BSP's Digital Navigator Program

In today’s uncertain political and economic landscape, it is especially critical to expand opportunities for immigrant communities to include digital access and skills. Without knowing how to access a smartphone, tablet or computer, immigrant workers are at a disadvantage to find information, socially integrate, and fully participate in their community. To address this need, Building Skills Partnership (BSP) has incorporated blended learning models with classroom instruction for adult learners, which combines online digital media instruction with traditional classroom methods. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses turned to online platforms to offer their products and services. Government entities followed, so key financial and healthcare benefits were accessible only online. At the same time, schools closed, so families were left navigating on their own in an unknown digital world.

BSP’s Digital Navigator Program is BSP’s response to the needs of these families, so they have the ability to access online services and guide their children through their new online academic life. In this program, BSP volunteers recruit the first-gen children of BSP participants throughout California, ages 12 to 24, and train them to become Digital Navigators (“digital coaches”), for their parents and younger siblings.

The topics covered in this digital literacy training are instrumental for families to survive the challenges of the post pandemic world: how to connect to the Internet and participate in a Zoom call; online banking and navigating key sources like the IRS page and Kaiser health app. Participants also learn how to access online community resources like CalFresh, or the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) to purchase goods.

The Digital Navigators program has been supported by UnidosUS, Comcast, WES, CWDB through Workforce Accelerator Fund, and the Sobrato Family Foundation.