The Race to Close the Digital Divide announces its statewide campaign to promote computer literacy and Internet use among underserved Californians. Working with faith-based organizations around the state, the Race educates families about the many economic, educational and social benefits of the Internet and helps connect them to resources that break down the barriers of cost, equipment and literacy. Churches with the highest number of new subscribers will win a free computer lab.
The Race has attracted the support of prominent state and national officials, as well as community and faith leaders committed to closing the digital divide. Supporters include California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, former Mayor of San Francisco Willie Brown, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Mark E. Whitlock, II, Director of Community Initiatives for USC Center for Religion and Civic Engagement.
While the deployment and adoption of broadband technology is steadily increasing across the nation and within California, and more Californians use cells phones to go online, there still remains a vast difference in access among socio-economic groups, according to a 2011 Statewide Survey: Californians and Information Technology by the Public Policy Institute of California.
The Race targets five regions of California with the lowest rates of home Internet access: San Diego, Los Angeles, the Central Valley, the Bay Area and Sacramento, and tackles the common barriers to Internet adoption by showing people where to go in their communities to find information about discounted Internet service, discounted computers and FREE computer literacy training.
The Race to Close the Digital Divide runs through October 30, 2011.
For more information or to join the Race, please call 1-888-235-1541, email us at gc2day@gmail.com, or click the link to go to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/
*An English and Spanish PSA has been provided by Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez, and can be found by clicking on the following link: http://youtu.be/OMXyN51g3OM **Spanish PSA: http://youtu.be/-ZuWo2gV_Nc