The new Community Anchor Site will open in September, 2023.
Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) announces its partnership with Bachman Lake Together for the second Community Anchor Site as part of the Connected Dallas Digital Ambassador program. The site will formally open in late Summer 2023.
The Connected Dallas program is designed to provide a central hub for information and connection to internet-based services through multiple channels, including in-person, online, and phone. It intends to simplify access to online resources that improve quality of life and provide access to opportunities that digital connectivity provides.
As a Connected Dallas Community Anchor Site, Bachman Lake Together will provide hyper-local and on-the-ground support to the community. Through partnerships with community organizations like Bachman Lake Together Family Center and the program’s first CAS, Innercity Community Development Corporation (or ICDC), sites are outfitted with technology and trained Digital Ambassadors to provide walk-in services to access computers and internet services , one-on-one support, and digital skills programs.
Founded in 2009 through a five-year commitment from the Zero to Five Funders Collective, and formally established as an organization in 2014, Bachman Lake Together is a nonprofit, collective-impact initiative that connects families, community partners and supporters in a shared purpose: giving every child the opportunity to thrive by giving them a solid foundation in the earliest, most critical developmental years of ages 0-5. Bachman Lake Together believes this goal will be most effectively achieved by working together and ensuring everyone has a voice in the process.
The Connected Dallas program is supported by leading philanthropic investments from AT&T, the Santander Consumer USA Foundation, and the Dallas Foundation. In addition, the DIA was selected by the City of Dallas to manage the Digital Navigators program provided through ARPA funding.
“We are thrilled to partner with Bachman Lake Together as one of Connected Dallas’ first Community Anchor Sites,” commented Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, Dallas Innovation Alliance. “Community Anchor Sites are a critical piece of Connected Dallas’s mission to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints that meet the community where they are, whether by phone, text, chat, online or in-person. Bachman Lake Together’s deep work serving families and building collective impact make them a natural fit for the work in getting to Connection for All.”
“The challenge of broadband infrastructure has more recently pronounced the inequities that exist in communities like Bachman Lake. We are honored to be chosen as an anchor site to increase technology access for Bachman Lake families through a dual-generation approach,” says Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman, Executive Director, Bachman Lake Together. “Success for our children in the 21st century is more than just knowing your letters and numbers, but the whole family and community must be familiar with the latest technology and understand the role it plays in our education, economic mobility and everyday lives.”
The next round of Community Anchor Site applications are open, and DIA expects to open an additional four sites before the end of the year. Please visit here for additional information on the application process and updates.
The ConnectedDallas.org website is designed to be an online resource hub that provides comprehensive support for residents, as well as service providers, through centralized resources, training materials and curriculum to available programs and services. The website features 13 different digital resource topics, tips and curriculum, including the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and internet plan access, devices, skills, security, telehealth, finance, job seeking, seniors, veterans, transportation and more. Other offerings include a central events calendar, ways to request ambassadors, training sessions at community organizations upon request, and more are now available. The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
About the Dallas Innovation Alliance
Founded in 2015, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a 501(c)(3) cross-sector partnership dedicated to supporting Dallas’ smart cities strategy. The DIA defines a smart city as one that lives at the intersection of community, data and technology to enable resource efficiencies, inclusive economic development, and improve quality of life. Since 2015, the DIA has built a network of over three dozen members across sectors, works with more than 100 community organizations, and over 20 departments at the City of Dallas. DIA’s Smart Cities Living Lab is the fastest-to-market smart cities initiative in the country. For more information, please visit. www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.
About Connected Dallas
The Connected Dallas program is designed to provide a full spectrum of digital touchpoints for community members to meet them where they are, whether by phone, text, chat, online or in-person. This ensures community members are educated, trained, and connected to all services that require connectivity to improve quality of life. The Connected Dallas framework is provided by National Digital Inclusion Alliance. For more information, please visit www.ConnectedDallas.org.
About Bachman Lake Together:
Bachman Lake Together (BLT) serves as the backbone organization for their neighborhood. BLT's mission is to unite the Bachman Lake community to fully prepare children for kindergarten – academically, socially and emotionally – so they can thrive in school and in life. Bachman Lake Together coordinates, communicates and measures the collective impact of Bachman Lake families, 50+ partner organizations, committees and working groups. For more information, please visit .