Equity ARC: May 2017

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MAY 2017

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The Center for Health Equity equips, trains and advocates for equitable policies and practices across Louisville Metro Government departments, and with community groups, organizations and corporations to advance equity across Louisville. 


Center for Health Equity

400 East Gray Street

Louisville, Kentucky 40202

502-574-6682


Connect with us

Find us on Twitter & Instagram @louequity  

Join the conversation #LouEquity

bit.ly/LouEquity

healthequity@louisvilleky.gov


502-574-6616

Did you know?

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. In Louisville-Jefferson County, according to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey, the AAPI population is currently estimated at 18,725 people or 2.5% of the population. The AAPI population in Louisville encompasses many countries of origin and ethnicities. For more information on the origins of this month and celebrations around the country visit http://asianpacificheritage.gov/

aapi month

Digital Divide and Inclusion

Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that don't or have restricted access. This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the Internet.    

~WhatIs.com

computuers

There have been a great deal of technology developments in Louisville over the past few weeks including news about Google Fiber and the Gigabit Experience Center. We know there are people in our community who experience more barriers to regular and stable access to the internet. Health is often related to technology in terms of access to health information, but what other ways might internet access and the digital divide play into health? The question becomes much more complex if we approach it by looking at the social and economic factors impacting health, these are what we call the social determinants of health.

The impact of the digital divide has multiple elements to consider: connectivity (access to the internet and internet connection speed), hardware (the type of devices you use to access the internet such as a smartphone or laptop), and digital skills (the education and skill it takes to navigate tools like email or Microsoft Office). In a society increasingly dependent on digital tools, connectivity, hardware, and digital skills can determine the degree of access one has to education, economic opportunity, and civic engagement—all key components to better health outcomes.

These issues are being explored in more depth in Louisville’s Digital Inclusion Strategy; read the plan to learn about strategies to address these important issues. These gaps should be important considerations for information technology project development across the city and inform new programs and projects for area public and private school districts. Equity must be a priority in technological advances in our community. Bridging the digital divide can help us move toward equity. 

We want to hear from you. How can we make CHE's information more accessible to you and the people in communities in which you are familiar?  Send us an email with the subject heading “Digital Divide” or find us on twitter @louequity.

what we are reading

What We're Reading

As a follow up to the Redlining Louisville Community Dialogue event last month at YouthBuild, you might enjoy reading and listening to this interview with Author Richard Rothstein on NPR's Fresh Air about his new book, "The Color of Law." In the interview, the author details the ways in which local, state, and federal housing policies created segregated communities across the country. What lessons and opportunities exist for Louisville today to address the long-lasting impacts of these policies? Join the conversation by using #erasethelines