Connecting Families to Digital Access and More

Author's Note: An ever-widening gap exists between individuals and families connected with the three essential elements of digital access and those who are not. To optimize and amplify impact, The Patterson Foundation engages with community members to support closing digital access gaps related to connectivity, devices, and skills/support.

Our story begins when Rebekah came to the Adventures into Space event on July 2 and met Kera Picker, a gap engager offering interested households the opportunity to meet with a Digital Navigator to get help finding low-cost internet, devices, and digital skills training. 

Rebekah's major worry and digital need was getting a device for her son, Robson, who was going into 5th grade. Schooled through Florida Virtual School and home education, his computer was ready to "kick the bucket." While working on the computer, it would crash often in the middle of class and make annoying noises. The battery was expanding, and the keyboard was pushing up, which could have been a dangerous situation. 

Through Sarasota Technology Users Group (STUG) and the help of fellow digital navigators Carol Kranitz and gap engagers Melissa Hirstein and Marla Smith, we got the device into Rebekah's hands for her son. He is excited to have something that works, and he does not have to worry about it. As a bonus, and as a homeschooled student, he can travel to see his grandma and family in Colorado and Arizona and still be able to keep up with his schoolwork.

They say, "Thank you, The Patterson Foundation!" 

Once we addressed her immediate need for a device, we turned to connectivity. Although she applied for the T-Mobile hotspot, she wasn't eligible because she didn't meet the eligibility requirements. She was pleased with her current internet provider, CenturyLink, and so we discussed the pricing, which sounded acceptable. Although we explored her interest in the fiber optics that had been recently installed in the DeSoto County area, she heard from local friends that there were many problems and outages, and she could not risk that. So that was tabled for the future when the kinks are worked out. 

Lastly, Rebekah was interested in training for herself and her husband, so I sent her the links for DeSoto County Library and Goodwill SW Florida.

But then, our conversation extended beyond digital access as I tried to help her navigate additional resources in the region that were available to her family. 

Her husband is a Spanish-speaking immigrant (from Brazil) and is trying to learn the English language. He was looking for work and, at this point, can only do landscaping or lumberyard type of work. I told her about CareerSource Suncoast, and even though it's geared toward Sarasota and Manatee counties, I mentioned there could be some jobs closer to Arcadia for him. When he contacted them, they referred him to another location for assistance. I recently shared the CDBIA jobs link with him—a highly active builders association in the area—to help broaden his job search and find additional work that could offer flexibility around his main job.

Rebekah shared that her stepson and his mother were trying to come to America from Guatemala and asked if we could extend our assistance to them when they temporarily come to live with them. We assured her that we would be ready to help and advised her to reach out to us when the time came. We also suggested that if the immigration process seems to slow down, she could seek assistance or clarification from Catholic Charities of Venice Immigration and her local Congressman.

Even though we met with Rebekah for digital needs, after talking to her, we can see how this spreads out into other areas of need for assistance, and we had many local resources to share. It was once again a joy to help a family and make such an impact.