Digital Equity: Improving Access and Education to Broadband Resources
Opportunity Statement
Methodist Healthcare Ministries seeks to improve Digital Equity by identifying, investing in, and supporting broadband and telehealth approaches that help close the digital divide. The three legs of the stool of digital equity include: Infrastructure, Affordability/Tools, and Digital Skills Training. The video below is a comprehensive overview of MHM’s Digital Equity initiative.
MHM’s Commitment to Digital Equity
MHM is working to foster digital inclusion and build a robust digital ecosystem through grantmaking, capacity building, strategic partnerships, and advocacy. MHM has invested over $35 million in digital equity initiatives across South Texas. This includes supporting a cohort of grantees focused on broadband access, digital opportunity, and infrastructure development—all intending to ensure communities, especially in rural and underserved areas, have the tools and access they need to thrive in today’s digital world.
This funding will enhance the capacity of community-based organizations and community anchor institutions throughout the region to provide critical digital resources. MHM is committed to ensuring that all people in its 74-county service region have access to reliable, affordable broadband services and the skills and opportunities to use this technology safely and effectively to support their economic, health, and social needs.
Strategic Alignment & Desired Outcomes:
Public health experts have called the impact of broadband internet access on the country’s health a “super-determinant of health” because without it, people cannot access essential resources that impact health and well-being.
Program Highlights:
Rio Grande Valley Digital Equity Cohort
Ecosystem Development
Since 2024, we’ve strengthened digital equity in South Texas by bringing together grantees, advocates, and community leaders to drive meaningful change. Through numerous cohort convenings, we’ve fostered collaboration and shared solutions for expanding digital inclusion. Our Digital Equity Speaker Webinar Series has brought expert voices to the forefront, engaging the community on key challenges and opportunities in the digital world. We’ve also submitted public comments to advocate for policies that support digital opportunity policy, ensuring that community needs are heard.
Stories of Impact:
CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE – AN OVERVIEW OF MHM’S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE DIGITAL EQUITY:
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) seeks to understand and address the root causes of health inequities across its 74-county service area. As outlined in its strategic plan, the organization invests in target initiatives to further impact systemic change – one of its three long-term strategic objectives. One of the initiatives Methodist Healthcare Ministries supports is digital equity. In the organization’s pursuit to advance health equity; it recognizes the digital divide as a vital condition, that negatively affects the overall well-being of families, individuals, and communities.
Click here to learn more about this work.
TEAMPHARR.NET
The City of Pharr is doing incredible work to close the digital divide in their community and we are proud to highlight their work. As one of our funded partners advancing digital equity, they are helping families access affordable, high-speed internet so they can thrive in today’s digital economy. In 2023, MHM provided the City with $1M to support their TeamPharr.net infrastructure and staffing needs and they have already connected 3,000 homes to the internet!
Click here to view more of this work.
To learn more about how the city of Pharr is closing the digital divide, click here.
Digital Equity RFP
San Antonio, TX (December 12, 2023) – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) is investing more than $21 million over three years to twenty organizations in an effort to advance digital equity and strengthen communities across Texas. The funding will help increase the capacity of community-based organizations and community anchor institutions throughout the region to provide critical digital resources.
Click here to read more about this work.
Empowering Communities to Improve Digital Inclusion
For more than 30 years, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) has worked to build and sustain healthy communities across its 74-county service region. In addition to clinical care for uninsured and economically disadvantaged individuals, MHM advances health by addressing the social and economic conditions that shape well-being—including the vital need for digital equity.
Click here to read more about this work.
Digital Divide Simulation
San Antonio, TX (September 19, 2025) Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) in collaboration with SA Digital Connects, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), DigitalLift, Family Services Association, and KC Digital Drive hosted a Digital Divide Simulation in San Antonio. With over 60 leaders from different sectors (civic, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic) across San Antonio and Bexar County in attendance, the simulation highlighted the barriers that community members face when lack access and opportunity to reliable broadband, digital skills, and digital devices.
Click here to hear from those who experienced the simulation
