The Digital Divide is real.
So is our commitment to bridging it.
When young people, seniors, and others look for resources, they often find them in places of worship. Connected Churches builds on Google's commitment to Digital Inclusion by providing digital, in-person, and self-guided learning opportunities; available in local communities, at events, and at home.
-
Seniors can learn to use technology to keep in touch with friends and family
-
Churches can organize their businesses processes
-
Students can learn to use GSuite and to train others
-
Churches can start their own technology programs
-
Digital Inclusion Specialists provide support to local communities
For generations, houses of worship have been the soul of local communities; providing fellowship, inspiration, and resources. Google’s commitment stretches to the beginnings of the company, as does the commitment of partners Rainbow PUSH and Values Partnerships to community impact.
We began building relationships to better understand how worship centers and their members use technology with the goal of combining Google's expertise with the reach of local worship centers in communities around the nation.
In 2016, we led learning sessions at church conferences and meetings to take the pulse of their members on technology. What we learned informed the development of the Connected Churches Toolkit. In 2017, we launched the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Digital Inclusion Fellowship program, embedding digital experts in Atlanta, GA and Oakland, CA. We also used the toolkit to hold in-person technology trainings at conferences and local worship centers with thousands of participants in 10 states.
Today, our work and impact continues to expand. We offer:
Connected Churches Toolkit
A simple, step-by-step guide on how to use 11 GSuite and other technology tools, including: Gmail, Google Hangouts, YouTube, The Bible App, Google Forms, Google Sheets, Google Docs, Ridesharing apps including Uber and Lyft, Google Slides, Genius, and MailChimp.
Connected Churches Training Guide
Provides guidance on using the Connected Churches Toolkit to host technology learning sessions in your community. Use the Connected Churches Training Guide to take the first step in creating a local technology program.
Connected Churches Website
Self-guided training on digital tools for work, worship, and home available on the web from your computer or mobile device.
In-person
Technology training sessions with experts from Google in your community. Currently available in:
Atlanta, GA
Bay Area, CA
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
Chicago, IL
Ann Arbor/Detroit, MI
Contact us for more information or to explore ways to work together to empower communities of faith to close the Digital Divide