By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

A partnership between the city of Chandler and Google Fiber discussed during the city council's Aug. 11 regular meeting aims to improve digital literacy around the community.

Will Novak of GFiber, or Google Fiber,and Dr. Erin Carr-Jordan of the Institute for Digital Inclusion Acceleration spoke briefly to council about what they call the “groundbreaking partnership to improve digital access and literacy across Arizona.”

Novak said even though one of Google’s main partnerships with Chandler involves connecting the city with fiber-optic internet cabling, digital literacy and “STEM skills and getting as many people as possible to have 21st-century digital skills” is something his team is passionate about.

Carr-Jordan is president and CEO of the IDIA and executive director of Digital Equity and Social Impact at Arizona State University. She said IDIA has a “hive” at San Marcos Elementary School near downtown Chandler.

“Our mobile hives really lets us get out to folks who can’t make it to one of our hives (at fixed locations,” Carr-Jordan said. “Everything we do is always free (at hives) and we bring 21st century skills from education, workforce development, access to health care, access to community building wherever we go, and we’ll try to get to wherever Chandler needs us to be.”

The pair also invited council members outside city hall to view IDIA’s Mobile Hive. Resembling a high-tech bookmobile or science lab, the technology hub is a van “designed to deliver digital access and literacy across the state.”

GFiber’s programming is its single largest donation to a nonprofit in Arizona, according to a news release.

IDIA has reached 22,069 with the Mobile Hive and pop-up Hives in underserved areas, the release states, and as of Aug. 11, IDIA’s Chandler Hive has served more than 3,122 people.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.   Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.