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Jersey City Housing Authority (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Digital Connections
└ Digital navigation skills
└ Digital navigation skills
The Jersey City Housing Authority aimed to use technology to reduce social isolation and improve community connections at one of its age-restricted public housing complexes. The Authority a created a computer lab onsite, outfitting the space with desktop computers and a printer. To help residents use the technology, they Authority worked with partners to host one-on-one and small group digital literacy training in Spanish and English. Topics included computer and internet basics, email and digital art and design. Additionally, the Authority installed voice-activated smart home devices in individual apartments. Since introducing the new technology, the Authority has also worked to ensure residents have access to reliable broadband internet service.
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See More Projects Like This One
Bell County, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: In rural Kentucky, older adults lacked internet access, leaving them unable to apply for benefits or use telehealth. The mission installed high-speed internet at the center, and added computers, tablets and printers. It also launched Seniors4Seniors classes where high school students taught digital skills. Weekly workshops covered email setup and benefit access. The participants now use tablets to accept electronic payments at farmers markets, boosting income and food access. "I was able to sell my organic produce at the Farmers Market this summer because of the...tablet I was able to borrow and the digital literacy training I received," said one participant.
Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: Latino workers in Seattle faced barriers to digital access, leaving older adults isolated and unable to manage daily tasks. Casa Latina distributed 36 hotspots and 20 laptops, offered 64 bilingual classes and over 50 one-on-one sessions to build confidence and skills. The program helped participants connect with loved ones, access telehealth and pursue education. One member used her new laptop to complete a business course and launch a catering business, showing how digital literacy can transform lives.
Denver, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Digital navigation skills
Description: This project will offer free digital navigation classes for residents, particularly those age 50 and older. The initiative will increase access to technology and hands-on training, helping residents and improve their digital skills.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Jersey City, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: To give residents at Marion Gardens the opportunity to gather, project organizers beautified a concrete area onsite. Residents of the public housing complex came together to plant trees, shrubs and flowers in an area of the property prone to flooding, with the new foliage acting as green infrastructure to absorb rainwater. To ensure care of the new trees long-term, project organizers also created a tree maintenance manual with pruning techniques and other tips. Since the planting, organizers have worked to plan a mural at the site.
New York, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Developing projects based on residents' priorities
Description: Older adults in low-income neighborhoods faced isolation and limited access to cultural programs, challenges worsened by the pandemic. The Grandparent Resource Center expanded its Intergenerational Cultural Workshop Series to four NYCHA sites, hosting 16 sessions on dance, mosaics and other arts. Outreach engaged residents age 50-plus and their families. The workshops strengthened family bonds and community ties, with participants feeling more connected. "I would love to see more classes like this, it helps people stay connected," said one attendee. Plans are underway to secure funding for future sessions.
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