Ending the Digital Divide for Native Americans in Arizona

Senior Planet’s programming reaches a new – and important – underserved community: the Gila River Indian Community. 

Digital Connect is the first tribal partner to join Senior Planet’s national licensing program. It is an initiative of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc., designed to bridge the digital divide in the Gila River Indian Community through digital skills trainings and accessible resources, and to develop future generations of Indigenous people as leaders in technology.

The Digital Connect Initiative’s board of directors created DCI to promote digital inclusion, leverage broadband connectivity for community and economic advancement, and embrace modern technology as a resource for heritage preservation.

About the Community

The Gila River Indian Community, located south of Phoenix, Arizona, has a population of about 14,000 people who are mostly members of the Akimel O’odham, and Pee-Posh tribes, with several thousand members living outside the community, many in the Phoenix area. There are seven districts within the community. Each district has a service center, and Digital Connect operates out of those centers.

As a result of the pandemic, elders (senior members) of the of Gila River Indian Community experienced an increased interest in learning about digital technology. Digital Connect began hosting “bring your own device” sessions at district centers to meet this need. “There is a very strong need for foundational digital skills among the elders,” says Amanda MacDonald, Program Manager.

Enter Senior Planet

MacDonald first learned about Senior Planet and the licensing program in 2023. After reviewing online classes and resources, it was a go. Digital Connect joined the program and in 2023 all four team members attended the “train the trainer” course. “I thought the program was really good,” MacDonald says. “I liked that we had our own platform to learn on. I loved how organized the resources are so that I can see exactly what we can offer.”   

Working with older adults has been rewarding for MacDonald, who has a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in instructional design. After working part-time while she raised two sons, MacDonald returned to work full time seven years ago as a curriculum manager for an online college. The college had a sister company that worked with veterans, giving MacDonald her first experience working directly with adult learners.

“It is really interesting. Before working at Digital Connect, I never had the experience of sitting next to an older learner in a hands-on approach to learning digital skills.”

Light Bulb Moments

One thing MacDonald loves about Senior Planet is the “light bulb moments,” as participants begin to understand the concepts. One instance stands out to her when she taught the Emojis, GIFs & More lecture. “It was really funny. I remember two participants giggling like crazy as they went through all the options (like clothing, etc.) as they customized their Bitmojis. They sounded like they were having the time of their lives!”

Teaching elders of the Gila River Indian Community requires a high degree of cultural awareness.  MacDonald describes it as “trial and error”  – paying close attention to what the participant is saying and sometimes finding creative solutions to problems.

“Participants often preface their problems and questions by telling me the story of how technology came to be in their lives. For instance, many elders I’ve worked with have received their device from a family member.  They like to let me know the details of that and other information, so I have the context of how technology has entered their lives. While I do need to guide the conversation on some level, I also need to listen because they are here to learn but also to be heard. To be an effective trainer I had to build my own confidence and understand that I will also always be learning.”

MacDonald would like to eventually give older learners in the Gila River community the opportunity to take classes online. “There is such a wide world out there of things you can learn about. It’s especially important in a Native community where transportation can be an issue.”

Getting the word out about Senior Planet is tricky. MacDonald uses social media, but community members don’t always use it. Flyers are posted at district service centers, but people generally go there only when events are scheduled. “It takes a while to get people in the door, but they appreciate it when they’re here,” she says.

Senior Planet’s licensing structure works with community-based organizations to develop local trainers to deliver Senior Planet’s proprietary curriculum and bring Senior Planet’s world-class programs to older adults in their locales. The program is open to public, private, and 501(c)3 organizations that serve older adults. Want in-person Senior Planet programs but don’t have a nearby walk in center?  To learn more about the Senior Planet Licensing Program, visit here.

Since moving to New York City 10 years ago, David Biederman has worked in the nonprofit sector, and currently serves as Communications Specialist for OATS (Older Adults Technology Services). A longtime journalist, David most recently worked for the Journal of Commerce and other publications in the B2B sector.