In Petersburg, Virginia, almost one-quarter of households lack access to a computer, and over one-third of households lack access to the internet. This gap in access to technology, known as the digital divide, leaves families without access to essential services, such as telehealth, education, and employment.
While the digital divide is not new, the issue has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic pushed more of our lives online.
“The pandemic revealed the underdeveloped broadband infrastructure in Petersburg and across the Crater Region,” said George Piazza, LISC Virginia Senior Program Officer for Economic Development. “The wide-ranging harms caused by limited and unaffordable broadband connectivity for families helped advocates and policymakers see broadband as a true ‘super’ social determinant of health. Without it, families were struggling to access basic care and services.”
Access to broadband, or high-speed internet, is a social determinant of health due to its long-term physical, mental, and financial health impacts. For example, those without broadband access are shown to have limited access to life-saving cancer care, are less likely to receive care for severe mental illness, and face significant barriers finding employment opportunities. In contrast, having access to broadband is correlated with positive health outcomes.
Seeing the urgency of this issue, the Crater Health District, a system of seven health departments in south central Virginia, reached out to LISC to address broadband access in Petersburg and the surrounding areas. As a result, Sussex and Dinwiddie counties received funding from The Cameron Foundation and through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) to begin building out the region’s broadband capabilities.
This monumental investment in the community to deliver broadband access was only the start. From here, LISC Virginia partnered with Virginia State University (VSU), a Historically Black University in the heart of Petersburg. With LISC’s support, VSU secured over $2 million from the Connecting Minority Communities Program (CMC) grant to support broadband access on campus in Petersburg.
The Digital Navigation project with VSU is two-fold, aiming to increase broadband capabilities on campus and incorporate digital tools in the lives of Petersburg residents. With Rural LISC’s “Digital Navigation Toolkit,” a framework designed address digital literacy through access to technology and baseline digital skills, the LISC Virginia team is working with VSU faculty and students to connect the Petersburg community to reliable device and internet access. By providing training to VSU faculty and students as "digital navigators," they can actively engage with the Petersburg community, assisting residents in understanding how digital tools can support financial wellbeing and overall health.
Since the workshops began in October 2023, the project has served dozens of Petersburg residents through our collaboration with the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Agency (PRHA). During the Digital Navigation workshops, VSU students, who serve as “digital navigators” guide learners through courses which teach a variety of digital literacy skills, from computer basics to password security, to social media usage. After passing assessments, learners are awarded a laptop.
When asked about his experience as a digital navigator, VSU student Joshua said, “It feels great, it feels amazing! It feels like the learners earned and deserve the laptops. They thank me, but I say, ‘I should be thanking you!’”
Another VSU student and digital navigator, Takayla, said, “Every time someone passes a test, we clap, they clap. I like seeing them accomplish things, or look at the computer and see their success.”
Digital equity is key to achieve financial, physical, and mental health. This truth underpins the commitment of LISC, VSU, and the digital navigators to this program in Petersburg.
“Our mission is to empower the residents and neighborhoods,” said Brett Brooks, LISC Virginia Program Officer for Wealth Building and Community Development. “Understanding the pulse of the community starts with active listening and engagement. LISC Virginia listens. We’re committed to helping residents of Petersburg improve their ability to use digital technologies to access information, communicate, and participate in the digital economy through this great partnership with VSU.”
As the program progresses, the LISC Virginia team remains dedicated to establishing equitable broadband services and digital navigation, aiming not only to deliver up-to-date internet but also to increase access to equitable healthcare, and educational opportunities.
LISC Virginia's Digital Inclusion Project Background:
Virginia’s digital equity work is part of LISC’s commitment to digital inclusion. During the pandemic, the Crater Health District initiated a collaboration with LISC to address broadband accessibility. Recognizing the operational significance of school superintendents in delivering broadband services and troubleshooting, a taskforce comprising representatives from the Crater Region's schools was convened. Following deliberation, Dinwiddie and Sussex County were identified to receive technical assistance from LISC in their VATI grant applications, aimed at achieving comprehensive broadband coverage. However, securing VATI funding required a private match for both counties. Leveraging their partnership with The Cameron Foundation, over $1.15 million was obtained, facilitating access to over $25 million in funding. This successful partnership prompted a collaboration with Virginia State University (VSU), seeking assistance for their NTIA CMC grant. VSU solicited support in implementing a digital navigator toolkit for community outreach, integrated into their grant. Moving forward, LISC Virginia will support the integration and deployment of the digital navigation program, advancing the mission of digital inclusion and equitable technology access.