{"id":31280,"date":"2025-07-23T13:26:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T13:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/31280\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T13:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T13:26:15","slug":"asu-led-effort-helps-arizonans-get-online-and-build-digital-skills-for-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/31280\/","title":{"rendered":"ASU-led effort helps Arizonans get online and build digital skills for free"},"content":{"rendered":"

From job applications to telehealth appointments, virtual classrooms, and staying in touch with loved ones \u2014 the internet isn\u2019t just useful, it\u2019s essential. But for thousands of Arizonans, reliable access to it has been anything but guaranteed.<\/p>\n

In fact, hundreds of thousands of Arizonans don\u2019t have access to home internet, according to US Census data.<\/a> Many of those are in rural or Tribal areas, or neighborhoods like Maryvale, where broadband infrastructure has historically been lacking.<\/p>\n

Now, a statewide effort led by Arizona State University is helping close that digital divide \u2014 and not just by laying cable, but by giving new users the tools and confidence to navigate the internet safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt became obvious to us that access to internet wasn\u2019t a nice-to-have \u2014 it was a must-have,\u201d said Lev Gonick, Chair of the Sun Corridor Network.<\/p>\n

The project, backed by $34.6 million from the American Rescue Plan, is the largest university-led digital access initiative in the country. The effort includes:<\/p>\n

ASU students and staff mapping where internet service is unavailableThe Sun Corridor Network building broadband infrastructureInstitute for Digital Inclusion Acceleration (IDIA) training new users<\/p>\n

At digital learning hubs known as \u201cThe HIVE,\u201d participants get hands-on support with everything from email basics, Google Docs, podcasting, cybersecurity, or launching their own online business.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what happened for June Newman in Tempe. A grandmother and lifelong learner, she went from barely using a computer to creating her own website, podcast, and online platform for women.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust having the confidence to make my own website, yeah, I did that,\u201d she said. \u201cOh, I\u2019m a web-er now.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the project isn\u2019t just about entrepreneurship and the joys of learning. One digital navigator shared the story of a man who almost missed out on a job opportunity because he didn\u2019t have a smartphone or computer to fill out the application. With help, he was able to apply \u2014 and got hired.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese communities were fundamentally the other side of the proverbial tracks, disproportionately unconnected or underconnected,\u201d said Sun Coordinator Network Chair Lee Gonick. \u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is a model for the rest of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about The HIVE and free digital literacy programs near you, visit\u00a0theidia.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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