In recent years, as the pandemic shaped significant aspects of our lives, we have relied more and more on virtual meetings, remote work and distance learning. While many of us have made this transition seamlessly, the necessity of internet access accentuates the digital divide that exists in Little Rock.

I believe that everyone deserves access to a quality internet connection, a device and the skills they need to use that device. Those are three pillars that ensure digital equity. We have prioritized this digital equity work at City Hall because we know access to connected devices improves economic, health, educational, and social opportunities for households.

Here’s how we’re actively bridging the digital divide:

In 2020, the City acted quickly to ensure quality internet connections for residents. We purchased more than 1,000 hot spots for Little Rock School District for students with inadequate internet. These hot spots supplemented 2,500 from LRSD and 500 from the state. Further, we equipped several city parks and community centers with WiFi so that residents could connect while being outdoors and socially distanced.

Additionally, we partnered with American Connection Corps and Lead for America to have an in-house fellow to help us tackle digital equity. Bringing an Americorps fellow to focus on the digital divide helped us to increase enrollment in the federal internet subscription subsidy program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The ACP is a monthly benefit of $30 that goes directly to an enrollee’s internet bill.

More than 10,000 Little Rock residents are enrolled in the ACP. While that represents as much as $300,000 to Little Rock residents to subsidize internet, there is more work to do. We estimate at least 40,000 Little Rock residents are eligible for the program. Residents may qualify for the ACP if their households participate in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell grant, or free or reduced-cost school lunch. Apply or learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program here.

The City’s work on digital equity is just getting started. We know there is a need for digital skills classes, better internet in some neighborhoods, and additional devices.

And to better address Little Rock’s broadband needs, we are actively seeking input from residents. We have been working with two graduate researchers from Vanderbilt University -- one a former Little Rock resident -- to create a survey that maps out city needs by zip code. This survey could give us the opportunity to apply for additional federal money to address equity issues in service, affordability, and device access.

Please join us in bridging the digital divide and creating new opportunities for Little Rock by taking the survey. We hope to hear from you so that we can improve public Wi-Fi access, programs, and services in our city.
 

Winter Sock Drive

As we rapidly approach the coldest part of the year, the Little Rock Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs is sponsoring a Sock Drive to provide socks for individuals in need. The sock drive goes until Wednesday, Dec. 20. 

The Department is accepting donations of new socks at Neighborhood Resource Centers across the city. Please consider participating in this worthy effort.
 

Reminder: Apply for Boards and Commissions

Applications are due by Jan. 6, 2023, for Little Rock residents interested volunteering their time and participating in city government by serving on a board or commission. We are seeking volunteers to fill multiple vacancies on several boards and commissions.

Applications are being accepted for the following boards or commissions: Animal Services, Age-Friendly Little Rock, Americans with Disabilities Act Citizen Grievance Committee, City Beautiful Commission, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Children, Youth and Families, Community Housing Advisory Board, Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeals, Land Bank Commission, Citizens Review Board, Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Municipal Airport Commission, Planning Commission, Port Authority, Sustainability Commission, MacArthur Military HIstory Museum Commission, Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park Board, Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission and River Market District Design Review Committee.

Applicants are required to be registered voters in the City of Little Rock. Some appointments are limited to those within a specific profession, organization or ward. Appointments are made by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Directors. It's our priority to be inclusive in our selection of appointees and make sure the makeup of boards and commissions reflects Little Rock's diversity.

To learn more, including additional eligibility requirements for certain appointments, visit the City's website.

Click here for a current list of board and commission vacancies. 

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. at the Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. The Board will meet to review and discuss the agenda for next week's meeting. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here. 
• Throw on your favorite ugly holiday attire and join the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department for this year's Ugly Sweater Race on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 a.m. The 5K race produced by the Little Rock Marathon takes place at Two Rivers Park, 6900 Two Rivers Park Road. There's also a quarter-mile "Elf Dash" for children under 10 at 8:45 a.m. Visit uglysweaterrace.com for more details..  
• GloWild, which features dozens of animal-themed lantern exhibits, continues this week at the Little Rock Zoo. This popular attraction, in its second year, drew thousands of visitors to the Zoo in 2021. GloWild is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on select nights until Jan. 7. For more information and for tickets, click here.