According to the Brookings Institution, a prestigious social research center based in Washington, DC, almost two out of every three jobs created in the country since 2010 have required a medium or high level of digital skills. That is, medium to high degrees of knowledge and ability to work with computers and computer programs. We Latinos constitute the for percent of the US workforce, and to 2025 we will contribute nearly half of the new workforce. And yet, we represent 18 percent of the workers who lack digital skills.
Aware of the urgency for more Latinas and Latinos to acquire these skills, our Hispanic Federation participates in the Latino Digital Accelerator ( Latino Digital Accelerator initiative ), which aims to respond to this disparity, facilitate the insertion of our people in this new labor force and, as a result, increase the social mobility of Hispanics.
“To meet these goals,” explains Peter Michelen, Manager of the Hispanic Federation’s Labor Initiatives Program, “we have created a network of 18 Digital Equity Centers. These Centers work in many other non-profit organizations under Latino leadership, which provide services to our community in continental states and in Puerto Rico”.
The Centers will use digital skills learning programs for work that will be adapted to the needs and characteristics of each student and each person who are looking for a job. In addition, the levels of digital knowledge of the people will be taken into account, and differentiated teaching will be offered for beginners, intermediate students and advanced students. Another aspect that will be taken into account will be the needs and expectations of potential employers.
“In each of the Digital Equity Centers”, adds Peter Michelen, “access to Wi-Fi will be provided -Fi throughout the week to people who participate in the program, as well as others who visit the premises. In doing so, we will achieve our goals of connecting a growing number of Latinas and Latinos to the Internet, training them in digital skills, and preparing participants to join the workforce of the future and enjoy the benefits of economic mobility”.
The five Digital Equity Centers corresponding to New York will work in the following community organizations:
- The Knowledge House; 363 Rider Avenue, Bronx; http://www.theknowledgehouse.org/contact/.
- Fifth Avenue Committee; 621 DeGraw Street, Brooklyn; (866) 237-2017.
- Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow; 882 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn; (866) 369-363
- Urban Vision – 200 East Broadway, Manhattan; (646) 626-9748
- Exodus Transitional Community – 2271 Third Avenue, Manhattan (917) 432-0990 Ext. 118
And to To learn more about the Hispanic Federation, call our bilingual line at 1-866-HF-AYUDA, or 1 -866-432-9832.
You can also visit http://www. hispanicfederation.org, or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Let’s celebrate together the 25th anniversary of the Hispanic Federation, and until the next column!
Frankie Miranda is the president of the Hispanic Federation