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Technology Development & Policy

Digital Divide: Technology, Development, Policy and Latinos Working Group

The Digital Divide Research Team (DDRT) is composed of graduate and undergraduate student researchers who are examining the interrelated social, economic, political, and institutional processes and policies that contribute to social and economic inequality. The group is analyzing the ways in which the integration of technology into society’s productive processes can impact the development trajectories of the low-income, especially social ethnic populations in the United States. DDRT also studies existing civic projects in order to uncover potential policy solutions to unequal social outcomes and low information technology ownership rates among low-income Latino and African American population.

The research team recently conducted a community and technology needs assessment report to inform the regional planning process of the Southeast Community Development Corporation (SCDC) and the Southeast Cities Technology Collaborative (SCTC) in Los Angeles. The report “Disconnected: A Community and Technology Needs Assessment of the Southeast Los Angeles Region,” was presented to the eight SELA cities and is being used by the SCTC as base for local policy advocacy and regional initiatives which are addressing information technology training for its low-income population which is primarily Latino. The report facilitated the organization’s securing funds in the amount of $476,000.00 to implement some the recommendations set forth in the report.

The DDRT also informs statewide policy and decision makers through the Center’s involvement in California Statewide expert panels on technology, development, and social ethnic low-income populations in California.

CLPR Research Reports on this topic include: • Disconnected: A Community and Technology Needs Assessment of the Southeast Los Angeles Region (SELA), (Gordo, Aranda, Mason, & Ruiz, 2008)