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Arlington Awards Grants Dedicated to Making Digital Equity a Reality
At its September Meeting, the Arlington County Board voted to award $500,000 in the inaugural round of digital equity grants to seven community organizations. Through these community partners, the County will realize key recommendations of the 2024 Broadband Study and key goals of the Digital Equity Initiative. Accomplishments include, most notably, establishing a digital navigator program, expanding access to devices, and widening a range of digital skill-building options to meet the needs of Arlington’s diverse population.
The Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) coordinated the grant offering and review of proposals. The County received 23 applications, which a nine-person interdepartmental team scored on feasibility, design, evaluation, and impact.
“I am thrilled to partner with nonprofit organizations to provide tools, resources, and support to more than 1,500 residents,” said CPHD Director Samia Byrd. “This work will better connect, empower, and prepare residents to participate in our tech-driven world, furthering our pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable community.”
The grants will be delivered to the following seven groups, which provide a range of services to several target populations:
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Project Description & Impact
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Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs
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Pilot a traveling help desk at affordable housing properties to augment the organization’s basic computer class curriculum for older adults. The project anticipates serving 100 individuals. The Alliance will support an additional 70 individuals by piloting a new smartphone class in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation and by covering increasing computer costs for students in the Alliance’s existing classes.
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Expand Aspire!’s afterschool program for third-to-eighth graders to incorporate comprehensive digital skills and digital literacy training. The program will include basic digital literacy as well as STEM programming to help students build advanced skills that can prepare them for academic and career pathways. Additionally, Aspire! will provide basic digital skills and digital literacy training to parents/caregivers to support their children's academic progress. The project anticipates serving 120-150 students after school and during the summer, and 20 adults.
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The Barcroft Apartment Clubhouse will support 30 third-to-eighth graders in an engaging out-of-school experience exploring coding, engineering, and digital citizenship.
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Computer CORE provides in-person and online digital literacy classes to adults, as well as refurbished computers to any CORE student in need of a device. This grant builds on that work to develop a formal navigator program in Arlington. CORE will deploy eight trained digital navigators across County facilities and community sites for 3,200 hours of navigation support for an anticipated 500 individuals. CORE will also launch an advanced digital skills program, “COREcelerate,” in partnership with Microsoft, leading to technology certifications for 40 individuals.
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Tech for Parents is a nine-week curriculum that starts with basic digital skills and ends with a workshop in Resume and Cover Letter Writing. Edu-Futuro anticipates supporting 200 individuals. Tech for Parents is offered in English and Spanish and targets parents of Arlington Public Schools students.
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Shirlington Employment and Education Center
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Digital Skills 4 Life is a seven-week curriculum that provides basic digital skills classes to residents visiting the employment center. Approximately 60 individuals will complete the course. Additionally, two digital navigators will be trained to provide one-on-one tech help to approximately 140 individuals. Classes are taught in Spanish. Transportation and childcare will make programming more accessible.
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True Ground Housing Partners
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One hundred and sixty (160) students will participate in on-site coding education and STEM workshops for teens taught by Project Paths and Raspberry Pi Foundation at True Ground Housing Partners’ properties. The workshops are supported by George Mason University (GMU) and NOVA Labs, which will provide access to their maker spaces, 3D printing, robotics, and advanced technology experiences. Additionally, 85 students will receive scholarships to pursue GMU’s technology camps. After the workshops and camps, True Ground will hold two community events presenting a youth technology showcase that will highlight students’ achievements, inspire broader participation, and call attention to paths to technology careers.
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Arlington County will expand the membership of its Digital Equity Coalition, as all grantees are required to participate. Visit the Coalition webpage for information on how you can join.
About the Digital Equity Initiative
Arlington’s Digital Equity Initiative, housed within CPHD, provides centralized support for efforts to ensure that everyone in the County can access the opportunities offered by technology. The Initiative is funded with proceeds from JBG Smith in exchange for access to the County-owned fiber-optic network system in National Landing.
If you need assistance with obtaining devices, internet access, tech support, or digital skills training, visit the Initiative webpage and consult the Resources section.
Media Contact
Elise Cleva
ECleva@arlingtonva.us
703-228-5027
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