Latinos Gain Digital Literacy At New Center
CINCINNATI, OH — Understanding the imperative need to help advance digital literacy among the Hispanic community, Time Warner Cable (TWC) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are partnering to activate the “TWC-LULAC Empower America Tech Center” at Su Casa Hispanic Center in Cincinnati. Procter & Gamble (P&G) is providing additional support through the educational program offered at the new tech center.
In celebration of this new center, there will be an opening ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 10:30 – 11:30 am at Su Casa Hispanic Center, located at 7036 Fairpark Avenue in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Councilman Wendell Young and Cincinnati City Manager Milton R. Dohoney, Jr. are expected to join the launch celebration. The new technology center is timely and needed as a survey from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shows only 49 percent of Hispanics have adopted broadband at home. The study shows the Hispanic community, particularly in Spanish-language homes, is falling behind when it comes to access to technology. “Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio is grateful to LULAC, P&G and Time Warner Cable for their generosity and wonderful support of Su Casa Hispanic Center,” said Kathleen Donnellan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio, which operates Su Casa Hispanic Center. “This new technology center provides an important and valuable resource and educational tool to our clients in the Hispanic community.” Program participants will have free access to computer classes and resources like high speed internet, desktop computers and a laser printer, which will help them to develop job skills, research career options and engage in educational opportunities such as money management, English language, and online citizenship curriculum. Time Warner Cable Regional Vice President of Operations Shannon Mullen says the center demonstrates the company’s goal to expand broadband technology to underserved communities. “Today’s Internet is a vital information, education and communications tool. To take full advantage of its potential, people need to have high speed data access and this technology center will be an important resource to a community which has the desire, but not always the opportunity, to benefit from it,” she added. “We thank P&G, Time Warner Cable and Su Casa for making this technology center possible and for providing high speed internet access, online resources and educational classes for the Latino community of greater Cincinnati,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “This center will help bridge the digital divide for low income, Spanish dominant Latinos allowing them access to the technology they need to prepare for the today’s competitive workforce.” Additional data from the FCC survey indicates that, at 22 percent, lack of digital literacy skills was cited as the second key reason for not having Internet access at home (number one reason was the cost of Internet connectivity, as cited by 36 percent of non-adopters). For Hispanics in particular, 18 percent cite digital literacy as a key barrier, while 52 percent state that cost is an issue (which includes not being able to pay a monthly fee or afford a computer). “For our Hispanic community, having access to these free resources and tools will allow them to polish their skills and gain the needed technological knowledge they are currently lacking, so they can become fully immersed in the digital information age,” said Alexandra Vegas, Director Multicultural Business Development Organization North America for Procter & Gamble. Supported by a grant from Time Warner Cable, this TWC-LULAC Empower America Tech Center in Cincinnati is part of LULAC’s Empower Hispanic America with Technology Network, which currently provides broadband access free of charge to 100,000 visitors annually. The TWC-LULAC Empower America Tech Center at Su Casa Hispanic Center will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, please call (513) 761-1588. About Su Casa About LULAC
Su Casa Hispanic Center is a program of Catholic Charities of South Western Ohio. Su Casa was founded in 1997 as a response to the sudden increase in the numbers of immigrants arriving to Cincinnati from Mexico and the rest of Latin America. Su Casa was the first organization in the Cincinnati region to focus on the Latino Community and the influx of immigrants to the area.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through 880 LULAC councils nationwide.
