There’s a movement underway to eliminate barriers to digital inclusion, particularly in historically underserved areas. The Avondale Digital Inclusion Project is a collaboration between the Avondale Development Corporation (ADC), Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI), and the University of Cincinnati to assess digital access, needs, and resources in Avondale.
The purpose of the project, which kicked-off in the fourth quarter of 2021, is to gather insights about digital opportunities and needs within Avondale and develop an action plan that fosters digital inclusion and eliminates barriers within the Avondale community.
“Understanding the obstacles our community faces will enable us to work with our Avondale partners to generate short-term and long-term strategies to address the digital divide, engage potential partners, and secure resources,” explained Beth Robinson, President and CEO of UCI.
According to Russell Hairston, Executive Director of ACD, the project fits into Avondale’s Quality of Life Plan. “Quality of Life planning is one of the most important steps a neighborhood can take to become healthier, safer and economically stronger,” Hairston explained. “We know that digital inclusion is a community priority for Avondale and we’re pleased to take this next step to achieve it.”
ADC, UCI and UC are working collaboratively to gather data that will develop a preliminary strategy that can be undertaken by both public and private sector partners to further the goal of digital inclusion, with a specific focus on Avondale. The project’s data-gathering process includes focus group sessions and a survey, focused on answering three questions:
1) What is the status of digital inclusion in Avondale? Are there current efforts and assets in place to bridge the digital divide? What additional support and partnerships might be developed to help address issues identified?
2) Within Avondale, are there populations (e.g., seniors, homeowners, educators) who face particular challenges or specific geographic areas with the highest need (e.g. affordable housing units that cannot get robust internet service)? Where would it be most beneficial to focus initial efforts?
3) What short-term and long-term strategies might increase digital inclusion in Avondale?
The project includes the following three steps: data review, data collection, and a summary of findings that will be used to develop action plans.
Data review
First, UC conducted a literature review of other cities’ efforts at digital inclusion, especially the efforts of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), to identify best practices and lessons learned and provide recommendations. Then ADC, UCI, and UC worked collaboratively to identify potential best practices and strategies that might address the specific needs of residents in Avondale. UC reached out to specific organizations that work in the digital inclusion space to gather data about the current level of digital inclusion in Avondale.
Data collection
Currently, additional data collection is occurring through focus groups and a digital survey.
The digital survey, which is linked here, is available until March 31, 2022. Individuals and organizations who live, work, worship, volunteer, or regularly visit businesses in Uptown are encouraged to participate. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
“Your participation is extremely helpful to understand obstacles in accessing and using the internet, networked infrastructure and devices, digital literacy, and technical support and training,” said Kathie Maynard, a co-facilitator of the Community Change Collaborative. The University of Cincinnati Evaluation Services Center (UCESC) team has extensive expertise in merging data from multiple sources over many waves of data collection and integrating mixed methods data.
Report and action plan development
After the focus groups and survey results are compiled, UC will analyze the data and develop a summary final report of findings and recommendations to enable the community’s consideration of short-term and long-term digital inclusion strategies through action plans.
For more information about the project, please send an email to Brooke Rapp, Director of Community Development, Uptown Consortium, Inc.: brapp@uptownconsortium.org.