2a.1 - MEASURE Presentation Addressing the digital divide in Austin, TX — original pdf

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ADDRESSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN AUSTIN: RESIDENTIALTECHNOLOGY STUDY P R E S E N T E D B Y : M E M E S T Y L E S , M P A , D E I F O U N D E R & P R E S I D E N T P A U L E T T E B L A N C , M P H F O U N D E R & C H I E F O F R E S E A R C H R E Y D A T A Y L O R , P H D What We Do At MEASURE MEASURE works to use data and education to mobilize communities to fight structural racism and eliminate social disparities. Through our CARE Model process and other tools, we ensure communities and institutions embrace lived-experience data of Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities to deconstruct underlying narratives and work together to find equitable solutions. Learn more at www.wemeasure.org Problem We Are Solving Lived-experience and quantitative data about complex social problems impacting Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities are not used effectively for justice due to racism, a lack of equitable data tools and village support. Our Theory Of Change IF we support Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities by providing free data support, training and work to cultivate community power-building to fight structural racism, THEN Powerful Black, Brown and Multiracial/Ethnic Communities will be equipped to use data to mobilize and eliminate social disparities ultimately resulting in a world free of health, education, justice and economic inequities. Our Anti-Racist Data Support Tools MEASURE CARE Model Equity Focus Group Tool Community Survey Design Tool Community Impact Metrics Tool This 3-6 month partnership Build highly-specific, lived Gather insights to take action Identify the long-term with a MEASURE facilitator will experience feedback from with a professionally designed intended impacts and result in a clear understanding community members with lived survey for your stakeholders and plan of how your solution experience through our equity with an equitable lens. aims to support your community. focus groups. measurable short-term outcomes to effectively address the issue you’re seeking to change. H I G H L I G H T E D E F G P R O J E C T S BUILDING EQUITY IN THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS CHILDREN'S OPTIMAL HEALTH IT'S TIME TEXAS BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS - WCWH CITY OF AUSTIN WATERSHED PROJET PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC AUTHORS Urenna Onyewuchi, PhD, Paulette Blanc, MPH, Reyda Taylor,PhD REFERENCES See page 2 REDLINING DE-SEGREGATION OF SCHOOLS SILICON HILLS DIGITIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMS COVID-19 PANDEMIC DIGITAL INEQUITY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS UNPACKING THE HISTORY OF INJUSTICE 1928 MASTER PLAN CREATED The 1928 Master Plan created a "Negro District" which required all Black Austinites to move to East Austin. This plan evolved into the segregation of the Hispanic/Latino community as well (2). Public policies like the National Housing Act of 1934, which established and reinforced housing segregation (also known as "redlining"), have contributed to unequal opportunities and have marginalized certain groups of people (3). The echoes of this policy still influence our cityscapes. With educational funding tied to property. taxes, and in extension the value of the housing in a neighborhood, redlining still contributes to the systematic denial of resources to Black and poor neighborhoods. 1934 FREEDMAN COMMUNITIES Juneteenth, June 19, 1865 marked Black emancipation from slavery. An 1865 City Council meeting called for extreme policing and punishing of “idle” Black people (1).; anti-Black violence was praised. During this time Freedman communities in Austin were established (1). 1865 2000s SOCIAL MEDIA Modern social media emerges and quickly becomes a means for sharing information, making connections, and news updates. (11). Notably during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri many resources were being shared via social media and people without digital access were at a disadvantage. 1953 UNDER-REPRESENTATION 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS In 1953, Austin adopted a model for city council based on "at large" positions, limiting place-based representation (4). In subsequent years "The Gentlemen's Agreement" was adopted. These systems prevented non-White groups from being able to win elections to the City Council. The Civil Rights Act was the second to the last act that threw out Jim Crow laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 dealt a crucial blow to discrimination in the workforce by making it illegal for any business, private or public, to practice discriminatory hiring (and firing) practices (9). Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, the AISD Board of Trustees originally adopted a policy of integration (5). Austin started as a high-tech hub in the '80s, and was known as “Silicon Hills.” The initial tech industries hosted in Austin included semiconductor (AMD, Samsung, Motorola/Freescale/NXP, Applied Materials), enterprise software (IBM, Trilogy, Tivoli, National Instruments) and computer hardware (Dell, IBM, Apple) (10). The Clinton administration began plans for creating programs and infrastructure to address the digital divide. The Bush administration succeed and developed policies counter to that of the Clinton administration and favored free-market solutions (8). 1990s The novel COVID-19 pandemic quickly shifted operations to virtual platforms and closed many public spaces. The pandemic became a public health crisis disproportionately impacting Austin's Black and Brown communities also exacerbates existing economic inequities (12). 2020 I-35 DIVIDE & TECHNOPOLIS BLUEPRINT In 1954, construction of I-35 began in Texas. In Austin, this created the "I- 35 divide", physically dividing the city. Infrastructural developments were primarily allocated to areas west of I-35, which became predominantly White (6,7). In 1957, a group of private leaders created vision for Austin becoming a tech hub (8). Several think tanks were held to further this vision. 1954- 1957 1980 1995 Incorporated in 1995 by legendary community leaders, Sue Beckwith and Ana Sisnett (1952-2009), Austin Free- Net was the first organization to wire city libraries and put computers in schools and community centers around Austin.” (13) Background & Methodology Background Equity Focus Group Tool Recruitment Who Participated Lack of equitable digital access Build highly-specific, lived experience feedback from Recruitment occurred from September 2021 through Understand community community members with lived January 2022 54 participants English speakers Spanish speakers Dari speakers experience through our equity focus groups. members’ lived experiences around accessing the internet and technology Find out what programs or services helped Find out what community members want in order to improve their digital access and skills Local community partners and individual outreach efforts using social media Radio public service announcements Distributions of fliers at local libraries and public places. Data Collection & Analysis Strategy Data Collection: August 2021 - January 2022 9 virtual focus groups (zoom, dial in) 6 in English language 2 in Spanish language 1 in Dari language Adaptive protocol Thematic analysis of data: January 2022 REPORT HIGHLIGHTS Infrastructure and service inequities Privilege and existing access Skills, Learning, and Digital Literacy Navigation, Trust, and Adoption Perspectives from Dari and Spanish Language Focus Groups Opportunities & Reflections Partnering with trusted relationships Frontline roles in digital equity Improved consumer experience and options Nondigital approaches Winter Storm Uri Both wifi and cellular Conclusion Developing solutions that address systemic issues Digital literacy programs designed to support various demographic needs, age-specific needs, cultural differences, and languages Using existing platforms to support services in multiple languages Human-centered design Outreach and awareness Tech Connect Resource Guide Our experience must inform change