Bridging the Digital Divide, One Career Seeker at a Time

The digital revolution dramatically changed many aspects of everyday life. From medical appointments to college classes to job interviews to connecting with others, life increasingly happens online. For many people, this cultural shift has brought convenience and efficiency. For others, it created a digital divide and new barriers to overcome. 

Many career seekers that CWEE serves face significant challenges navigating the digital world. For some, undetected and untreated learning differences, lower levels of literacy, or vision difficulties present challenges. Others have only had access to smartphones and lack experience navigating computer software or more complex websites. Whatever digital barriers participants may face, through the AmeriCorps Colorado Digital Navigator program, CWEE is connecting these career seekers with on-site individual digital skills training and guidance.   

Katie San Filippo is CWEE’s Digital Navigator and works individually with participants to identify and overcome their digital barriers. Often, the first step is helping them access a laptop through CWEE’s partnership with PCs for People, which collects, repairs and refurbishes used computers and then donates them back to the community. After that, Katie’s work with career seekers is tailored to their individual needs.  

The majority of CWEE participants are young, so-called digital natives in their 20s and 30s. Having grown up in the digital age, one might think they already possess strong digital skills. However, Katie quickly learned expertise on a smartphone doesn’t necessarily translate to confidence on a computer.  

“I saw a lot of people fail the assessments for computer and internet basics, and I knew it was time to rethink things, because clearly some of my assumptions were wrong,” Katie says. “Our participants are really good at using their phones, but many of them have had little reason to use a computer before and there’s definitely a learning curve there, not just in how you use the technology but also in how you communicate and present yourself.” 

Other career seekers that CWEE serves face more acute barriers to digital literacy. One participant is unable to read but understands well when information is read to him. So, Katie installed screen reading software on his computer and is helping him learn how to navigate Windows and the internet with a screen reader.  

“Katie has a unique knack for connection, communication and teaching, and she adjusts her approach to meet the needs of each individual that she works with,” says Megan Smith, CWEE’s Education and Employment Program Manager. Some of the ways Katie supports participants is by helping them find low-cost internet, apply for state benefits, locate and obtain school transcripts, apply for discounted transportation passes, complete digital skills assessments, learn about internet safety, format a resume, search for job opportunities, and much more.

Digital literacy and skill building have long been a central part of CWEE’s employment preparation curriculum. The AmeriCorps Digital Navigators program helps close the digital divide by funding 30 Digital Navigators at partner sites across the state, like The Learning Source, Colorado’s oldest and largest education agency. Through CWEE’s long running collaboration with The Learning Source, Katie is part of the CWEE team working with participants on their path to employment. Learn more about Colorado’s Digital Navigators here.