C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative

Target Audience C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative will primarily serve the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois. The following information was gathered from Data USA. In 2023, Congressional District 2, Illinois had a population of 744,000 people with a median age of 38.8 and a median household income of $61,514. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of the 2nd Congressional District declined from 755,018 to 743,574, a 1.52% decrease and its median household income grew from $59,002 to $61,514, a 4.26% increase. In 2023, the median property value in the 2nd Congressional District was $157,600, and the homeownership rate was 63.3%. The 5 largest ethnic groups in the 2nd Congressional District are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (46.3%), White (Non-Hispanic) (34.2%), Other (Hispanic) (6.67%), White (Hispanic) (4.14%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (3.77%). 14.3% of the households in the 2nd Congressional District reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household. 96.2% of the residents in the 2nd Congressional District are U.S. citizens. The most common non-English languages spoken as primary in households in the 2nd Congressional District are Spanish (80,843 households), Yoruba, Twi, Igbo, or Other Languages of Western Africa (4,456 households), and French (Incl. Cajun) (1,741 households). As of 2023, 96.2% of the 2nd Congressional District residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Congressional District 2, Illinois was 96.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing. In 2023, there were 1.35 times more Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents (344k people) in the 2nd Congressional District than any other race or ethnicity. There were 255k White (Non-Hispanic) and 49.6k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups. The economy of the 2nd Congressional District employs 326,000 people. The largest industries in the 2nd Congressional District are Health Care & Social Assistance (53,854 people), Retail Trade (36,382 people), and Manufacturing (34,760 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($72,449), Public Administration ($65,269), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($62,404). From 2022 to 2023, employment in the 2nd Congressional District declined at a rate of 1.07%, from 330,000 employees to 326,000 employees. The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($74,796), Information ($70,021), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($61,415). The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Public Administration ($54,856), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($54,133), and Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($42,735). Page 2 of 6 Competency and Capabilities C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative is uniquely equipped to implement this program, building on a strong foundation of mission-driven work that aligns seamlessly with its objectives. Our mission is to design and deliver human service programs and policies that foster continuous personal development, educate the broader community, and benefit the public good. Our vision is centered on empowering marginalized populations, particularly those disengaged from mainstream society due to cultural barriers and systemic inequities. With over a decade of experience, C.L.I.C.K. Services NFP has successfully developed and led initiatives targeting high-risk and underserved communities. We have deep expertise in working with diverse groups, including youth and adults aged 15 and older, individuals with special needs (such as Autism, ADD/ADHD), justice-involved individuals, and victims of violence and crime. Our trauma-informed approach, anchored in SAMHSA’s six principles of trauma-informed care, ensures participants receive comprehensive support to overcome personal and systemic challenges. C.L.I.C.K. Services has consistently advanced digital equity and inclusion through innovative program design. Our integrated STEM and Esports curriculum bridges the digital divide by providing access to emerging technologies and skill development in high-demand fields such as content creation, video/film editing, coding, streaming, and digital compliance. Participants gain hands-on experience that prepares them for sustainable careers in the rapidly growing Esports and technology sectors. To date, C.L.I.C.K. Services has engaged hundreds of participants in digital learning environments, with measurable outcomes that include increased digital literacy, improved employment readiness, and significant reductions in risk factors associated with recidivism and violence. Our evaluation tools rigorously track participant progress, ensuring data-driven insights into skill acquisition, risk level changes, and the successful completion of supportive services. With a skilled team of Outreach Specialists, Social Workers, Case Managers, and Esports Job Coaches, C.L.I.C.K. Services is fully prepared to scale this program to serve 300 participants over three years. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment that fosters learning, healing, and long-term success for every individual we serve. Program Director: Budgeting, Analysis, Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Communication, Problem Solving, Program Evaluation Accountant: Financial Analysis, Financial Reporting, Problem Solving, Analytical, Auditing, Document Management, Expense Tracking Independent Evaluator: Research Methods, Organization, Reports and Evaluations, Direct Observation, Use of Questionnaires and Interviews, Assessments Page 3 of 6 Campaign Execution Manager: Brand Strategy, Data Optimization, Project Management, Paid Media, Campaign Analytics, Ad Strategy, Media Buying, Insight Presentation Marketing Specialist: Brand & Content Strategy, Data-Driven Optimization, Communication & Project Management IT Fundamentals/Digital Literacy/Streaming: Security and Monitoring, Coding and Networking, Cloud Computing, Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Skills, Music Theory, Project Management, and Leadership Online Security and the Law: Legal Research, Analysis, Leadership, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Communication, Complex Problem Solving, Teamwork, Date Interpretation Trauma Informed Digital Lab: Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Research, Case Management, Conflict Resolution, Interpersonal Communication, Problem Solving, Advocacy Video/Film Editing: Editing, Software Management, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Attention to Detail Coding: Technical Skills, Computer Programming Language, Coding, Logical Thinking, Communication, Creativity, Problem Solving Tracking Program Outcomes: Months 1-12: 8 cohorts in total End of Year Evaluation Report: Month 12 Identification of Objectives: Use SPSS Statistical Software Standard inferential analyses Paired samples t-test to determine statistical significance Performance Documentation, Monitoring, and Evaluation: Pre-Post Methodology continued: Trauma Informed Digital Lab Course: Pre-post assessments for risk of violence, knowledge of trauma Post-Test Analysis: Determine knowledge gain and retention Assess areas of strength and growth Program Effectiveness Assessment: Statistical Analysis continued: Descriptive statistics for demographic trends Sustainability Post Funding: Create a funding base through collaborations, organize fundraising activities and events. Digital Literacy The C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative is focused on expanding the availability and affordability of access to high-speed internet, increasing digital literacy, and more. We will provide Chrome Books to 300 participants over a 3-year period. Digital literacy plays a vital role in violence Page 4 of 6 prevention by equipping individuals with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate online spaces safely and responsibly. As more interactions shift to digital platforms, understanding how to identify misinformation, recognize harmful content, and engage respectfully online becomes essential. Digital literacy empowers people to challenge hate speech, cyberbullying, and extremist rhetoric, reducing the likelihood of these behaviors escalating into real-world violence. Furthermore, it fosters empathy and informed dialogue, helping build more inclusive and respectful digital communities where conflict can be addressed constructively rather than through aggression. This is Violence Prevention. The Participants We will service individuals 15 years of age and older who may be in court proceedings, on supervision, probation, or parole, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals with a language barrier, including low levels of literacy and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group. Our classroom activities are Video/Film Editing, Online Security and the Law, Trauma Informed Digital Labs, IT Fundamentals/Digital Literacy, and Streaming and Coding. The program is broken into 4 quarters each year, serving 25 individuals each quarter. The class schedule will consist of 2 cohort groups, 12 to 13 individuals in each cohort group. Cohort 1 is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Cohort 2 is Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The Cohort groups will be taught the same material. What is taught on Monday, will be taught on Tuesday. What is taught on Wednesday will be taught on Thursday. The Friday class will consist of both Cohort groups. All classroom curriculum is easily converted into virtual platforms contingent on participant needs. Our classroom activities will be conducted at 222 Vollmer Road, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411, Lower Level, Unit F. Goal: Digital Equity-Inclusion-Literacy The goal will be to create digital equity, inclusion, and literacy for all participants of the program. 'Digital Equity' includes information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in society and the economy of community. ‘Digital Inclusion' to ensure that all individuals in the communities have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies, such as reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service, internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user, and applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration. This also includes obtaining access to digital literacy training, the provision of quality technical support, and obtaining basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity. “Digital Literacy” are the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. Community Involvement The C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative aims to provide digital education and resources to underprivileged communities. We chose our covered populations due to our understanding of unemployment and poverty among these areas. Thirteen percent (approximately 63,489) of Page 5 of 6 residents are reported to be living below the poverty level. Similarly, ten percent of residents 16 years and older (approximately 47,028) are unemployed. Our organization engages with our target communities through partnerships and multi-media marketing strategies. Our organization has demonstrated ability in making sustainable relationships with township leaders. Through our network, we can make connections with local high schools and gain cohorts of youth participants who are interested in our program. We plan to foster these relationships and continue to connect with youth in our target communities. Additionally, we have engaged in diverse marketing strategies to promote our program to adult members of our communities. Continued awareness of services and programs are promoted via active and regular social media post utilizing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and others. Specifically, our organization has secured interview and advertisement space on the WVON radio station. Members of our team will be interviewed by radio hosts to discuss and promote our program to an adult audience. Likewise, radio advertisements developed by our team will be airing on the station to reach our audience at all hours of the day. To ensure accessibility, our program will be completely free of charge to our participants. In addition, our organization provides transportation support for participants who may not have a reliable means of travel. Similarly, we allow engagement to be flexible. Participants may, in certain circumstances, attend programming virtually if they are unable to be present in person. The C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative aims to teach digital fundamentals to underprivileged groups in tech and to provide training navigating the Internet effectively and safely. The program directly addresses digital literacy by providing courses in areas such as using online tools, managing digital communications effectively, and coding to expand their digital understanding. Crucial to our program will be concentration on the importance of VPN's, learning the fundamentals of Python, and troubleshooting strategies. The program has a focus on educating the public about the risks of online activities and how to protect their personal information from cyber threats such as phishing and programs that contain malware attached to the downloaded files. C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative also plans to teach about the accessibility of online government services, healthcare, education, or other public resources as the community at large does not have access to these services. Our goal with the program is to help provide accessibility to a variety of services that would help empower participants by equipping them employability skills to overcome a rapidly evolving digital world, to ensure they don't feel neglected due to a lack of resources. Part of our mission is to ensure that people who have historically struggled to gain these skills are able to do so in an environment that is as accessible for anyone regardless of experience, age, or criminal background. We seek to empower anyone in the community who wants to break the generational cycle of the digital divide. Page 6 of 6 C.L.I.C.K. Digital Media Initiative Performance Measures and Sustainability Strategic evaluation efforts will be used to track and measure progress towards goals. Specifically, our organization has the goal of achieving universal digital literacy, beginning with our participants and target areas. Our dynamic team of technology professionals provides education in cybersecurity and online privacy in a way that is comprehensible to our target audience. Effectiveness will be tracked via pre-post assessment and statistical analyses. Pre assessments will be used to establish baseline knowledge of areas related to digital literacy. After program completion, post assessments will be used to determine the change in knowledge. Within-groups analyses will be used to determine if the change in knowledge was significant while measures of central tendency will allow for us to assess the degree and direction of change. An increase of mean scores from pre to post along with significant findings of difference between scores will indicate success in this area. In addition, our organization has demonstrated success partnering with school districts within our target areas to provide sustainable initiatives to students. Students receive access to a multitude of technology devices while participating in education and practice in application. Skills and growth are assessed in group and one-to-one project evaluations by our team of professionals. Our team also provides resume and digital portfolio support for students to ensure that they are prepared to embark on a career based in technology. As we expand our services, we strive to reach more communities and school districts to reduce the digital divide among Illinoisans. Success in our project is defined by an increase in technology-related skills among our target communities. Thus, allowing Illinoisans to have increased opportunities in the digital workforce. This plan includes aggressively pursuing additional grant opportunities from foundations and public agencies whose mission aligns with ours. Simultaneously, we are actively cultivating relationships with local businesses and philanthropists to secure financial sponsorships and individual donations. Continued strategic partnerships with community organizations, schools, and other service providers will be crucial for resource sharing and expanding our reach. Furthermore, we are exploring opportunities to align our initiative with broader city and state- level programs focused on similar goals, potentially unlocking collaborative funding streams and resource integration.