The world is currently the most technologically advanced it has ever been. It is difficult to imagine navigating the world without the internet. An average cellphone can help you find your destination, call your loved ones, and even be your wallet. With a world so fast-paced, some people are inevitably left behind. This is where HACLA comes in and closes the digital divide.
HACLA, or the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, is one of the nation’s biggest housing authorities which provides the residents of Los Angeles with affordable housing. They also offer a few other services to housing residents, including the Digital Inclusion Initiative.
In this initiative, residents can sign up to become digital ambassadors who can support other residents who are less knowledgeable about internet usage. These digital ambassadors can teach residents anything from finding a career through a job search to simply downloading an app. HACLA also provides internet devices and free Wi-Fi systems for both personal use and providing residents the resources needed to learn how to use the internet.
Licia Villalta, who serves as HACLA’s administrative programs specialist, sees her role as a way to support those who genuinely want to be educated about digital literacy. “We are moving in a fast-paced world where technology is becoming a big part of the way we function as human beings. And so it’s important to especially reach out to folks where they are historically marginalized,” said Villalta.
According to Villalta, sustaining the program is challenging. The City of Los Angeles fully funds the program, and funding has increased as the initiative has demonstrated positive results for the residents. However, the structure of this program can seem a little overwhelming.
“There’s only one program development coordinator, and so it has been a little challenging in terms of managing and making sure that every digital ambassador has the support that they need to be successful by just one person [...] it’s really important to continue to ask for that funding and showing outcomes and showing the results that we’re doing, just like what we’re doing now,” said Villalta.
Villalta is also responsible for looking over the lead ambassadors like Marina Gomez. Gomez resides in one of the public housing sites where she grew up with deaf parents. She has described technology usage with deaf members of her family especially challenging. In her time as an ambassador, she found herself using sign language to aid a family.
“One time I was helping a family. I translated for them in ASL because it turns out not many people know it. [...] my heart really blew up that day, because the way that they were really happy to see someone translate for them, making sure they get what they need was honestly like Christmas,” said Gomez.
The Digital Ambassador program started in 2021 and the creation of the program has made an impact on the HACLA community. In 2022, HACLA won the All-America Cities Award for recognizing the needs of its residents throughout the city of Los Angeles. HACLA has collaborated with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Los Angeles Public Library, Starry Internet, and communities in schools for digital equity for the youth, according to the Digital Inclusion Initiative Update of October 2022.
Villalta feels pride and hope for the program’s future, as she notices that her digital ambassadors are impacting their communities.”This is a program that we are looking to expand. Any funding we can get to expand and sustain this program would be amazing. And so if anyone out there would like to make a donation or continue to fund our program. We’re open to that!” Villalta said.