Kennett Square has been graced with two part-time digital navigators thanks to local community funders. The Longwood Foundation, the Aaron Martin Foundation and the Health and Welfare Foundation of Southern Chester County (HWFSCC) provided financial support to help raise the bar of digital literacy.

The job description of a community digital navigator is a “Trusted individual who provides personalized support to help individuals access and utilize digital resources, including internet, devices, and digital skills training. They offer guidance and assistance to navigate the digital world, bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion. “

RSVP, a non-profit will be managing the digital navigator program in the Kennett Square area for two years. They hired Juan Tafolla as the bi-lingual part-time digital navigator during the day and Nefta Erroa to cover evenings and weekends. The two navigators, make up one full-time position to cover 40 hours weekly.

Michelle Hang, RSVP Digital Literacy Program Coordinator says, “What started as a dream in 2021 became an attainable goal for RSVP Volunteers thanks to the Kennett Area community funders and a partnership with the Chester County Digital Alliance (CCDA.) A relationship was built and fostered, and the dream of direct help began in January of 2025 with two bilingual digital navigators in Kennett Square area.”

Currently Juan and Nefta have regular hours at LCH and Mighty Writers and at the Kennett library where they help walk-ins. They also work in concert with Filomena Elliott, Kennett Library Bi-Lingual Program Director, who has classes for learning English and then signing up for basic digital literacy classes. They just completed their beginner’s class early July and will have another class starting in September.

Jim Mercante, CCDA Co-Chair sat in and observed the first day of the basic digital skills class. He said, “I was so impressed by the students desire to learn and the patience that Juan Tafolla showed in going from person to person to assist them in the basics.”

Jim continues; “We take for granted that everyone knows how to use the computer. This first class was literally as basic as how to turn on the computer, use the mouse, scrolling and general keyboard/keys functions.” The remaining 6 weeks the students had lessons in cyber security; email; web browsing; apps and Zoom. At the end of the class they received a chrome book and will continue being tutored based on their schedules.”

To address the need for a senior digital literacy program, RSVP hopes to provide digital literacy support at the Kennett Area Senior Center and Kendal Crosslands.  They always start with a cyber security lesson and then work with the senior’s motivation and goals. Some may want to learn how to use Zoom so they can visit with friends and family afar; navigate email or do research on the web. Seniors who take the plunge speak about how much this has enriched their lives.

Juan Tafolla reflects: Digital navigators are an important job not just in the Kennett area but across the Commonwealth. Many people need help with the basic of how to use an I-Phone or Android phone or laptop. For me, the best part of the job is when you get to help someone and see the expression on their face as they are exploring something new.  It’s important to spread the word that Kennett has digital navigators here to help. “

Michelle Hang says: “So far, we have helped 75 individuals, and the numbers keep growing as word spreads, trust is built, and confidence is grown. The total impact is immeasurable as we see the daily goals achieved, and the hope and excitement in the communities’ eyes as we help them unlock doors and solve digital mysteries.”

Who knows where the open doors will take them? We do know that the Kennett Community Navigators are helping our community members get off to a good start.

The Story of Kennett – Shaping the future one child at a time” Joan Holliday and Bob George’s book on Kennett may be purchased on Amazon and at the Mushroom Cap. You may contact Joan at: dochollisv@aol.com.

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