Digital Inclusion Impact: Solving for the Hardware Gap in Louisville
Today, participation in society relies heavily on one’s ability to access and utilize the Internet and a computer effectively. As modern life increasingly moves online, the gap between the digital “haves” and “have-nots” will only continue to widen. Computers, not smartphones, are the key to unlocking the full potential of our modern world including educational and employment opportunities that can change the trajectory of people’s lives. The modern world requires modern tools, and as part of our digital inclusion strategy, we want to work towards a Louisville where every household that needs a computer, has a way to get one into their home.
In Louisville, based on 2015 ACS data, we know that 17% of African American households do not have a computer at home and Hispanic families are twice as likely as a white families to not own one. And, we also know that 31% of people living below the poverty line don’t have a laptop or desktop computer available for them to use in their home and half cite cost at the main reason they do not own one. As in other cities across the nation, Louisville’s digital divide mirrors the racial, socioeconomic, and geographic inequities in the community and across the nation as a whole.
To help bridge the hardware gap in Louisville, we started a computer donation and refurbishment program in partnership with the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) and Jefferson County Public Schools. The program accepts used laptop and desktop computers from local corporations. Fern Creek High School Computer Science students then refurbish the computers so they can be distributed to fellow students in need, HUD-assisted housing residents, and Louisville Metro Digital Inclusion partners.
Since inception in August 2017, Fern Creek high school students have refurbished over 350 computers donated from local corporations for our community. This innovative partnership provides a hands-on learning opportunity for computer science students throughout the school year, while allowing them to serve their community by giving a citizen in need a tool that has become absolutely necessary in today’s economy.
“20% to 30% of our students who participate in the Computer Science Academy are immigrants from other countries and English is not their first language,” said Scott Horan, Director and Instructor at Fern Creek High School’s Computer Science Academy. “These kids are really driven to be computer science students and that’s what got us started. We recognized the talent we had and we needed to support these students by making sure they had a computer at home. We can’t expect students to get their school work done just in the classroom.” “If you’re in our computer science program, we want to make sure you are on the other side of the Digital Divide,” Horan says
Once refurbished, these computers help people get connected to the resources they need to achieve their fullest potential, even if they are only in 1st grade:
A mother at Parkway Place recently came to LMHA’s social work offices to ask for assistance in completing her first grade son’s first Black History Month project. They did not have a computer or Internet service at home and were struggling to create a project with all the required information. With the assistance of social work staff, the mother and son used an office computer to conduct research, search for images and print graphics for the presentation board. By the time the boy finished his assignment, he was beaming from ear-to-ear and proudly presenting his project to everyone in the office.
“It makes me kind of emotional thinking that teachers may believe kids without a computer or Internet at home aren’t putting forth as much effort as the other kids when the reality is they don’t have the same resources,” — Mika McClain, LMHA social worker and ConnectHomeUSA team member.
We learned a lot of lessons from the first year including the local need for computers is bigger than our program. We currently have a waitlist of over 400 Louisville residents in need of a computer, not including the new Fern Creek Computer Science students and LMHA residents without a computer. We also learned that just giving someone a computer is not enough. People need the skills to use the computers, so we have started working with local partners to deliver digital skills trainings at LMHA housing sites. And, we learned computer recipients also need things like mouse pads, surge protectors, and even desks to put their computers on.
In the first year of the program, our budget was zero dollars. We pulled this initiative off without a dollar and got over 350 computers to people that need them. But, we won’t be able to expand the program to more families without help.
How you can support this work
There are two ways you can support this project and our other digital inclusion work:
Donate Computers
- We are always looking for more corporate laptop or desktop donations. Please reach out to me at edward.blayney@louisvilleky.gov if your company is willing to donate used computers to our program.
Donate to the Community Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Fund
- Small donations can make a big impact. For example, $25 will purchase two laptop power chargers so we those computers into people’s homes. Follow this link to learn more about our digital inclusion work and to make a tax-deductible donation : Donate Today
