JOTF understands the challenges facing us all during this time, particularly the low-wage workers identified as “essential” who must travel outside of their homes for work
Indeed, we share your apprehension, as we navigate how best to serve our constituencies, neighbors, and communities during quarantined times.
For the past 25 years, JOTF has been recognized as a leading voice for low-skill, low-wage workers in Maryland. Through Project JumpStart, our pre-apprenticeship construction training program, our public policy advocacy and research and public education efforts, JOTF remains dedicated to our mission of eliminating barriers and increasing access to skills, higher wages, and job opportunities for low-income workers in Maryland. During these extraordinary times, our team remains steadfast in our work of aggressive advocacy on behalf of those struggling to make ends meet.
We live in a time where the majority of news is read online, and social media is the primary host for public policy debates. One has access to all kinds of information, which, many times, is quickly shared and accepted as truth without any further research and analysis.
During this global health pandemic, JOTF remains committed to our role as a credible source of information for workers, businesses, and policymakers, including the debunking of myths that can lead to harmful, or worse deadly, outcomes. We hope you find the following #MythBusters helpful as we safely navigate these times where our collective health and wealth is at stake.
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Facts are Facts. We live in a city divided in many ways. Roughly 47,690 households of the 238,500 or 1 in 5 here in Charm City do not have access to high speed, broadband internet. While they may have the technology to get online, they do not have the infrastructure and much needed resources to connect to the information super high way and are being left behind.Facts are facts. We live in a city divided in many ways. Roughly 47,690 households of the 238,500 or 1 in 5 here in Charm City do not have access to high speed, broadband internet. While they may have the technology to get online, they do not have the infrastructure and resources to connect to the information on the super highway and are being left behind.
The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown how important it is for folks to have access to reliable and cost effective technology; and digital resources. Just think about it, with public gatherings being limited and physical distancing still being encouraged, how are you accessing and applying for your benefits? How are you able to work remotely, attend school and training programs, etc…? Do you have access to the resources that will allow you to work from home? How are your children dialing into their classrooms?
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is working diligently to provide pressure to our policy makers to address this disparity. JOTF is conducting research to identify community partners who are able to assist individuals in need of these digital resources. As such, we will continue to lead the charge by connecting our constituency with the digital resources that will decrease the digital divide in urban and rural areas in Maryland.
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To ensure the flow of information remains accessible to all, JOTF is pleased to share the following information on available federal and state resources aimed to support low-income workers in Maryland during the Coronavirus pandemic:
