(Boston Orange 編譯)
波士頓市議會上週無異議通過，動用美國援救計劃法 (ARPA) 紓困款，投資200萬元，資助波士頓市內「科技回家 (Tech Goes Home) 」項目走進更多社區。
「科技回家」項目宣傳長 (Chief Advocacy Officer) Marvin
Venay表示，新冠病毒凸顯了社會中的數位不平等更，這筆款項將容許該機構幫助更多需要工具及資源，才能進入數位世界的人。他們很感激波士頓市議會議長Ed
Flynn，市議員Kenzie Bok， Julia
Mejia等人的發起與支持撥款。
「科技回家」為波士頓市內3到96歲市民，提供高品質的數位設備，可靠的網路，以及由可信賴的社區指導人員帶領的客製化數位技能訓練。許多課程將完全在網上教授，以符合波士頓的需求，也保護學習者及教員的安全。
有了200萬元的紓困款後，「科技回家」將可和波士頓市內100多個社區組織合作，每年讓4500戶以上的波士頓家庭，或是在4年間讓6到7萬人獲得可靠的，可負擔的網路服務。
Boston City Council Approves $2 Million
Investment in Tech Goes Home Through American Rescue Plan Act Spending Package
BOSTON, July 18 – The Boston City Council voted unanimously
last week to approve a new, $2 million investment in Tech Goes
Home (TGH), a Boston-based non-profit working to
address digital inequity, as part of the City of Boston’s plan to expend
remaining relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“This is a transformative investment that will allow Tech Goes
Home to reach even further into communities across Boston and connect those in
need with the tools and resources they require to participate in the digital
world,” said TGH Chief Advocacy Officer Marvin Venay. “The COVID-19 pandemic
shined a spotlight on the impact of digital inequity, and we are grateful to
City Councilor Bok, who advocated for this funding, as well as Councilors
Flynn, Mejia, and every member of the Council who recognized the critical
importance of advancing digital equity efforts as part of a just, equitable,
and sustainable recovery.”
TGH works in partnership with a diverse network of community-based
organizations in Boston to provide learners - ranging in age from 3 to 96 -
with high-quality digital devices, reliable internet, and tailored digital
skills training led by trusted community instructors. In response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, TGH worked with instructors and partner organizations to
make many of its courses fully virtual, helping meet the burgeoning need in
Boston while keeping learners and instructors safe.
With the $2 million in ARPA funding, TGH will be able to engage
100+ new community-based organizations across Boston to host TGH programming,
expanding access for potentially thousands of Boston residents. In addition,
TGH will increase staff capacity and support for instructors, enabling them to
connect individuals and families in Boston with new federal programs offering
affordable, reliable internet access; in total, TGH expects to reach 4,500
households per year – 60,000 - 70,000 people over four years – in Boston with
reliable, affordable internet for the long term.
“Internet is becoming as essential a public utility as water and
sewer,” said Councilor Bok, Chair of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. “Still,
too many residents are without internet access and are missing out on school,
public meetings, critical information, and key services. I am so pleased that
ARPA funds will be used by Tech Goes Home to get more Boston residents online
and begin closing the digital divide.”
City Council President Ed Flynn, who has been a long-time champion
of digital equity efforts, said, “ensuring residents - particularly our working
class families, immigrant neighbors, communities of color, and our seniors -
have access to affordable and reliable internet is critical as services become
increasingly dependent on the internet. I’m proud to work with Tech Goes Home
on addressing issues of digital equity, and I know that this additional funding
from the City will enable Tech Goes Home to further close the digital divide. I
look forward to continuing working together."
"This is a major win for our city. We have been working since
the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that every household in Boston has
access to the internet, and this recent victory gets us one step closer. I want
to thank Tech Goes Home for their persistent advocacy in this space,” said
Councilor Julia Mejia, who has worked alongside TGH to expand digital access
during her time on the City Council.
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