Digital Health Literacy Project staff attended two exciting events in Richmond earlier this month. 

On June 4, the West Contra Costa Family Justice Center held a grand opening event at their new location, 256 24th Street (just south of Macdonald Ave). The Center serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking. It used to be located at a police substation at Hilltop Mall, but the new location is a "one-stop" center that brings together many public and community-based organizations under one roof. The Center expects to serve 2,000 survivors within its first year. Each client works with a Navigator to connect them to a wide range of services. 

One June 13, the Building Blocks for Kids Richmond Collaborative (BBK) hosted their fifth annual Major Taylor Bike Fiesta at Lincoln Elementary School. We hosted a table with the Richmond Public Library and Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP). A big thank you to LEAP volunteers Alex and Darra Owen, LEAP staff Hilaria Wright and Celina, and Library staff Deborah Bonet for helping out at the table. Also thank you to Half Price Books in Berkeley for donating children's books that we passed out. Residents also enjoyed the other materials at our table, including English-Spanish dictionaries, stress balls, pens, pencils, notebooks, flyers about Library and LEAP programs, and craft materials to decorate bikes. BBK did an excellent job coordinating a fun and memorable event, including free healthy and delicious food, zumba classes, bike repairs, games, and music. We are already looking forward to next year's Bike Fiesta!

The federal government may soon help low-income families afford broadband internet access. Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has proposed expanding the Lifeline Program to include broadband internet service in addition to traditional telephone lines and cellphones. The New York Times reports that the FCC will vote on the proposal on June 18, and the program expansion may go into effect by the end of this year.

In the meantime, discounted internet service can be found through EveryoneOn.org. The Richmond Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) has signed up to be a local partner with EveryoneOn to help connect Richmond residents to internet for as little as $10 per month.

As Chairman Wheeler tweeted, "Today, broadband is necessary for full participation in society. The current divide between the digital "haves" and "have nots" is unacceptable." In California and Richmond, the digital divide is exceptionally large and unacceptable, and this federal proposal is a step in the right direction to help all residents have access to the resources they need to support themselves and their families.