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/
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
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'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.
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