COVER TO COVER

CEO of Tech Goes Home Discusses the Importance of Digital Literacy

Written by Kaitlyn Nolan, Marketing and Communications Intern, First Literacy

BOSTON, MA – On Friday, November 3, the 2022-2023 First Literacy grant recipients shared newly tested and impactful curriculum, resources, and initiatives that are making a difference in the lives of adult learners across Massachusetts.

The First Literacy Spotlight on Innovation in Adult Basic Education, held at Bunker Hill Community College’s Charlestown campus, included presentations from the ten organizations that received First Literacy grants last year and featured keynote speaker Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home.

Tech Goes Home (TGH) is a Massachusetts based nonprofit working to end the digital divide. Dan has been involved with TGH since 2002 and on staff since 2010. Dan has won numerous awards for his efforts, including the Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion award, the ELL Families Empowerment Award, and the Special Recognition Award from Parent University.

“Everyone in this room is dedicated to making the lives of others better.” Dan mentioned, “Ninety-two percent of jobs in our country require digital literacy, yet there are seventy million people who do not have access to the internet.”

Dan possessed a steadfast desire to change the world, and his experience working on Capitol Hill made him realize that a more hands-on approach was needed. Consequently, he discovered that working in schools was better suited to fulfill this aspiration. With a deep sense of responsibility towards providing the best for the children in schools he launched “Tech Goes Home,” a program that aimed to equip families with computers, internet access, and more. This initiative ensured that when the students returned home, they would have the necessary support. Moreover, families were empowered to acquire digital literacy skills, enabling them to provide the needed support effectively. There are now 50,000 graduates from Tech Goes Home.

“We have solutions that if we worked together, we could end this digital divide, and this is where the partnerships come in. We need to be working to create an ecosystem of support. In the last two years we have stepped up our advocacy efforts. We are working with people on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill to ensure the voices of the people we all serve are being heard in the halls of power,” Dan said.

The new program initiatives highlighted by grant recipients during the event included: a program that trains low-income immigrant parents as bilingual educators, a family literacy course that combines beginner-level ESOL with basic literacy skill development to address the English language and literacy learning needs of adult Afghan women who have not yet developed literacy in their primary languages, a memoir style writing program for adult learners that encourages sharing stories to improve writing and editing skills, a technical literacy program for immigrant English Language Learners who need help becoming proficient in using computers, a program focusing on environmental topics designed by two high-level ESOL students for intermediate ESOL learners, an inclusive language and practices project that is engaging ESOL teachers and students in staff development and ESOL lessons that more accurately reflect the reality of gender and family diversity, consulting to improve existing High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) programs in Spanish, and a program for adult learners beyond basic ESOL levels that focuses on language development through an inquiry-based, action-oriented exploration of power, justice, and related issues.

When asked about project outcomes Sarah Hesch, Executive Director at Pathways Adult Education and Training, Inc., stated, “We developed fifteen weeks of curriculum, strengthened our relationship with large employers, we had a 90% retention rate and 100% of our students learned memorable skills. Having support from First Literacy made this project possible.”

With funds from First Literacy, Pathways Adult Education and Training, Inc. developed curricula and materials for Adult Basic Education organizations that are interested in engaging with local businesses to offer English Language classes to their incumbent workers

When asked why Charlestown Adult Education decided to apply to First Literacy for funding, Mswati Hanks, Program Director, said, “We feel that helping people was more a holistic process. First Literacy matched our vision. We have seen healthier relationships, and emotional intelligence growth. There are many success stories, and without this funding, these stories don’t happen.”

Charlestown Adult Education used their grant to fund a Re-entry Youth Program that offers comprehensive wrap-around services for recently incarcerated and court-involved/at risk youth (ages 16 – 30) who need educational services, college and career services.

Bryan McCormick, First Literacy’s Program Director, led the conversations during the Q&A panel, stating, “Our goal is to make change and support the organizations that do the challenging work. We work hard to support opportunities for programs with new ideas and innovations.”

In addition to offering grants, First Literacy provides free professional development to adult educators and awards scholarships to adult learners pursuing higher education. Since the organization’s founding in 1988, over $6 million has been allocated to support teachers and innovative literacy programs and over 500 scholarships have been awarded.

“It is so inspiring to hear all the great things that are happening across the state, and the number of adults who are impacted each year through these programs.” said Terry Witherell, First Literacy Executive Director.