Arlington-funded grantees, including ComputerCore, provide navigation, device distribution and help-desk services

Advisory members heard details about how the county’s grant recipients are delivering services on the ground. Jennifer Skow said grantees reach residents in libraries, parks and community centers and that one grantee distributed 500 devices under the county grant. "So for this grant, I think they've actually achieved or exceeded their goal. So they gave out 500 devices as part of the grant that we gave them," Skow said.

Skow described ComputerCore, a 501(c)(3) grantee that runs in-person and virtual classes, an AI pathway of instruction and a multilingual phone-based help desk. She said ComputerCore also refurbishes donated computers and, when resources allow, distributes them to clients for free. The organization uses a mix of volunteers and salaried navigators to run its programs.

Speakers discussed the pragmatic model of paying navigators while also leveraging skilled volunteers. The meeting highlighted that navigation can be both volunteer-driven and staffed: paid staff provide continuity while volunteers expand reach. Members suggested pursuing diverse funding sources, including foundations and partnerships, to sustain help-desk and navigator models.