Kansas City is struggling to ensure that all of its citizens have access to internet connectivity. There are a number of different reasons that people are being left out as high speed internet connectivity becomes available, including lack of interest, finances, and skill. Another challenge is how to provide continued connectivity for a population that changes addresses frequently. Some of our students move multiple times during the school year, leaving traditional home connection irrelevant for these families even if they could afford the monthly fee.

Twenty-five students were chosen from a pool of applicants from two KCPS high schools. They ranged in academic ability from those with developmental issues to those simultaneously taking classes at the local community college. Representatives from three partnering organizations met with members of the families to provide information on the program. We created a portal to provide easy access to resources like job search tools and live tutoring provided by the partners. This project furthers the library’s leadership on digital inclusion issues within our community and nationally and allows us to help leverage limited resources to make a bigger impact.

Owning the hotspots led to students discovering career passions, family members securing employment, and previously disengaged students embracing their school work with renewed interest. While mobile hotspots with unlimited data usage are not the only mechanism for full digital inclusion, they are a key solution to a specific issue for KCPS students — many of our students change addresses at least once during the school year, so traditional connectivity options are not tenable for these students. The hotpots solution invites some of our must financially-challenged families to begin to build a more solid foundation for their futures.