We’re excited to have been awarded a grant through the Missouri Department of Economic Development, funded by the 2021 Digital Equity Act, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The Digital Demonstration Projects Grant Program selected projects and research with the potential to determine what activities most effectively improve digital equity and inclusion. The grant application from MOREnet will leverage programming we recently rolled out for members of our consortium and add promotional dollars to utilize both radio and newspaper to expand and reach underserved populations with resources to get started with technology.
Over the last year, MOREnet has been working with several partner organizations to address digital inequity in Missouri. Through our partnership with the Missouri State Library, we created a website to provide access to resources about technology, how to protect data and how to evaluate information found online. More recently, we partnered with University of Missouri Extension to develop train-the-trainer modules, each complete with instructor notes, a detailed slide deck as well as handouts for the end users participating in training. Those modules are currently being rolled out at regional training sessions around the state, and include:
- Evaluating Bandwidth Options
- Accessing Internet Affordability
- Troubleshooting and Optimizing Home Internet
- Setting up a Home Internet Network
- Basic Internet Security for the Home
- Advanced Security Options for Greater Privacy
- Password Security
- Internet Search Engines
- Understanding and Managing Internet Tracking Programs
- Government and Financial Online Accounts
- Using Cloud-Based Resources
- Finding Accurate Information Online
- Phishing and Other Scams
These regional workshops are designed to equip staff from public libraries, community colleges and nonprofit organizations with the tools needed to conduct their own workshops, small group sessions and one-on-one consulting for their user communities.
The grant funds will be used to build awareness about the resources available in their local communities. Upon training your staff member(s) as digital equity facilitators, we will also work with them to determine how you will best provide that information to your community and how we can most effectively and efficiently promote the resources to benefit the people who need it the most in your area.
If you are interested in participating, the first step is to sign up for a regional training session. If those don’t work for you, reach out to us at training@more.net to get the conversation started.