New York City’s Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) is launching a new digital learning hub that will connect 330,000 New Yorkers living in public housing with free access to technology-related skills training.
The Big Apple Connect Digital Learning Resource Hub will offer free live virtual classes, pre-recorded training sessions, and additional on-demand resources that cover computer hardware basics, online privacy and security, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The hub builds on New York City’s Big Apple Connect subsidized broadband program, which provides free internet and basic cable to those same New Yorkers living in public housing. Funding comes from the city’s corporate partners, Optimum and Spectrum, which made a $1.2 million investment toward the creation of the hub and digital literacy programming.
“New York City is more connected than ever thanks to the actions the Adams administration took over the past four years to meet the immediate needs of underconnected communities,” Matthew Fraser, the city’s chief technology officer, said in a statement.
“This Digital Learning Resource Hub demonstrates our lasting commitment to expand upon the landmark success of Big Apple Connect to ensure public housing residents can get the most out of their free internet access,” Fraser continued.
Currently, the hub is offering users access to its first pre-recorded session titled “Getting to Know Your Computer,” which is available in English. Live courses with the same title will be held this week in English and Spanish.
Future courses will also be provided in Russian and Chinese “to reflect the diversity of residents” across New York City public housing.
To take a class, residents must register for an account on the hub website. Instructional materials, a recording of the class, and associated learning documents will be posted to the site in case residents are unable to join live, OTI officials said.
Other recent moves by the city to bridge the digital divide include distributing connected devices to hundreds of thousands of public school students and launching initiatives like Liberty Link, Neighborhood Tech Help, and NYC Connected Communities to provide affordable broadband, devices, and hands-on digital skills support for underserved New Yorkers.