Real-Life and Digital Radical Welcome in LA

Community safety

Central LA South LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

There are two lingering urgent issues exacerbated by the pandemic: 1) learning loss and the academic achievement gap among students at under-resourced schools, and 2) declining youth literacy that is largely associated with young people’s reliance on technology. Young people, like any age group, are also vulnerable to false information and scams. Further, with the hateful rhetoric and misinformation that is increasingly common on public and social platforms, youth are at a point of disillusionment and disengagement that can limit their academic and personal development. A Pew Research study (2002) found that nearly half of teens surveyed (ages 13-17) have experienced a form of cyberbullying (offensive name-calling, spread of false rumors, and physical threats). LA’s youth need support in keeping up their intellectual curiosity, gaining skills and knowledge to properly use technology in school and work, and cultivating a safe, welcoming community online and in-person.

With LA 2050’s support, Kid City will launch a hybrid digital literacy course (dubbed “Digital Literacy and Community Care”) that promotes digital safety and positive identity development with teens and young adults. This course will 1) raise youth consciousness of pressing issues that their families and communities in South and Central LA are facing, and 2) teach students to critically assess the use of AI and other technologies to avoid falling prey to digital violence and scams.
Virtual course modules topics currently include: use and recognition of artificial intelligence, media literacy, identifying authentic images, evaluating claims source credibility, professional communication, personal data security, safe online interactions, digital footprint and branding, and online productivity tools. In-person course activities will include: exploring identities; discussing perceptions of culture; communities; and families; and how they may align or conflict with professional and life goals. Kid City hopes to partner with cultural organizations in learning the history of LA to help students understand systemic barriers and community and cultural resilience in the face of those barriers.
Kid City hopes to raise critical consciousness and cultivate a sense of belonging through the course by valuing both digital and in-person human connection. Young people can help create inclusive, radically welcoming, physical and digital spaces for all as they live, work, and play in LA.

LA County, especially South and Central LA, will have a more engaged youth and young adults that bring kindness and commitment to learning and literacy everywhere they go. After completing an in-house pilot of the hybrid program, Kid City will seek to partner with educators at their partner high schools (including Orthopaedic High School and Animo Jackie Robinson High School), to facilitate the course and expand community engagement at schools and at Kid City. Kid City would also be open to partnering with other youth-serving organizations to expand the reach of the hybrid course and expand programming.
Kid City also hopes to share its hybrid digital literacy course with the broader coalition of organizations advocating for digital equity for all LA residents! Students who participate in the hybrid program will be encouraged to share their experiences in schools, Kid City, and digital spaces to highlight the tools that help students become resilient and inclusive leaders.