Elena's Cafe owner Elena Gomez Peña (middle) worked with the UTSA Digital Inclusion Ambassadors to acquire government assistance for her employees. Here, she poses for a photo in front of her restaurant with ambassadors Mariana Arredondo (left) and Jazmin Arroyo (right).
NOVEMBER 22, 2021 — Located in a vital corridor of activity in a historically underrepresented community, the UTSA Westside Community Center is connecting human intellectual and economic capacity to empower the lives of the people it serves.
The center’s latest effort involves bridging the digital divide of residents living in the heart of San Antonio’s West Side. The student-led group, known as the Digital Inclusion Ambassadors, serve as a model for community engaged scholarship—working to improve digital literacy in a community that lacks amenities common to other neighborhoods.
Under the direction of Roger Enriquez, executive director of Westside Community Partnerships, and UTSA public administration professor Chris Reddick, the ambassadors embed themselves within the community to help residents with their technological needs.
“We have a unique opportunity to help identify and bridge digital literacy gaps and improve people’s lives by unleashing the enormous potential of the internet,” Enriquez explained.
The initiative is based on a 2020 digital inclusion survey conducted by Enriquez, Reddick and a team of researchers with the UTSA Policy Studies Center, in partnership with the City of San Antonio’s Office of Innovation and Bexar County Commissioner’s Court.
The survey, which helped to identify the resources needed, also found that broadband connectivity, device access and digital competency were significantly lagging in San Antonio’s West Side District 5 compared to the rest of the county.
Socioeconomic status and the Spanish-English language barrier are among the primary drivers for the digital divide in District 5, so the ambassadors provided access to the internet for those who needed it, as well as bilingual assistance with internet searches, online research, accessing and applying for social services online, troubleshooting, printing, copying, scanning and lessons about internet security and privacy.
The West Side’s small business owners represent an entrepreneurial spirit that has been historically underserved. The ambassadors also work to bridge that gap by providing support to area businesses.
Elena’s Café owner Elena Gomez Peña previously worked with the UTSA Small Business Development Center, which guided her through the Paycheck Protection Program financial aid application process. UTSA biology student and digital ambassador Joi Sheppard-Udoh then set up a profit and loss summary spreadsheet for Elena’s Café that allowed Gomez Peña to track her total income, purchases, gross profit, net profit and total expenses for the year.
“I am so grateful for the help I received from UTSA students because I was able to keep my doors open by finding needed government assistance for my employees,” Gomez Peña said.
UTSA alumna and digital ambassador Caitlyn Deleon ’21 assisted clients with items like computer setup and internet safety, while David Rios ’21 worked with others to break down their own psycho-social barriers to using the internet.
“I enjoyed seeing how the community, especially seniors, are wanting to learn—to become familiar with modern technology is inspiring,” Deleon said. “It’s very rewarding to know that the help they receive here at the center will improve their quality of life.”
Seeing the personal impact that the students have on the community is a true inspiration to Enriquez and everyone involved with the initiative.
“We want this to become personal to UTSA—not just at the leadership level, but at the department level, all the way down to individuals, faculty, students and even staff, so that everyone sees this collectively as our mission at the university,” Enriquez said.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
UTSA students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to raise their voices and participate in the upcoming joint primary runoff election. Election day is Tuesday, May 24. Any registered Bexar County voter may vote at the H-E-B Student Union Bexar Room (HSU 1.102).
Bexar Room (HSU 1.102), H-E-B Student Union, Main CampusPlease join us Wednesday, May 25, 2022 for a discussion with Colonel (ret) Michael Davis, MD, FACS, FRCS (Hon), former Director of the U.S. Combat Casualty Care Research Program. Dr. Davis will discuss how to best identify strengths at UTSA that can be effectively leveraged for funding proposals to the Department of Defense.
UTSA Business Building University Room (2.06.04), Main CampusUTSA is excited to introduce new flexible learning spaces available to the Roadrunner community. During this orientation, interested faculty will be guided through examples of innovative learning activities supported by these spaces and provided with an overview of relevant technical features.
Virtual EventDo you find yourself more worried than usual about our students? Would you like to feel more confident in your ability to provide support or assistance to them? We are pleased to announce this new brownbag professional development opportunity for you, Compassion Fatigue Training, that will be offered June 1, 2022.
Faculty Center Large Conference Room (JPL 4.04.12C), Main CampusThe Faculty Coffee Chat is designed to provide faculty members the space to discuss current issues they are facing in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Virtual EventJoin your fellow alumni at The Dooryard, for networking, drinks, professional portraits, and karaoke. Be sure to dress business on the top to make the most of this unique opportunity.
The Dooryard, 4503 De Zavala Rd Suite 108, San Antonio, TX 78249These sessions are focused on incoming Freshman who are attending the UTSA Summer Orientation and are intending to major in areas within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts! We'll have important information and giveaways for you - come meet us.
Willow room (SU 2.02.1), Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
