Community Connections Plant Digital Navigation Seeds

Part of DeSoto County’s identity as a rural place is its belief in faith. About 70 faith-based organizations operate throughout the county. With a population of about 35,000, it is estimated that a majority of DeSoto’s residents regularly include faith-based activities in their day-to-day lives. As an organization hired to do community outreach and engagement work across a variety of scopes, we cannot discount faith-based organizations when understanding what a community cares about and how it lives and breathes. 

Perspective 1: Faith-based organizations are moving their services online on par with the job sector and most industries. 

Visit a faith-based organization today, and you will find monitors along its walls. Many now broadcast their services online, which requires an adequate internet connection and a device to view. Some broadcasts are live, inviting people watching from home to be included through audio and video.

Perspective 2: Faith-based organizations share their events and activities digitally.

From newsletters to emails about potlucks, holiday celebrations, clothing drives, food distribution, and much more, today’s faith-based organizations leverage technology tools to share news, important dates, and bring their community together in ways they value. Some groups even meet exclusively online to plan, share, and debrief.

Perspective 3: Faith-based organizations provide support services that go beyond faith.

Faith-based organizations provide spaces for groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous to meet, for children or adult day care, for accountants to offer free tax preparation services, and for social circles based on common interests like quilting, and much more. Meeting dates and times are often shared on the websites and via emails or digital flyers. Leaders also support members during difficult times such as job loss and bereavement with listening sessions and counseling in person and online.

So yes, religion and technology absolutely go together. 

This month, I attended DeSoto’s Ministerial Alliance meeting, which meets on the third Thursday of every month in Arcadia, with Sondra Guffey, DeSoto County Economic Development Director and new Digital Navigator. Thanks to Sondra’s prior attendance at the Ministerial Alliance, she was able to secure a presentation slot for us to share more about The Patterson Foundation’s Digital Navigator Program with the other faith-based leaders in attendance.

Together, we spoke about how Digital Navigators are trained to provide free and confidential services to people so they can lower their internet bills or secure an affordable internet connection, obtain free or low-cost computers, and learn how to use these technologies in ways that are personally relevant and meaningful, such as job searching, learning new skills, or starting a business. While sharing this information was valuable, I discovered that Ministerial Alliance members actively organize themselves to provide targeted support for specific issues of concern such as underemployment, addiction, and child advocacy.

”This is great, thank you so much for bringing us this information,” said one Ministerial Alliance member. “I’d be interested to know more about how to help my single mothers group get ahead.” It will be thrilling to watch the seeds we planted at the Ministerial Alliance grow and prosper. 

Attendees need a stable, affordable home internet connection just as much as all of us do. In DeSoto, that means not missing service when transportation or illness makes it difficult to attend in person. They use their internet and a reliable tablet or computer to mark their calendars for events, support their programs and projects, and stay connected to their fellow members. Perhaps most importantly, attendees learn how to maximize the use of a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer to fully participate in their faith community and beyond. 

For more information about bringing no-cost digital navigation services to your community, contact mmartineztpf@gmail.com or call (508) 687-0548.