Officials from the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and the State of California today joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and impreMedia publisher Monica Lozano to participate in the launch of Club Digital, the nation’s most comprehensive bilingual Internet training program.

Designed to close the Digital Divide, which disproportionately affects Hispanic families in America, Club Digital offers 30 days of bilingual, interactive lessons about all aspects of the Internet that will run throughout the month of August in impreMedia publications, including La Opinion, La Opinion Contigo and El Mensajero. The lessons are also available anytime at http://www.laopinion.com/clubdigital and more than 200,000 lesson supplements will be distributed free of charge by community organizations throughout California. Club Digital has been made possible through a public-private collaboration involving impreMedia, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), AT&T and the Dewey Square Group.

In early 2012, Club Digital will expand nationally to reach more than 9.4 million Hispanics. “Club Digital is an innovative and critical community initiative that will improve educational opportunities for millions,” said Juan Sepulveda, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. “Accessing the Internet is one of the best ways we know to improve the academic achievement of Hispanic Americans.”

California officials share the Obama administration’s goal of improving Internet access, especially for low-income students and their families. “Preparing all students for success demands we ensure no child is left offline—at home or at school,” said Tom Torlakson, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Club Digital helps students as well as parents gain Internet skills that boost classroom learning, knowledge and workplace readiness.”