At the height of the pandemic, in spring 2020, Maria O. her husband and four children were quarantined in their one-bedroom apartment in South Los Angeles, each vying for privacy, quiet and adequate technology to work and attend school remotely.
There weren鈥檛 enough tablets or laptops, and Wi-Fi was glitchy. Her children ended up logging into online classes using their parents鈥 phones. While the children once loved school, they started falling behind academically. Everyone grew frustrated.
kAm鈥!6@A=6 @? E96 @FED:56 5@?鈥橢 <?@H E96 :>A24E E92E C6>@E6 =62C?:?8 925 @? 72>:=:6D =:<6 FD[鈥 D2:5 |2C:2 ~] 鈥渪E H2D 92C5 2?5 :E H2D DEC6DD7F=] (6 DE2J65 27=@2E[ 3FE :E H2D?鈥橢 62DJ]鈥漦^Am
kAm|2C:2 ~]鈥橠 72>:=J :D 2>@?8 2 5@K6? r2=:7@C?:2?D H9@ ;@:?65 2 =2HDF:E 282:?DE E96 DE2E6[ 4=2:>:?8 E92E :? >2?J D49@@=D[ C6>@E6 =62C?:?8 H2D D@ :?4@?D:DE6?E 2?5 :?67764E:G6 E92E E9@FD2?5D @7 DEF56?ED 鈥 6DA64:2==J =@H\:?4@>6[ q=24< 2?5 {2E:?@ DEF56?ED 鈥 H6C6 56?:65 E96:C C:89E E@ 2? 65F42E:@?] $96 2?5 @E96C A=2:?E:77D :? E96 42D6 H6C6 ?@E :56?E:7:65 3J E96:C 7F== ?2>6D :? 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 2?5 2D<65 E@ C6>2:? 2?@?J>@FD H96? :?E6CG:6H65 :? @C56C E@ AC@E64E E96:C 49:=5C6?鈥橠 AC:G24J]k^Am
kAm%96 42D6 H2D D6EE=65 E9:D >@?E9 :? p=2>652 r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE[ H9:49 :DDF65 2? @C56C E92E E96 DE2E6 :?EC@5F46 =68:D=2E:@? C6BF:C:?8 D49@@=D E@ DA6?5 E96 C6>2:?:?8 Sa 3:==:@? :? r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5D E@ 96=A DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 >@DE :>A24E65 3J C6>@E6 =62C?:?8 C64@G6C 24256>:42==J 2?5 6>@E:@?2==J 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4] %92E 4@F=5 :?4=F56 EFE@C:?8[ 4@F?D6=:?8[ 27E6C\D49@@= 24E:G:E:6D 2?5 @E96C DE6AD]k^Am
k9bm%96 :>A24E @7 D49@@= D9FE5@H?Dk^9bm
kAmqFE 36J@?5 E96 D6EE=6>6?E 56E2:=D[ E96 42D6 92D 5C2H? 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 >28?:EF56 @7 =62C?:?8 =@DD 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4] s6DA:E6 96C4F=62? 677@CED 3J D49@@= DE277 E@ <66A DEF56?ED 6?82865 5FC:?8 C6>@E6 4=2DD6D[ =62C?:?8 =@DD 鈥 6DA64:2==J 2>@?8 DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 DECF88=:?8 367@C6 E96 A2?56>:4 鈥 :D 2 4C:D:D E92E 4@F=5 92C> 2 86?6C2E:@? @7 DEF56?ED[ C6D62C496CD D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥(6 42? >62DFC6 E96 :>A24E @7 =@DE BF2=:EJ :?DECF4E:@?[ 3FE E96 :>A=:42E:@?D @7 2 EC2F>2E:4 76H 24256>:4 J62CD 2C6 >F49 3:886C 7@C DEF56?E 962=E9[ >6?E2= 962=E9 2?5 H6==\36:?8[鈥 D2:5 y@6 q:D9@A[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 &r{p鈥橠 r6?E6C 7@C E96 %C2?D7@C>2E:@? @7 $49@@=D] 鈥渪? E96 D2>6 H2J H6 CFD9 E@ DFAA@CE 72>:=:6D 27E6C 2 H:=57:C6 @C D49@@= D9@@E:?8[ H6 92G6 E@ 56A=@J 2DD:DE2?46 E@ 96=A DEF56?ED[ 6DA64:2==J J@FE9 @7 4@=@C[ H:E9 E96 D2>6 D6?D6 @7 FC86?4J]鈥漦^Am
kAmq:D9@A 2?5 9:D E62> 2E &r{p AF3=:D965 2 A2:C @7 C6A@CED @? =62C?:?8 =@DD @? 3692=7 @7 E96 A=2:?E:77D :? E96 =2HDF:E] %96J :?E6CG:6H65 E62496CD[ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD[ 4@F?D6=@CD 2?5 D49@@= DE277 2E 2== =6G6=D] %96J 7@F?5 E92E C6>@E6 =62C?:?8 6I246C32E65 AC6\6I:DE:?8 :?6BF:E:6D 2?5 E92E >@DE 65F42E@CD 36=:6G6 E96 DE2E6 @776C65 :?DF77:4:6?E 8F:52?46 @? 9@H E@ ?2G:82E6 E96 A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAmqFE H:E9 r2=:7@C?:2鈥橠 5646?EC2=:K65 65F42E:@? DJDE6>[ E96 DE2E6鈥橠 2FE9@C:EJ H2D =:>:E65[ D2:5 t=:K236E9 $2?56CD[ 2 DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 r2=:7@C?:2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?] $E:==[ E96 56A2CE>6?E AC@G:565 2>A=6 2DD:DE2?46 7@C D49@@=D F?56C 5:77:4F=E 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥渞6CE2:?=J[ E96C6 H6C6 4=62C ?665D 7@C DFAA@CE E92E DEF56?ED 2?5 72>:=:6D 925 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4] W%96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?X 2?5 $FA6C:?E6?56?E W%@?JX %9FC>@?5 24E65 :>>65:2E6=J E@ ECJ E@ >66E E9@D6 ?665D[鈥 $2?56CD D2:5] 鈥減?5 H96? ?6H ?665D 2C@D6[ H6 DE6AA65 :? E@ AC@G:56 96=A 6G6CJ DE6A @7 E96 H2J]鈥漦^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ H96? D@>6 5:DEC:4ED DECF88=65 E@ 86E =2AE@AD @C E23=6ED 7@C 6G6CJ DEF56?E[ E96 DE2E6 =6G6C2865 :ED 4@??64E:@?D E@ >2?F724EFC6CD E@ 56=:G6C 6?@F89 56G:46D E@ 5:DEC:4ED[ 6G6? 2>:5 2 8=@32= D9@CE286[ D96 D2:5] x? 255:E:@?[ E96 DE2E6 AC@G:565 2 9@DE @7 @?=:?6 C6D@FC46D 7@C D49@@=D[ 255C6DD:?8 962=E9[ 5:DE2?46 =62C?:?8[ C6@A6?:?8 42>AFD6D[ A2C6?ED鈥 4@?46C?D 2?5 @E96C E@A:4D]k^Am
kAm}@?6E96=6DD[ E@@ >2?J 5:DEC:4ED H6C6 鈥7=J:?8 :? 52?86C@FD 4@?5:E:@?D H:E9@FE 2 4@?EC@= E@H6C[ @C 46?EC2= A=246 @7 DFAA@CE[鈥 q:D9@A D2:5] 鈥%96J H6C6 =2C86=J =67E 2=@?6 E@ H62E96C E96 r~'xs DE@C>]鈥漦^Am
kAm(9:=6 D@>6 5:DEC:4ED 72C65 C6=2E:G6=J H6== 5FC:?8 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8[ @E96CD DECF88=65 E@ >66E DEF56?ED鈥 32D:4 ?665D] %92E :?4=F565 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> AC@G:5:?8 6?@F89 56G:46D 2?5 (:\u: 9@E DA@ED[ E@ 255C6DD:?8 DEF56?ED鈥 >6?E2= 962=E9 ?665D[ E@ @776C:?8 256BF2E6 24256>:4 :?DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm鈥$49@@=D 2?5 5:DEC:4ED 76=E :D@=2E65 2?5 @? E96:C @H? 562=:?8 H:E9 E9:D 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ >@>6?E :? @FC 9:DE@CJ[鈥 q:D9@A D2:5] 鈥%96J 925 E@ 36 AF3=:4 962=E9 6IA6CED[ 96=A A2C6?ED 7:?5 ;@3D 2?5 9@FD:?8[ AC@G:56 x% DFAA@CE]鈥漦^Am
kAm%96 &r{p C6D62C496CD 2=D@ =@@<65 2E D@=FE:@?D E@ 2 AC@3=6> E96J D2J DEC6E496D 72C 36J@?5 E96 C62=> @7 D49@@=D] %96J D2:5 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? ?665D DFAA@CE 7C@> E96 {68:D=2EFC6 2?5 @E96C 286?4:6D E@ 4C62E6 2 =@?8\E6C> C@25>2A 7@C C64@G6CJ] xE D9@F=5 :?4=F56 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2? E@ 255C6DD DE277:?8 D9@CE286D[ 6IA2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 D6CG:46D 2?5 E2C86E D6CG:46D E@ DEF56?ED H9@ ?665 E96> E96 >@DE[ 2>@?8 @E96C DE6AD]k^Am
kAm鈥#:89E ?@H E96C6鈥橠 ?@E 2 4=62C 4@>A2DD 7@C H96C6 H6鈥機6 962565 2?5 H92E H6鈥機6 5@:?8 23@FE :E[鈥 q:D9@A D2:5] 鈥渰62C?:?8 92D 366? DE28?2?E[ 3FE 2D 2 DE2E6[ H92E 2C6 H6 5@:?8 23@FE :En %9:D :D 2 BF6DE:@? H6 ?665 E@ 2?DH6C]鈥漦^Am
k9bm!2C6?ED鈥 7CFDEC2E:@?Dk^9bm
kAmz6==J #][ 2?@E96C A=2:?E:77 :? E96 =2HDF:E[ D2:5 D96鈥橠 9@A67F= E96 D6EE=6>6?E 7F?5D H:== 96=A DEF56?ED 24C@DD r2=:7@C?:2 C682:? =@DE 8C@F?5]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 C6>@E6 =62C?:?8[ 96C E9C66 52F89E6CD[ H9@ H6C6 6?C@==65 :? E96 {@D p?86=6D &?:7:65 $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ 6IA6C:6?465 D9@CE6?65 D49@@= 52JD 2?5 =2C86 2>@F?ED @7 :?56A6?56?E H@C< E96J DECF88=65 E@ 4@>A=6E6] z6==J #][ 2 42D6 >2?286C[ H2D H@C<:?8 7C@> 9@>6[ 2?5 3642FD6 E96 72>:=J =:G65 :? 2? 2:CA=2?6 A2E9[ (:\u: H2D F?C6=:23=6]k^Am
kAmw6C 49:=5C6? H6C6 72==:?8 369:?5 24256>:42==J[ =@DE E96:C D6=7 4@?7:56?46 2?5 DE2CE65 5:D=:<:?8 D49@@=[ D96 D2:5] %9:D H2D 6DA64:2==J 7CFDEC2E:?8[ D96 D2:5[ 3642FD6 ;FDE 2 76H >:=6D 2H2J :? >@C6 277=F6?E ?6:893@C9@@5D[ DEF56?ED H6C6 2EE6?5:?8 :?\A6CD@? =62C?:?8 A@5D A2:5 7@C 3J E96:C A2C6?ED[ 2?5 DE2J:?8 @? E@A @7 E96:C 24256>:4D]k^Am
kAm鈥渪E H2D DEC6DD7F=[ 5:D4@FC28:?8] x 925 2 D6?D6 @7 96=A=6DD?6DD] x <6AE 2D<:?8 >JD6=7[ H92E 4@F=5 x 92G6 5@?6 36EE6Cn鈥 D96 D2:5] 鈥渱2J36 :7 H6 925 366? :? 2 5:776C6?E E2I 3C24<6E[ E9:?8D H@F=5 92G6 8@?6 5:776C6?E=J]鈥漦^Am
k9bmr@>AE@? &?:7:65 C63@F?5Dk^9bm
kAmr@>AE@? &?:7:65 $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ :? {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ[ 92D C63@F?565 2=>@DE 6?E:C6=J 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 >@DE C646?E r2=:7@C?:2 $49@@=D s2D93@2C5 52E2] {2DE J62C[ t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 2CED D4@C6D 24EF2==J DFCA2DD65 E96 a_`h C6DF=ED[ H9:=6 >2E9 D4@C6D ;F>A65 d]gT E@ ?62C=J >66E E96 AC6\A2?56>:4 D4@C6] %96 8C25F2E:@? C2E6 H2D ghT =2DE J62C[ a A6C46?E286 A@:?ED 9:896C E92? :? a_`h] r9C@?:4 23D6?E66:D> H2D DE:== 9:89 =2DE J62C[ 3FE :E H2D =@H6C E92? E96 DE2E6 2G6C286 @7 acT]k^Am
kAm$FA6C:?E6?56?E s2C:? qC2H=6J 4C65:ED 2 962GJ :?G6DE>6?E :? EFE@C:?8 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 D6CG:46D[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 AC652E6 E96 A2?56>:4] %96 5:DEC:4E FD65 :ED r~'xs C6=:67 7F?5D E@ 4@?EC24E H:E9 7@FC EFE@C:?8 286?4:6D 2?5 6IA2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 4FCC:4F=F> 2E 2== D49@@=D[ 7@C 72>:=:6D 2D H6== 2D DEF56?ED] xE 2=D@ @A6C2E6D b_ @?\42>AFD H6==?6DD 46?E6CD E92E @776C D6CG:46D DF49 2D >6?E2= 962=E9 4@F?D6=:?8[ J@82 2?5 >:?57F=?6DD[ 2?5 4C:D:D :?E6CG6?E:@?]k^Am
kAmqC2H=6J 2=D@ 4C65:ED 2? 62C=J C6@A6?:?8 A=2?] $@>6 DEF56?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 t?8=:D9 =62C?6CD 2?5 E9@D6 :? DA64:2= 65F42E:@?[ 3682? C6EFC?:?8 E@ :?\A6CD@? D49@@= :? ~4E@36C a_a_[ >@?E9D 367@C6 >@DE @E96C D49@@=D C6@A6?65]k^Am
kAm鈥渜642FD6 @7 E92E[ @FC DEF56?ED 92G6 5@?6 2 =:EE=6 36EE6C] %96 5C@AD H6C6 ?@E 2D D:8?:7:42?E[鈥 qC2H=6J D2:5] 鈥減=E9@F89 H6鈥機6 ?@E H96C6 x H2?E FD E@ 36]鈥漦^Am
kAmqC2H=6J D2:5 96鈥橠 962CE6?65 3J E96 D6EE=6>6?E[ 3FE :ED DF446DD H:== 56A6?5 @? H96E96C E96 >@?6J 24EF2==J 36?67:ED DEF56?ED H9@ H6C6 >@DE 27764E65 3J C6>@E6 =62C?:?8] p44@F?E23:=:EJ 2?5 7@==@H\FA H:== 36 <6J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥%9:D 42D6 :D 6IEC6>6=J :>A@CE2?E] *@F 42??@E 56?J E92E q=24< 2?5 3C@H? 2?5 =@H\:?4@>6 DEF56?ED H6C6 D:8?:7:42?E=J :>A24E65 3J E96 A2?56>:4[鈥 qC2H=6J D2:5] 鈥渜FE E96 56G:= H:== 36 :? E96 56E2:=D]鈥漦^Am
k9bmr2=:7@C?:2鈥橠 65F42E:@? =2?5D42A6[ :? 4@?E6IEk^9bm
kAmr2=:7@C?:2鈥橠 =62C?:?8 =@DD H2D ?@E E96 H@CDE :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 3J 2 =@?8 D9@E] r2=:7@C?:2 :D 24EF2==J :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 A24< ?2E:@?H:56[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6A@CE 7C@> E96 $E2?7@C5 vC25F2E6 $49@@= @7 t5F42E:@? C6=62D65 =2DE >@?E9] r2=:7@C?:2 D49@@=D 92G6 D66? =6DD 5C2>2E:4 C64@G6CJ E92? @E96C DE2E6D[ 3FE E96 :?:E:2= =@DD H2D?鈥橢 2D 8C62E]k^Am
kAm}2E:@?H:56[ E96 C64@G6CJ 7@C D@>6 5:DEC:4ED 92D 366? C6>2C<23=6[ D2:5 $62? #62C5@?[ 4@\2FE9@C @7 E96 DEF5J 2?5 2 $E2?7@C5 &?:G6CD:EJ 65F42E:@? AC@76DD@C] (9:=6 D@>6 5:DEC:4ED[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 :? =@H\:?4@>6 2C62D[ 2C6 DE:== 369:?5[ D@>6 92G6 >256 D:8?:7:42?E DEC:56D E@ 42E49 FA] ~G6C2==[ DEF56?ED 92G6 C63@F?565 3J adT :? C625:?8 2?5 bbT :? >2E9[ 72C 6I4665:?8 DEF56?ED鈥 EJA:42= AC@8C6DD :? 2 J62C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E62496CD 56D6CG6 4C65:E 7@C E9@D6 :>AC@G6>6?ED[ 96=A:?8 DEF56?ED DE2J @? EC24< 24256>:42==J H9:=6 255C6DD:?8 2 9@DE @7 @E96C 56>2?5D]k^Am
kAm鈥%96 BF6DE:@? :D[ H:== E96 C64@G6CJ 36 DFDE2:?65 2D Wr~'xs C6=:67X 7F?5D CF? @FE E9:D J62C[鈥 #62C5@? D2:5] 鈥(6 2=D@ ?665 E@ =@@< 2E E96 DEC2E68J 8@:?8 7@CH2C5]鈥漦^Am
kAmu@C |2C:2 ~][ H9@ H@C<D 2D 2 42D6 >2?286C[ E96 67764ED 7C@> E96 A2?56>:4 DE:== =:?86C] w6C 49:=5C6? >2?2865 E@ DE2J 27=@2E[ E92?<D :? A2CE E@ EFE@C:?8 2?5 @E96C DFAA@CE 7C@> r@>>F?:EJ r@2=:E:@?[ 2 $@FE9 {@D p?86=6D ?@?AC@7:E E92E 7@4FD6D @? D@4:2= ;FDE:46] qFE E96J鈥機6 ?@E 2D 6?E9FD:2DE:4 23@FE D49@@= 2D E96J @?46 H6C6]k^Am
kAmw6C D@?[ H9@鈥橠 :? 9:89 D49@@=[ :D 6DA64:2==J 5:D6?82865[ D96 D2:5] p=E9@F89 96鈥橠 5@:?8 ~z 24256>:42==J[ 96 @7E6? H2?ED E@ D<:A 4=2DD[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 D96 H@CC:6D 23@FE 9:>]k^Am
kAm鈥渪 5:5?鈥橢 E2<6 A2CE :? E9:D =2HDF:E 7@C >J <:5D[ E9@F89] x 5:5 :E 7@C E96 <:5D H9@ 5@?鈥橢 92G6 E96 DFAA@CE E92E >J <:5D 5@[鈥 D96 D2:5] 鈥渪 H2?E E@ 8:G6 E96> 2 G@:46]鈥漦^Am
