6 minute read
Digital Equity: Empowerment Through Literacy
Stephen Shelato, Economic Mobility Partner, and Leigh Barton, Program Manager, for Striving to Thrive
Have you ever wished for a team of people invested in your personal growth? A one-stop shop where your computer learning, financial growth, and mental health journeys were facilitated by a group of helpers who were connected to multiple agencies in town that could help you with additional needs like finding shelter and beginning your recovery journey?
United Ministries is one such place, offering multiple programs that work in tandem to create a network of support. Working with organizations including the Greenville County Library System, United Ministries utilizes the resources available in the community to facilitate a personalized pathway towards empowerment for each of its clients.
“We are an integrated service model,” says Leigh Barton, who serves as the Program Manager for Striving to Thrive—United Ministries’ economic mobility initiative. Through this program, United Ministries provides longterm, one-on-one coaching that aims to help individuals achieve career, education, and life goals as they move toward economic self-sufficiency. Coaches called Economic Mobility Partners provide support, resources, and accountability as participants set and pursue these goals. “We try to find the balance between our integrated services…but also being able to make connections for our participants at other agencies that specialize in things like addiction recovery, trauma, and sexual assault.”
"We have free mental health counseling here for our participants. We also have free computer tutoring through you all. We have financial coaches in house that can really closely coordinate with our economic mobility partners," says Barton. When she references "you all," Barton gestures to
Nathaniel Lord, who serves as Digital Literacy Coordinator for Greenville County Library System and leads the team of Library staff who regularly teach computer skills to clients who participate in United Ministries’ Striving to Thrive program.
For all the economic opportunity in our community, there is also a set of obstacles laid across the path of some who need it most—not the least of which are technology challenges created by massive leaps forward in the arenas of personal computers and mobile technology that leave many at a disadvantage. This gap in personal technology skills is a major focus of the United Ministries’ Striving to Thrive team. Stephen Shelato, who serves as one of Striving to Thrive's Economic Mobility Partners, poses a question. “How many minutes do you spend at a computer each day? Multiply that by 365. Now, multiply that by the number of years since you’ve picked up a computer.” For some of their clients, he says “it’s like learning to ride a bike, but the bike has 5,000 buttons, and also, they don’t have a bike.”
The collaboration between Greenville County Library System and United Ministries was a natural one borne of the desire to serve. “We are always looking for ways to bring this set of skills out into the community,” says Lord.
“It started with a class,” Shelato recounts. Over five years ago, Library staff members from the Reference Department expanded the Library System’s offsite computer training offerings to the United Ministries location on Vardry Street.
Over time, participation in the computer classes at the United Ministries grew; all the while, Library staff were adapting their teaching methods to fit the needs of attendees, offering more personalized one-on-one help with the support of volunteers from United Ministries.
An average of 900 computer trainings are offered for adults by the Library System each year— at its 12 locations throughout Greenville County as well as offsite locations. Computer
Computer classes provide a foundation for participants to achieve digital literacy.
classes form the foundation of the Library System’s digital literacy offerings while the addition of its Book a Librarian service invites participants to make an appointment to get Library staff assistance with building a resume, finding a job online, learning Microsoft Office software, and more. Further, organizations in the community may “Book a Librarian” to come to their location and share their expertise with the people they serve. In all, some 1,700 participants per year engage in a Library-offered digital literacy training.
Lord attests that many people who come to computer classes taught by Library staff are at a beginning level oftentimes not being able to use a mouse or type. “They know that they need computer skills as individuals. They need help applying for jobs…I literally pull up a chair next to a person,” says Lord.
“The world switched to computers in the late 90s. And then, we all started using smart phones,” Shelato recalls. “At no point did [society] teach adults how to use those things.
The Library System continues to meet this changing digital landscape by expanding their offerings. When employers began accepting job applications primarily via a digital format, Library staff adapted their in-person services to help patrons navigate these online interfaces. And when local Department of Employment and Workforce centers closed their physical locations, Library staff began assisting patrons who came in with questions about filing for unemployment benefits. During 2020, the Library System added virtual computer tutoring to its digital literacy offerings.
The Library System also offers access to employment readiness resources including thousands of training videos through providers like LinkedIn Learning, Ebsco LearningExpress: Career Preparation, and O’Reilly—all free with a library card.
"Most of our participants didn't know that a librarian could help with computer tutoring," says Barton, adding that a lack of technology skills "impacts people's ability to relate to the world socially. There are a lot of feelings of shame around technology. We can see clearly it's through no fault...of their own that they don't have these skills. We try to take away that shame and fear. The gap is not so large that they can't overcome it."
“The opposite of addiction is connection,” adds Shelato. “Social connection is very important. To recover and feel a sense of hope you have to have a sense of progress.” He then recounts the success story of a participant in computer class taught by Library staff. This United Ministries client, who was staying at a shelter when he first came in, was suffering from addiction as well as a chronic health condition. Day after day, the participant returned, spending hours on his digital skills each week. He also attended ten computer class sessions presented by Library staff. He could see the results of his study evidenced by his typing score increasing, and the easing of his sense of isolation. “They have a relationship with a Librarian,” Shelato says of computer class attendees.
“Now, he’s in recovery. He’s hiking the Appalachian Trail and uploading videos to YouTube daily along the trail. He’s doing it on his phone in the middle of the woods! He’s editing. He’s self-sufficient,” Shelato concludes.
