Last year, the city of Easthampton partnered with Easthampton Media (E.Media), a local public media nonprofit, to bridge the community’s digital literacy gap through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute's (MBI) Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program.
MBI awarded the city $99,515 to expand digital literacy programming via the city's GoDigital Easthampton initiative. This allowed E.Media to establish its Learn-to-Earn program as well as other digital literacy skills classes.
“Easthampton has consistently shown dedication to improving access to digital devices and skills for all residents,” said MBI Digital Equity Project Manager Ariana Sarmiento Fielding. “MBI is proud to support a community whose municipal and organizational leadership wholeheartedly supports this important work.”
As a trusted community media center that provides educational opportunities, E.Media was uniquely positioned to address the need for digital skills learning in Easthampton.
“We’ve always been a teaching organization,” said E.Media Executive Director Jeff Mastroianni. “So, pivoting to digital literacy was a natural next step.”
This pivot led to the creation of the Learn-to-Earn program which offers one-on-one and small group classes that address computer basics, internet safety, and email skills.
Originally, the Learn-to-Earn program was based on a fellow nonprofit organization Tech Goes Home’s model. With the help of MBI’s Implementation grant funding, E.Media created its own version of the program that highlighted a community-based cohort approach.
With class sizes of one to 10 people, and taught using Chromebooks, participants received comprehensive, personalized support in a welcoming environment. Once participants complete six foundational classes and two proctored assessments, they qualified for a free Chromebook.
By June 2025, E.Media served 46 learners, five of whom had completed the full Learn-to-Earn curriculum.
Most program participants are older adults and Learn-to-Earn's impact has been transformative in improving their daily lives.
“People come in unsure or even afraid of technology,” said Mastroianni. “They leave feeling optimistic. It demystifies the digital world for them.”
For example, Mastroianni recalled an individual who emigrated to the U.S. and never used a computer.
“He worked with a typewriter [and had] zero digital literacy. Now we email regularly. He completed our Learn-to-Earn program and even borrowed a hotspot through our device lending program,” Mastroianni said.
For many older adults and first-time learners, the digital world can feel intimidating and may come with a sense of anxiety. Online scams, phishing and identity theft targeting older adults has created this culture around technology.
As a result, Mastroianni said some residents may try to avoid going online altogether, even when it could help them stay connected or simplify daily tasks.
“There’s a lot of fear,” said Mastroianni. “People think they’re being hacked or spoofed. And honestly, many are being targeted. That’s why we teach best practices in internet security.”
To help residents overcome this, E.Media collaborated with Tech Foundry, a nonprofit organization based in Springfield, to offer classes that teach residents online safety while helping build technical skills and peace of mind.
Reaching and supporting digitally disconnected residents requires trust, collaboration, and teamwork. To connect with as many residents as possible, E.Media built a strong coalition with the city’s library, IT department, Council on Aging, veteran services, and social workers.
The E.Media team also prioritizes constant resident communication. Staff said small efforts, such as returning a phone call, can help build trust and ensure people feel valued.
Without the funding from MBI, E.Media staff noted they may not have had the resources possible to facilitate this programming and help expand digital literacy efforts across Easthampton.
“Digital equity, from device lending to digital literacy, fits right into what we’ve always done: empower people through media and technology,” said Mastroianni.
Today, E.Media has become a vital hub of digital empowerment through hands-on support and digital literacy training for residents.
Moving forward, E.Media plans to grow the Learn-to-Earn program’s impact by helping even more residents navigate the digital world — whether that means easily sharing photos, booking appointments or paying bills online.
Mastroianni encourages other community media organizations to explore partnerships with MBI.
“It’s easily the best resource we have in the state,” he said.