Agenda - Advancing Equity and Prosperity Through Digital Access
*all times Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Symposium Pre-Session:
Free pre-session "Digital Inclusion 101” webinar with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)
Jan. 25, 2022 | 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Digital Inclusion practitioners have been working to end the digital divide for decades, creating their own community, definitions, resources, and gaining knowledge of what works and doesn’t. Digital inclusion is a multifaceted issue that takes time to understand and NDIA is here to help! COVID 19 has shed a light on Digital Inclusion and brought many new fields, practitioners, and activists to the community.
Symposium: Advancing Equity and Prosperity Through Digital Access
Feb. 9, 2022 | 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
1:00 - 1:10 p.m. - Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Agenda Overview, Instructions
- Bridget Jackson, Senior Public Affairs and Communications Advisor, NeighborWorks America Western Region
1:10 – 1:15 p.m. - Opening Remarks
- Marietta Rodriguez, President & CEO, NeighborWorks America
1:15 - 1:20 p.m. - NeighborWorks Network Organization – Spotlight Video
1:20 – 2:00 p.m. - Keynote Address with Q&A
What does it mean to be digitally invisible?
- Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute
An estimated 42 million people in America continue to be on the wrong side of the digital divide, left without the internet connection necessary to perform essential functions such as attending school, applying for jobs, or accessing healthcare. In this keynote, Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Director of the Center for Technology Policy, speaks to the importance of digital equity for all. Drawing from her experiences documented in her forthcoming book, “Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass”, she lays out the internet’s potential to broaden opportunities and transform lives.
Read our blog post, "Digital divide creates a new underclass", to learn more about our keynote speaker, Dr. Nicol Turner Lee.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m - Digital Equity for All
There are as many different ways to approach digital inclusion as there are communities. What does it look like to get started as a single organization and grow? What about when the City and other partners get together? What federal policies and advocacy influence our opportunities locally? This expert practitioner panel answers these questions and more, from the impact their efforts are seeing today to how they navigated challenges to get here.
Moderator:
Panelists:
- Elisabeth Perez, Office for Community Technology, The City of Portland
- Roberto Gallardo, Center for Regional Development, Purdue University
- Catherine Crago, Austin Pathways / HACA
- Antonio Rodriguez, ONE Neighborhood Builders in Rhode Island
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. - Break
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. - Concurrent Breakout Panels
Breakout 1 – Digital Inclusion Resources: Funding, Curriculum Development, and Networks
What are some of the existing resources available to digital inclusion practitioners and where can they be found? How and where can funding be identified? What organizations and experts can we lean on to avoid recreating the wheel? This panel will focus on funding available today and strategies to pursue it, resources for learners and instructors, and digital inclusion networks that can support your work.
Moderator:
- James Neal, Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS)
Panelist(s):
- Stephanie De Leon, AVANCE-Austin
- Lucas Asher, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
- Oneisha Freeman, Inspiredu
- Priyanka Sharma, World Education
Breakout 2 – Practical Digital Inclusion for Building Digital Literacy Programs
Launching programs to integrate digital inclusion into your organization’s existing programs and services. How do you get started? What are some ways to get buy-in from other teams or leadership? How do you assess what community needs exist and what the primary goals should be? This panel will focus on real world examples and practical tips for staff in diverse organizations who want to build digital literacy programs into their organization's mission.
Panelists:
- Ricardo Reinoso, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
- Angelina Cortes, San Antonio Public Library
- Emmanuel Zapata, Foundation Communities
- Kate Carden, CHN Housing Capital
4:00 - 4:05 - Transition/Break
4:05 - 4:10 - NeighborWorks Network Organization – Spotlight Video
4:10 – 4:55 p.m. - Closing Activity - Digital Equity Action Plans: What now?
Even with all of us working together, digital equity isn’t something we can address overnight. We will need to make the case for digital equity as a priority in our mission and in our communities many different times and with many different audiences - from our board and our colleagues to partners and funders, and even with our government officials and service providers. This final session includes discussion and a facilitated activity so that every attendee can leave the symposium with their own guide for making the case for digital equity action in their organization.
Moderator:
Panelist(s):
- Yvette Scorse, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)
4:55 – 5:00 p.m. - Wrap-up
- Bridget Jackson, NeighborWorks America
Symposium Post-Sessions
Symposium Post Session 1
Building Partnerships and Positioning for the Future
Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
NeighborWorks organizations will share the successes and challenges that they have experienced in efforts to narrow the digital divide in their communities. They will share their thoughts regarding resident engagement, sustainable solutions, building partnerships, and leveraging federal and local funding.
Moderator:
- Andrea Ponsor, President and CEO, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)
Panelists:
- Jenn Schaub, Director of Community Building and Engagement, Dwelling Place
- Shannon Trout, Resident Services Coordinator, Dwelling Place
- Robert Villagomez, Housing Counselor and Lending Specialist, Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC)
- Savannah Ball, Resource Development Manager,Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC)
Symposium Post Session 2
National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) “Digital Navigator” Information Session
Thursday, Mar. 3, 2022, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Learn the basics about the popular “Digital Navigator” training developed by NDIA. This webinar will introduce the role of a Navigator in a community and review the training course to become one. Two organizations who use Navigators will discuss their experience with the training process, successes, and challenges in employing this position in their communities. A live Q/A will be held during the second half of this 90-minute webinar.
Moderator:
- Paolo Balboa, Senior Programs and Data Manager, NDIA
Panelists:
- Sam Edwards, Deputy Director, Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Kingsport, TN
- Cathy Campbell, Vice President Strategic Partnerships, St. Mary Development Corporation, Dayton, OH