I also heard from community leaders who stressed how much more they could do to promote digital equity in our communities with the proper resources and support. During my visit, I met with constituents who told me about the importance of having access to those tools and teachers in their community, and how it helped them achieve their personal and professional goals - from completing an award-winning student film, to finishing a Microsoft certification course that opened up new employment opportunities. At the library, staff were available on-site to assist, teach, and guide residents on a range of tools - from a state-of-the-art audio engineering lab and computer skills room, down to baby toys that introduce our youngest learners to coding and sequencing. Recently, during a tour of the Tacoma Public Library in my home state of Washington, I saw the digital divide up close and how community leaders and residents are stepping up to offer digital inclusion programs and training to fill the void. We must act now to close the digital skills gap in our communities. That means absent intervention, many people - especially communities of color, people with disabilities, low-income households and rural communities - are at risk of being left behind. We know that digital exclusion carries a high societal and economic cost, and exacerbates existing wealth and income gaps in our communities.
That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Digital Equity Act - a new bill that would help connect students, workers, and families with the tools and skills they need to succeed in our rapidly-evolving, increasingly connected world.
WATCH: Senator Murray Introduces New Legislation to Tackle Nationwide Digital Equity Gap
0 kommentar(er)
