Project Background
Richmond, CA is a leader in both healthy public policy and digital inclusion. The City has a number of innovative and landmark health initiatives, including a Health in All Policies (HiAP) strategy and ordinance that prioritizes health, equity, and sustainability in all decisions and programs. The City is committed to eliminating health disparities, such as the high rates of obesity, asthma, and poor health in the community compared to state and county populations.
The City is also committed to closing the digital divide by ensuring that all residents have access to affordable digital skills and resources. In 2010, the Richmond Library and Cultural Services Department was awarded a three year US Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant to teach digital literacy skills and improve internet access for Richmond residents. The library partnered with 15 local agencies, recruited over 70 volunteer tutors, and supported over 2,500 learners. The digital literacy curriculum was developed using the LearnerWeb online learning platform, and the Digital Health Literacy Project is building upon this successful training model.
Richmond leaders and community partners are in the process of establishing free wireless internet connectivity in under-served neighborhoods, such as the Iron Triangle. Research by Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative's Digital Literacy Working Group found that:
This research informed the development of a successful grant proposal to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to initiate the Digital Health Literacy Project. See our funding page for more details.
Additional resources:
For Richmond article about Richmond Public Library's grant award
A list of other recipients of the 2014 IMLS National Leadership Grant
The City is also committed to closing the digital divide by ensuring that all residents have access to affordable digital skills and resources. In 2010, the Richmond Library and Cultural Services Department was awarded a three year US Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant to teach digital literacy skills and improve internet access for Richmond residents. The library partnered with 15 local agencies, recruited over 70 volunteer tutors, and supported over 2,500 learners. The digital literacy curriculum was developed using the LearnerWeb online learning platform, and the Digital Health Literacy Project is building upon this successful training model.
Richmond leaders and community partners are in the process of establishing free wireless internet connectivity in under-served neighborhoods, such as the Iron Triangle. Research by Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative's Digital Literacy Working Group found that:
- One third of residents in the Iron Triangle neighborhood in central Richmond do not have access to the internet at home
- Two out of five households do not have a working computer
- There are too few public computing sites to meet the needs of all residents
This research informed the development of a successful grant proposal to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to initiate the Digital Health Literacy Project. See our funding page for more details.
Additional resources:
For Richmond article about Richmond Public Library's grant award
A list of other recipients of the 2014 IMLS National Leadership Grant
