Digital Divide is a real life barrier for families on stretched incomes

It’s a little bit of a joke around PPL – not to mention at home with my daughters – how computer “un-savvy” I am. But increasingly, lack of technology access and knowledge is no laughing matter for the people we work with.

At a recent staff meeting a cross-section of frontline staff talked about the “digital divide” not as an intellectual concept, but as a real life barrier for families trying to find employment, manage their finances, or stay connected with their children’s schooling and it makes for interesting viewing.See video Three years ago I doubt a single staff person at PPL would have advised participants that securing internet service is a priority in a tight household budget. Today, it’s a totally different story.

It’s not a stretch to argue that digital access and capability is a new building block of self-sufficiency, just like access to stable, affordable housing and a living wage job.


For most people we work with, this building block is not yet in place. So we are responding in several ways.

  • PPL’s computer access labs and workshops take a “high touch” approach to helping people improve computer skills, conduct online job searches, create resumes, set-up email accounts, and much more. Use of these resources is up 65% this year.
  • More of our Service Coordinators are using laptops which enable faster response for and hands-on involvement of program participants as they work together.
  • Our mobile technology labs (computers and internet) bring digital access into PPL community rooms and to our after-school program sites. This allows parents and children alike, to engage in activities that they would otherwise miss.
  • Through partnerships with the U of M’s Digital Divide Initiative and the Geek Squad, 125 PPL families have received refurbished computers for their home and six hours of instruction on how to safely use and maintain them. In exchange, these families agree to perform four hours of community service.
  • Our internal “Tech Direct” staff team is keeping a close eye on a range of technology issues and trends affecting staff and program participants.


The dizzying pace of change in the ways we communicate and access information essential to daily life isn’t a new issue, but the practical implications of being behind that curve are growing more and more serious. PPL is dedicated to addressing this challenge as a core element of our work to help the people we serve move forward in their lives and connect with the larger community.

Thanks for the connections you make with us to enable our work to continue!




-Steve Cramer