library to provide outreach support and digital skills training; (4) WIS Education, a Cyber Training and Education firm, to provide broadband education, awareness, and training (including Digital Navigators); and (5) NPower, a tech training firm, to provide Tech Fundamentals and Digital Navigator Training.
The applicant does fund a consortia. The applicant’s activities do occur in the surrounding anchor communities. Details of community involvement are described below.