10/11/2024
HANA Center is advancing digital equity for Korean immigrant communities in Cook County through its revived Tech to Connect and Thrive (TCT) program. Originally launched in 2016 and relaunched in 2023, TCT provides culturally and linguistically tailored digital skills training to low-income, limited-English proficient seniors and adults in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
Through workshops taught entirely in Korean, participants learn essential skills such as smartphone navigation, email and communication apps, internet safety, resume building, and job search tools. In 2023–2024 alone, HANA served nearly 200 Korean seniors, helping them stay connected with family, access resources, and maintain independence. The program is now expanding to include intermediate computer literacy and separate smartphone sessions for Android and iPhone users.
HANA’s approach blends education with community trust, offering instruction in a familiar language and environment. Outreach is conducted through Korean grocery stores, places of worship, and ethnic media, ensuring the program reaches those who need it most. By equipping community members with digital tools for everyday life and employment, HANA is helping close the digital divide—one workshop at a time.