Bluford Library Receives Grant to Boost Digital Inclusion in East Greensboro

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 18, 2024) – F.D. Bluford Library at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has received an award that will be used to fund digital inclusion efforts across East Greensboro that involve a collaborative network of nonprofits.

The $300,000 Digital Champion grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology will allow Bluford Library and its partners to provide essential services such as loaner WiFi hotspots, refurbished computers and digital literacy training to those who lack internet connectivity, devices and digital skills.

“This significant grant will enable us to collaborate with a diverse network of organizations to provide essential services and bridge the digital divide in our community,” said Tiffany Russell, budget and collect administrator and librarian for N.C. A&T Library Services who serves as lead principal investigator (PI) for the grant. “Our goal is to ensure that all individuals, regardless of background or circumstance, have access to the technology and skills needed to thrive in today's digital society.”

A&T co-PIs for this initiative are Stephen Bollinger, associate professor and head of library systems; Joanie Chavis, associate professor and head of research, instructional and engagement services; and Katie Kehoe, university program specialist.

Community partners and their roles in this initiative are:

• The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University: Its Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group will serve as an external assessment team, evaluating the outcomes of the East Greensboro collaborative to ensure its success and sustainability.
• Hayes-Taylor Memorial YMCA: It will provide devices and digital literacy training to their diverse user populations. It also will expand its programming to address the digital divide needs identified within its community.
• East White Oak Community Center: It will work with the East Greensboro collaborative to help low-income residents increase their access to technology and digital learning. This will address critical issues such as computer literacy for older adults, language barriers in the community, learning loss in school-aged children and device ownership.
• OurJourney: This organization will extend its services to formerly incarcerated people in Guilford County, providing essential digital skills training and peer-to-peer mentoring to help them successfully reintegrate into society.

A dedicated project coordinator will be hired to facilitate communication and coordination among all partners.

By sharing resources, expertise, and experience, this initiative aims to create a collaborative network that can sustain and expand digital inclusion efforts in the future. This comprehensive approach is designed empower community members, providing them with the tools they need to succeed as digital citizens and support their peers, families and the community at large.