Digital Navigation - Closing the Digital Gap in Petersburg, Virginia
In Petersburg, Virginia, nearly one-quarter of households lack access to a computer. This digital divide leaves families without essential services like telehealth, education, and employment. To address this issue, LISC Virginia has launched the Digital Navigation program, a collaboration with Rural LISC, Virginia State University (VSU), and other community partners. This program aims to support digital equity through digital literacy workshops and the provision of laptops to residents of the Crater Region.
Achieving Digital Equity
Achieving digital equity requires robust support for digital literacy efforts. The need for digital skills to access opportunities in the increasingly digitalized U.S. economy has been recognized for years. However, there has been a lack of prioritization in investing in the necessary tools to address the digital literacy gap. Robust investment in digital literacy efforts can ensure widespread availability of education and training, providing participants with the range of digital skills needed to succeed. Community-based digital education and training can help individuals find jobs, develop new skills, and access affordable financial services. Read more about LISC's framework for digital inclusion here.
Workshop Structure and Curriculum
Monthly Digital Navigation workshops will be held in two sessions each month. LISC Virginia staff and VSU Digital Navigators will lead the workshops, utilizing NorthStar’s digital literacy curriculum. Participants who complete at least four Northstar courses will receive a laptop. Our curriculum includes information related to basic computer skills and specialized skills that can support telehealth, online education, and job-specific skills. Available courses are listed below:
- Basic Computer Skills
- Using Email
- Internet Basics
- Accessing Telehealth
- Using Microsoft Office
- Career Search Skills
- Information Literacy
- K-12 Distance Learning
Workshop students will receive a certification of completion in addition to a laptop upcon finishing the course requirements.
There are no digital literacy workshops scheduled at this time. Workshops will resume in Fall 2024. You can sign up for our digital inclusion newsletter here to be alerted as soon as workshops are scheduled.
Read more about LISC Virginia's committment to digital inclusion in this article about our work in Petersburg, VA.
