LinkNYC, a public Wi-Fi network provider, and Digital Girl, a Brooklyn-based tech education nonprofit, recently partnered to launch a series of free digital literacy workshops for Brooklyn seniors and youth this past summer.
The inaugural “DigitalMe!” workshop series, which took place at the Brooklyn Gigabit Center in Crown Heights, taught over 80 local residents how to use tablets and computers.
The workshops focused on topics such as internet safety, social media, privacy and the concept of digital footprints, among others.
The aim of the workshops is to minimize the digital divide that New Yorkers — particularly children and seniors — experience as a result of not having internet access.
According to a release, over one million households in NYC lack access to in-home Wi-Fi, with even lower rates in lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color. Crown Heights, in particular, where the workshops were conducted, yields a household broadband rate of just 36%.
“The Brooklyn Gigabit Center has been an invaluable asset to the Crown Heights neighborhood,” said Michelle Gall, executive director of Digital Girl. “Digital Girl was thrilled to expand our partnership with LinkNYC at the Center with the DigitalMe! workshop series — providing our community members with free digital literacy education is key to making Brooklyn a more equitable borough where everyone has access to the 21st-century tools they need to thrive.”
As part of the partnership between LinkNYC and Digital Girl, the Brooklyn Gigabit Center is also providing free high-speed Wi-Fi for the local community, as well as free access to laptops and tablets, in addition to the workshops.
Following the success of the digital literacy workshops during the summer months, more have been planned for the future.
"The arrival of the Brooklyn Gigabit Center earlier this year marked an important step toward bridging the digital divide for residents of Crown Heights," said NYC Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser. "The Gigabit Center's recent DigitalMe! workshops continued this vital work by providing students and older adults with the necessary tools and training to pursue their dreams and stay connected to loved ones."
For a full course catalog and more information about upcoming programs, visit Digital Girl’s website. The Brooklyn Gigabit Center is located in the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, which is at 1561 Bedford Ave. in Crown Heights.
