Microsoft and EveryoneOn Spotlight “Online for All” for Income-Insecure Families to Enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program

By Vickie Robinson, General Manager, Microsoft Airband Initiative and Norma Fernandez, CEO, EveryoneOn

Today, we’re pleased to join The White House and organizations across the country to celebrate “Online for All”—a week of action kicking off June 14-22 to spread awareness about the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) created to help thousands of families enroll in the program. Since 2020, Microsoft and nonprofit EveryoneOn have partnered to increase internet adoption and device access gaps impacting income-insecure communities, particularly Black and African American as well as Latinx communities in cities such as Atlanta, Milwaukee, El Paso, Los Angeles, and New York. The pandemic laid bare the vast digital divide in these communities. It also highlighted what we’ve long believed to be true — that access to high-speed internet and reliable connectivity should be a fundamental right for all, which requires a holistic and national approach to solve. Unfortunately, barriers to internet adoption persist, including trust, cost, and digital literacy among under- and unconnected families.

Last fall, Microsoft and Communications Workers of America (CWA), in partnership with EveryoneOn, launched “Get Connected,” a series of community events in Atlanta, Memphis, Detroit, New York and rural North Carolina designed to boost awareness and enrollment in the ACP. Leveraging our collective networks, we activated Microsoft employee volunteers and partners alongside CWA volunteers and nonprofits such as Rural LISC, Common Sense Media, and affiliates of AARP and NAACP to educate residents about affordable internet and device offerings, help them enroll in ACP, and share resources about the Microsoft Skills for Jobs programs. After each event, EveryoneOn provided direct support and digital literacy workshops for participants. For those who couldn’t attend in-person, EveryoneOn directed people to its National Offer Locator Tool, an online tool that facilitates access to local affordable internet and device offerings searchable by zip code.

As millions of families across the country still struggle to access and afford internet at home, EveryoneOn’s ongoing ACP enrollment events often uncover the difficult budget choices residents make to pay for food and healthcare over home internet service. According to EveryoneOn’s 2021-2022 national study, 40% of income-insecure families couldn’t afford to pay anything for internet service and 46% found it difficult to include internet in their budgets at all.

In Milwaukee, a woman named Jackie exemplifies why programs like ACP are essential. She participated in EveryoneOn’s digital skills training program after her job at a human services organization in Milwaukee was eliminated. While Jackie didn’t use technology for her job, she knew she needed digital skills to search for employment. Unemployed, living on a fixed income with monthly housing rent due, Jackie couldn’t afford internet at home nor a computer. To help her get a job in finance, Jackie signed up for the Bank Works program at Employ Milwaukee, a Microsoft and EveryoneOn partner that serves as the city’s workforce development agency. The program required completing and submitting online homework, which meant Jackie had to leave her home each evening and drive around the city to find a stable, publicly available Wi-Fi connection to complete assignments via cellphone. Fortunately, Jackie was able to complete the program and, through individual support and assistance from EveryoneOn, now has reliable internet that she can afford from her kitchen table.

Jackie commented, “I’m grateful for the internet and this computer. I was afraid to go out at night. Now I’m able to connect from home to look for jobs. The training has put the resources I need at my fingertips.”

Technology changes lives, but it must be affordable and accessible for everyone to do so. The ACP is a powerful tool to make affordable broadband a reality for income-insecure families. Now is the time to make sure Jackie and millions like her across the country have reliable, affordable internet service and a device at home so they can fully participate in the economy and our digital world.

Interview with Ina Avdaha, digital skills instructor

Interview with Digital Skills Instructor, Ina Avdaha

Conducted by Jessica Scadron, VP of Strategic Communications

How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work?

My parents live in Mexico. Before I came to the U.S. I worked with my dad who shared how hard it was for him and my mom to use WhatsApp, FaceTime and other technology.

When they went into COVID lockdown, I saw how they struggled to do things online even though they’re familiar with technology, have a laptop and a phone. They were frustrated and sad. I didn’t know how afraid and alone people could feel not being involved in the digital world, so I did my best to help them from the U.S. I taught them how to pay their bills. It was a privilege for me to help them understand and learn more about tech.

How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work?

My parents live in Mexico. Before I came to the U.S. I worked with my dad who shared how hard it was for him and my mom to use WhatsApp, FaceTime and other technology. When they went into COVID lockdown, I saw how they struggled to do things online even though they’re familiar with technology, have a laptop and a phone. They were frustrated and sad. I didn’t know how afraid and alone people could feel not being involved in the digital world, so I did my best to help them from the U.S. I taught them how to pay their bills. It was a privilege for me to help them understand and learn more about tech.

What made you decide to become a digital skills instructor?

I worked for nonprofit community centers in Mexico where I taught digital skills. At one location, I started a computer lab teaching basic digital skills to adults and children. When I moved to the U.S. I volunteered to teach digital skills. In 2020 while on lockdown, I was looking for a similar position and saw an opening with EveryoneOn. I didn’t know at the time there were organizations offering these kinds of trainings - I’d been teaching on my own for so long - so I applied. Before EveryoneOn, I wasn’t familiar with digital equity work as a field - I was doing it on my own. The EveryoneOn team taught me most of what I know about digital inclusion.

As an instructor, do you have any observations of the relationship between women and the digital divide?

90% of my students are women of color. They have at least one job, and take care of the children and their parents. Many don’t speak English. They sacrifice so their kids and husbands can study and have a career even if this means they’re left behind. There’s a world they’re not a part of and they don’t have access. They think they’re not smart enough, that tech is for kids in school or husbands who work. Once the women start learning, they feel empowered and feel like they can do things.

A lot of it is that they don’t have a lot of choice with the pandemic - everything went online super fast and there’s no other way they can do things now. I have students who have to apply for COVID relief and they don’t know how to send an email.

“They can’t help their kids with their online homework if they don’t know how to use tech. But many realize they have the ability, that there’s someone willing to give them a chance and help them. ”

Having that space where someone is willing to listen to their questions, have patience to explain, and give them a laptop so they can learn…that has never happened in their lives before. 

What keeps you motivated to teach digital skills to under-resourced communities?

They’re the ones who truly need it. For them, learning digital skills makes a big difference and requires little resources. We don’t need a lot of money to provide them with a laptop, wifi and skills that will make a huge difference for them and generations after them.

What is one thing you want people to know about the digital divide that you see in your work as an instructor?

Learning basic digital skills changes someone’s life forever, especially for women. Women realize that with a laptop and wifi that they can go to college, get grants for Latino women, take dance classes online and learn English. Little by little they get excited. If they learn how to write an email, send an attachment, fill out a form - for them it could mean going to college or sending their kids to college. I see their faces light up when they realize all the opportunities available to them.

NTEN’s 2023 Nonprofit Technology Conference Helps Accelerate EveryoneOn’s Digital Transformation

Chris Roesner, Director of Finance, EveryoneOn

I had the benefit of going to NTEN’s 2023 Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) in Denver this month. There I convened with 2,000 nonprofit peers to learn about technology, digital transformation, digital inclusion, and to share about the struggles and the victories many of us share. 

NTC was perfectly timed. I'm currently leading EveryoneOn through its own journey of digital transformation. As I write, RSM - a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms - is kicking off an organization-wide technology assessment and road mapping project for EveryoneOn. 

Thanks in part to funding from our long-time partners Best Buy Foundation and Carnegie Corporation of New York, we're beginning a first-time effort to document our current technology infrastructure, analyze our current IT needs and challenges, and frame our strategic technology goals around growth and impact. The result will be a two-to-three-year plan for how to develop an IT infrastructure and IT operations that will increase our efficiency, scale our work, and provide deeper insights into the impact our work is already having throughout the country.

Thanks to the folks at NTEN - a lean and mighty team like EveryoneOn - I was able to bring home key IT insights and learnings from their conference. Some of these can be applied immediately, some will help better inform our work toward deeper digital transformation, and some will help manage the integrity of our data throughout its lifecycle. 

Here are some key takeaways for me from the conference:

• There is low-hanging fruit - areas where EveryoneOn can make an immediate impact.

• We're not alone in feeling under-resourced in our ability to adopt, maintain and leverage technology, and use our own data.

• A handful of nonprofits are doing it right - making continued investments in people, systems and resources to keep abreast of and leverage the latest technologies.

• Technology no longer belongs in a siloed IT department. Done right, IT is a fundamental ecosystem that marries the diverse functional areas of an organization to add tremendous insight and value to business operations.

• There are vast blindspots in technology and data that if not considered, systemically exclude underserved communities, and contrary to our work, can broaden the digital divide.

As EveryoneOn embarks on our own path toward digital transformation, one thing is clear: it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s likely a two-to-three-year process and then continues through ongoing evaluation, tweaking and responding to new technologies and business needs. And it won’t sit with one staffer but instead take a cross-functional team dedicated to long-term success; success that’s defined by a common understanding of shared organizational goals. Oh, and funding - it’s going to take lots of funding. 

I'm particularly excited about our work with RSM because the result will be, among other things, a comprehensive document that will clearly make the case for our technology investment and outline the platforms, systems, people, processes, budgets and timelines to make it a reality. With this information, we'll be empowered to begin speaking with partners who can invest in expanding the work of EveryoneOn and deepening the amazing impact our work has already proven to deliver, such as connecting over 1M people to affordable internet.

Do you have a passion for digital equity? Do you have professional IT skills? Are you interested in helping fund EveryoneOn’s digital transformation? Email us at support@everyoneon.org to learn how you can help deliver more high-speed internet, more low- and no-cost computers, and more digital skills trainings to those who need it most.

EveryoneOn’s #ActivateLAforACP’s Success Connecting Los Angeles Families to Affordable Internet

EveryoneOn’s #ActivateLAforACP’s Success Connecting Los Angeles Families to Affordable Internet

By Oscar Magaña, Los Angeles Program Manager, EveryoneOn

I’m excited to share the results of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollment event on March 20, 2023, at the Pio-Pico Koreatown Library branch, in partnership with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), the office of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. 

The ACP is an essential program that offers low-income families, students, and households in under-resourced areas access to reliable and inexpensive internet services. Qualifying homes receive a $30 monthly subsidy on internet service and up to $100 per household for the purchase of a connected device such as a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (your local internet provider must be participating in this part of the benefit for you to receive a device discount). The Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), approved under COVID-19 relief legislation, was replaced by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that authorized the $14.2 billion ACP federal subsidy. 

Staff from LAPL and EveryoneOn were on hand at the event to provide information to families about the advantages of the ACP. Along with helping families enroll in the program, which can take up to 20 minutes each, we assisted them with program-related inquiries they had, such as how to qualify or the status of a previously submitted application. We offered registration assistance in three languages—English, Spanish, and Korean—with the help of the Pio-Pico Koreatown Library staff.

The event was a huge success drawing 30 families from as far away as Bell Gardens and Van Nuys. It was encouraging to witness the families' joy and gratitude for the chance to enroll and finally get access to reasonably priced and trustworthy internet services. Many families expressed their desire to benefit from the initiative since they had previously struggled with the high cost of internet connections. They often were forced to cancel service because the expense of maintaining connectivity had been a barrier for them.

The event’s accomplishments emphasize how crucial the ACP is to increasing underserved populations' access to high-speed internet. 

I'm honored to have been a part of this event and contributed to a bigger initiative to close the digital divide in the U.S. The ACP is an important program that can greatly influence the lives of many low-income families, students, and households. I look forward to seeing its future funding expansion and continued success.

You can learn more about EveryoneOn’s programs and national approach to digital equity and digital inclusion here, and visit the FCC’s website for more information about the low-cost internet program.

Interview with EveryoneOn Digital Instructor Tatiana Alvarado

Interview with EveryoneOn Digital Instructor Tatiana Alvarado

Interview conducted by Jessica Scadron, VP, Strategic Communications, EveryoneOn

How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work?

I became interested in digital equity when I stumbled upon a job in my university’s tech department helping students and faculty learn Microsoft Suite applications. Once COVID started, I was looking for something to do while at home and came across an EveryoneOn digital instructor job opening.

I was hired for a pilot program which I liked because I could be more hands on, helping to create program goals and build the curriculum. After teaching a few classes, the work became more meaningful to me when I saw the impact on families and individuals. As the program has grown, I’ve been honored to be part of the journey with EveryoneOn.

EveryoneOn has been a big influence on me. I graduate from college this year and will go on to study public interest law. EveryoneOn is the reason I want to become a lawyer - to close the digital divide from a public policy perspective. Why not address this issue on a larger scale? 

What’s your relationship with tech as a woman?

I had a desktop at home that my parents bought me when I was six years old because they saw I was good in school and passionate about my education. I always got good grades and was involved in clubs. I had to figure out how to use and fix the computer. Fascinated by different tech concepts, I got a tech certification in high school and took computer courses in college. I’ll continue to learn new technologies for years to come. 

“For me, technology is genderless. You either know how to use it or you don’t. The whole point of tech is that it can bring people together, regardless of gender. It should be accessible to everyone.  ”

What made you decide to become a digital skills instructor?

When I stumbled upon the role with EveryoneOn, the organization’s mission statement resonated with me. The idea of connecting people to the internet, giving them free devices, then teaching them the digital skills to get online wasn’t something I’d thought about. But I saw how the digital divide affected my parents and their lack of tech knowledge. My parents emigrated from El Salvador in their teens. Dad worked as a dishwasher and line cook for years and mom is a waitress. I’ve been their tech teacher and I’ve done so for many families like mine who have a similar story. They’re immigrants, don’t speak English, have children in school and are often older. I see my grandparents in many participants and my own upbringing reflected in their experiences. 

How have you found your experience as an instructor with EveryoneOn?

EveryoneOn is so unique. I don’t know of many other organizations that operate the way we do and provide these services, especially the digital skills trainings. On the first day of class, participants are intimidated. But people build relationships with each other and make connections outside the classroom. People have higher levels of confidence because of the skills they learn. My favorite part is watching everything unfold throughout each cohort and knowing I contributed to participants’ growth and learning.

As an instructor, do you have any observations of the relationship between women and the digital divide?

One cohort stands out. The class was all mothers who had young kids. They showed up every day to class. They were hungry for the opportunity. It’s amazing to see them empower themselves, to provide for their families through digital instruction. Many express that learning about tech was missing in their lives, especially with COVID when everything was virtual. They needed to keep up with their bills, medical care and help kids with their homework. For all of this, they needed to know how to use a computer. 

What is one thing you want people to know about the digital divide that you see in your work as an instructor?

The digital divide is more prevalent than we think. There are students in college I work with who don’t know the basics of computers and tech. Many times it is our Black and Brown communities. It’s not always a socioeconomic or racial or age related issue. These are skills for everyone, in the same way we need to know reading, writing and math. Many who have these skills take them for granted. Especially with everything being virtual now, digital skills are needed now more than ever. 

What keeps you motivated to teach digital skills to under-resourced communities?

All of the feel-good stories, smiles and thank-you’s - I carry them with me. I take my role seriously. Teaching has a real impact on people’s lives. 

Interview with Capital One Digital Inclusion Partner: Jessa Thomas

Interview with Capital One Digital Inclusion Partner: Jessa Thomas

In conversation with Jessica Scadron, VP of Strategic Communications, EveryoneOn

How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work? 

During the years leading up to the pandemic, I spent quite a bit of time working on digital access opportunities with New York City’s youth. When the pandemic hit, it became clear that access to the internet, hardware and sufficient digital infrastructure effectively serve as the ‘on ramp’ to services such as remote working, education and telehealth. My work expanded to better understand how Capital One could bridge the digital divide.

Talk a bit about your personal relationship with technology. 

My reliance on technology has only deepened over the years, far from my middle school days spent in the suburbs of Texas, chatting on AOL messenger with friends from school. I’ve spent my entire career working in a virtual setting on and off, and recently, the global pandemic brought my daughter’s entire kindergarten education into our home via a laptop. Even my purchasing decisions have become more digital. My husband and I purchased a car through the use of apps on our phone using Capital One’s Auto Navigator program.

Do you have any observations on the connection between women and the digital divide?

When we invest in women, we invest in everyone — including children, businesses and our communities. 

According to the United Nations, supporting women’s financial well-being has a cascading impact on communities. When women are granted access to income and financial tools, they’re more likely to have healthy families. When families are healthy, more children have access to education. Those better-educated children grow up and become community leaders. 

Helping people thrive financially is central to Capital One’s mission to change banking for good - and ensuring that is inclusive of digital access is also a key part of the equation. 

What prompted Capital One to invest, and reinvest, in EveryoneOn? 

Capital One’s efforts to support digital access comes as part of the Capital One Impact Initiative — a commitment that strives to advance socioeconomic mobility. We are listening to, partnering with, and investing in nonprofits like EveryoneOn to help close gaps in equity and opportunity and foster well-being in our communities. We are always evaluating how the Impact Initiative delivers results so we can maximize the impact of our work, and we are committed to bridging the digital divide by furthering digital inclusion throughout the communities we support. EveryoneOn’s mission:

“to unlock social and economic opportunity by connecting people in under-resourced communities to affordable internet service and computers, and providing digital skills trainings”

makes for a very complementary partnership to utilize the strengths of both our organizations for good.

What is one thing you want people to know about the digital divide that you see in your work? 

Access to high-speed broadband is the on-ramp to society.

Access to the internet, hardware and sufficient digital infrastructure are essential to allow people to access services such as remote working, education and telehealth. However, for underserved communities, lack of access to affordable and reliable digital services, devices and infrastructure has created a digital divide.

The Federal Communications Commission reports that 19 million Americans — six percent of the population — still lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds. In rural areas, nearly one-fourth of the population — 14.5 million people — lack access to this service.

Those inequities disproportionately impact adults with lower incomes (below $30,000 annually). A Pew Research Center survey found more than four-in-ten adults with lower incomes do not have home broadband services or a desktop or laptop computer. Roughly a quarter of adults with lower incomes say they don’t own a smartphone.

Through strategic partnerships and innovative programs, we’re committed to bridging the digital divide with a focus on expanding digital access to individuals living in rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less, or in low-income urban areas. We also strive to equip older adults with the tools needed to navigate changes in technology.

Interview with EveryoneOn Digital Instructor Joanna Aceves

Interview with EveryoneOn Digital Instructor Joanna Aceves

In conversation with Jessica Scadron, VP of Strategic Communications, EveryoneOn

How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work?

I love teaching. I started my teaching journey as a tutor during high school. When I graduated, I taught English to Spanish-speakers for private companies, then decided to start my own private business teaching out of my house. I did that for four years, teaching adults and children. 

When COVID hit, it wasn’t safe to have students in my house, and I wanted to transition to virtual classes. I saw an EveryoneOn digital instructor position posted on LinkedIn about teaching digital skills classes to under-resourced communities. When I read the organization’s mission and the communities it serves, I knew the role was for me. There’s a need for people to learn digital skills, but it can be scary for an adult to take classes, especially in technology. I wanted to change that experience for participants, so I applied for the position and have been an instructor for 1.5 years so far.

Describe your own personal experience with technology

I’ve always been interested in technology, in learning and teaching. I took tech classes after college. One of my teaching jobs out of college was as an instructor teaching coding, python, security and other technologies to people who weren’t underserved. I was teaching all over the states, including to employees at Boeing.

I wanted to teach tech skills but wanted to focus more on communities who need extra support and attention - people like my parents who get nervous when trying to learn tech. They migrated from Mexico to Los Angeles. Their education ended at elementary school. They do jobs that don’t require tech, like factory work and construction. People like my parents are those I want to help.

Why did you choose EveryoneOn as the organization for which you provide instruction?

I really enjoyed meeting the EveryoneOn team when I first started - it’s like a family work environment. I love the support, availability and care the team shows for the students’ experience. They’re not just trying to put a teacher in a classroom; they want them to learn about the students and their knowledge levels. They prepare them before classes begin with their devices and other details so they’re ready to learn on day one.

As an instructor, do you have any observations of the relationship between women and the digital divide? 

90% of EveryoneOn class participants are women. The high number spotlights how many women in these communities struggle with getting online and operating a computer. The jobs underrepresented people usually have are ones that don’t require tech skills, like working in restaurants and factories. If women can take these classes, they can build their skills, gain the confidence to use tech and open up to more opportunities than they thought possible simply by taking a 6-week course. 

What keeps you motivated to teach digital skills to under-resourced communities?

Remembering how I grew up. I taught my parents everything related to tech, like using an ATM, calling people and listening to voicemail. My dad did attend a tech class, but it was in English so he didn’t learn much because he only spoke Spanish at that time. The lack of bilingual instructors is a hurdle for many, but EveryoneOn teaches in both Spanish and English.

My goal in teaching is to make sure people have fun while they’re learning. I’ve attended classes my whole life, and the most essential part of teaching a class is that it has to be fun and welcoming in order for people to learn. I want it to be interactive and to acknowledge participants and their small successes. 

I get emails after every class from students thanking me for being patient with them and sharing how they didn’t know they could learn digital skills. It gives me joy to see people grow to help them learn tech for themselves and take their knowledge beyond the classroom to open new doors in their lives.

What is one thing you want people to know about the digital divide that you see in your work as an instructor?

There are a few things I see. The first is that the digital divide exists. People don’t have to be an instructor to help - we can pitch in with kindness and offer to show someone a skill. If we’re all hands on, we can close the divide.

Secondly, I see that many students haven’t placed a lot of value in the digital world and how beneficial it can be to their lives. Once they step into the classroom, they see there’s so much they can gain from the internet, having a computer and increasing their skill sets. 

Lastly, it’s difficult to find information about internet access and trainings. There has to be outreach in the community to let people know about the digital world and all the opportunities that are available to them. 

Connecting Los Angeles Through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

LOS ANGELES: Do you need help signing up for low-cost internet? Or maybe you’re connected and want to help others in your community get online? Either way, EveryoneOn is here to help you and residents in the greater Los Angeles area get connected online through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

We’re teaming up with our partners at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Public Library, Union Bank (now U.S. Bank) and Microsoft to #ActivateLAforACP to enroll more Los Angeles area residents in the FCC’s low-cost internet program.

The upcoming EveryoneOn Los Angeles ACP events in March 2023 are as follows:

For any questions about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), please visit fcc.gov/ACP or call 877-384-2575.

It’s Always Women’s History Month at EveryoneOn

By Norma Fernandez, CEO, EveryoneOn

For the last ten years, EveryoneOn has been focused on connecting people to the world’s most powerful tool - the internet. As a result, we’ve spent a lot of time in under-resourced communities across El Paso, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Milwaukee, Memphis, Tampa and many other amazing places, driving broadband adoption, distributing computers and delivering digital skills trainings. And there is one thing that stands out: women, and specifically women of color, have been the primary participants in our digital inclusion programs. For example, in the last two years, almost 90% of participants in our digital skills training programs have been women. 

Who are these women? We’ve learned from surveys, conversations and observations that they are: mothers who found themselves helping their K-12 children with remote learning during the height of the pandemic, caregivers who scheduled telemedicine appointments for their aging parents, community college students who needed introduction classes to computers and the internet and then led their communities by becoming digital navigators. These women are the experts on the digital divide and digital equity because they have stood at the center of what it means not to be connected.

As state and local agencies position themselves to tap unprecedented federal funding that will expand broadband infrastructure and develop digital equity plans–thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act–these agencies must engage low-income women of color to inform the plans. To start, baseline information on how and where under-resourced women experience digital inequities is crucial. Unfortunately, there is limited data on the digital divide and women in the U.S. Conduct a search, and the data does not exist–most of it takes a global view which highlights the need to address digital inequities for women abroad (EveryoneOn strongly supports advancing digital equity in the U.S. and across the globe). 

At EveryoneOn, we are committed to learning more about the broadband adoption journeys of under-resourced women of color and elevating their stories to ensure digital equity efforts are inclusive and reflect the communities they intend to benefit. But we cannot do this alone. We’ve identified a few ways our partners, policymakers, the philanthropic sector, research groups and others can support expanding the understanding of and tackling the gender digital divide in the U.S.: 

• Invest in research to find out exactly how women are impacted, in particular under-resourced women of color, a population we know is disproportionately affected but little data is available;

• Fund digital inclusion programs that serve or prioritize women; 

• Provide wrap-around support (i.e., childcare, transportation, computers, access to digital skill trainings and professional certificate programs) for women as they embark on their digital journey to ensure they have a clear path forward for success in a fast-changing digital landscape; 

• Many digital inclusion initiatives and programs are run by women, including at EveryoneOn. Investing in and amplifying the work of these women leaders would expand their capacity and impact; and 

• Intentionally and strategically include women - new broadband adopters, novice digital learners, older adults, immigrants, mothers, young adults, and others - in digital equity planning efforts.

Women are showing up to do the work - to learn, to help their families and communities. We must do everything in our power to support them. I invite you to get in touch to discuss how we can close the gender digital divide together. Email us at support@everyonone.org.

7 Must-Read Books | Digital Communications 2023

By Russell Hartley, Digital Content Associate, EveryoneOn

As I wrap up my final semester as a Master’s in Communication student at Grand Valley State University, I’ve started reflecting on how I went from starting a program with no idea what I wanted to do with a M.S. degree to having an interest grow into an obsession. This transition was kickstarted due to the influence and pedagogical efforts of my professors, especially Alex Nesterenko, Ph.D. and Corey Anton, Ph.D. who opened my eyes to the importance of this field by introducing me to this literature. My interest was amplified further after I joined the digital equity nonprofit EveryoneOn, and I continued to read from authors who have written revolutionary material to bring the issues of the digital age to the forefront of digital discourse.

If you’re like me and interested in digital communications and concerned about its implications for our democracy, political discourse and mental well-being, then I recommend the following reads:

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff

Read this if: you want to develop a fundamental understanding of not only the inner-workings of tech giants like Google, YouTube, or Facebook, but also if you want to better understand where all this “data exhaust” is going. Dr. Zuboff is a leading academic and author in the digital communications field and has inspired many to further research the issues of “surveillance capitalism” that are thoroughly presented in this incredibly important read.

The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher

Read this if: you’ve ever heard of social media. Sounds like everyone, right? Well that’s who should read this. As New York Times contributor Ezra Klein said, this is “an essential book for our times,” and it speaks to the driving forces behind social media content consumption that are radicalizing users at an alarming rate.

The New Fire by Andrew Imbrie & Ben Buchanan

Read this if: you’re interested in AI and want to know “how we got here” in terms of AI development as well as how AI may shape the geopolitical landscape and what this means for democracies worldwide. In other words, if you’ve heard about ChatGPT, then read this book.

The Misinformation Age by Cailin O’Connor & James Owen Weatherall

Read this if: you want to better understand not only how false beliefs spread but also how scientific consensus forms and what we can do about how to address the spread of misinformation. This book in particular inspired me to research more about the nationalization in our local political issues.

Meme Wars by Joan Donovan, Emily Dreyfuss & Brian Friedberg

Read this if: you want to learn about online radicalization efforts AND you want to read a really well-written story. The story this book details can get pretty dark, but it’s necessary as to shine a light on the darkness that prevails over platforms like 4chan or 8kun (formerly 8chan), and how these online communities radicalize individuals to commit violence and real world atrocities.

The Shame Machine by Cathy O’Neil

Read this if: you want to learn more about the players and systems behind the culture of online shaming (and also if you’re a fan of Cathy O’Neil’s Weapons of Math Destruction). This is a crucial read for anyone looking to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy online shaming and the role in which shame should play in our digital discussions.

The Fight for Privacy by Danielle Keats Citron

Read this if: you read any of the books above and want to focus more on the potential solutions that can help address the undemocratic practices of big data and social media companies.

Follow Russell M. Hartley on Twitter @russellmhartley or Mastodon @russellmhartley@newsie.social

Reflections: 10 Years & the Lessons We’ve Learned

By Norma Fernandez, CEO, EveryoneOn

2022 culminates our 10-year anniversary. Naturally, I’ve been reflecting on what we’ve accomplished, the people we’ve helped, the challenges we’ve faced and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

The path hasn’t been clear or straight. When Zach Leverenz founded EveryoneOn in 2012, 100 million people weren’t connected to the internet. Ten years later, that number is only half when it should be zero. Our goal is that it not take another 10 years to connect the 52M people who still cannot get online. I believe that with what we’ve learned in the time we’ve been doing this work, we will accelerate progress. 

In my contemplation, the following learnings are why EveryoneOn has not only weathered the storms, but is now stronger than ever and ready to reach millions more.

1. Be open to vulnerability. We nearly closed our doors four years ago. What saved us? We weren’t ashamed to ask our partners and funders for help, and to find out what else we could do to get back on our feet. We listened, didn’t give up, and got creative. Along with instituting strong leadership, the generous insights partners shared helped inform the next iteration of EveryoneOn. Had we let pride get in our way, we wouldn’t be here today.

2. Build a diverse, dedicated team. EveryoneOn’s team includes driven, team-oriented entrepreneurs who connect with the mission, and whose broad experiences and perspectives expand our approach, creativity and innovation. Our staff includes elected officials, former commissioners, for-profit executives, volunteers, international development experts and nonprofit leaders, to name a few. 

3. Advocate. EveryoneOn was created to deliver services that help connect people to the internet. Now at our 10-year mark, we acknowledge the need for a full advocacy and policy effort if we want to drive long-term sustainable change. 

4. Seek necessary funding. Digital equity is intense work that requires resources. We haven’t always given ourselves the latitude to charge what it costs to deliver our services. We’re bolder now in our outreach to supporters about what it takes to provide high quality, high touch programming and outreach. We no longer cut ourselves or our communities short by not asking for the funding it truly takes to close the digital divide. 

5. Lead with heart. We’ve always centered the communities we serve. We know that the only way to make change is to respond to their needs. We are on the ground, hyper local and designing programs tailored to the needs and aspirations of those we serve. 

6. Cross-sector partnerships. Working across sectors has been a tenent of EveryoneOn’s model from the beginning. We work with corporations, community-based organizations, academia, philanthropy and government. We have always known this is the only way to create real and lasting change. 

This is a moment for us to pause, take stock in our journey and the knowledge we’ve gained along the way. But we can’t stop here. Along with our tenacious board of directors, inspiring partners and supportive funders, we’ll continue to remove connectivity barriers and help people thrive in our digital society and economy. Will you join us? 

The Link Between Digital & Financial Inclusion: Tips for High-Impact Partnerships that Build Skills & Wealth

By Jessica Scadron, VP of Strategic Communications, EveryoneOn

Last week, leaders from EveryoneOn, National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and Union Bank discussed the connection between digital skills and wealth, and how well-run cross-sector partnerships close digital and financial gaps. 

Digital skills are linked to financial literacy - taken together, both reduce poverty, minimize exposure to fraud and schemes; and give people access to better job planning, investing, saving and homeownership counseling. 

People living in under-resourced communities, who are predominantly people of color, are most impacted by the lack of digital and financial inclusion resources available to them. Based on the American Community Survey, 18 million households still do not have access to the internet. What’s more, 55% of those surveyed in EveryoneOn’s recent national study reported lack of confidence in their digital skills to access online services. 

Norma Fernandez, CEO, EveryoneOn; Dr. Billy Hensley, President & CEO, NEFE; and Kathy Patoff, Chief Operating Officer, MUFG Union Bank Foundation shared insights and approaches that foster economic stability. To start, connectivity and digital skills are critical for people to stay financially protected online. As Dr. Hensley shared, “Many unbanked or those interacting with predatory lending services often don’t have modern and safe digital access - they’re at the height of vulnerability when it comes to financial stability and literacy.”

Second, no one sector can close the digital divide on its own. Nonprofit, philanthropy, corporate and academia cannot rely on government alone and must work together to create lasting change. To wit, as a result of COVID’s negative impact on digital access, Union Bank decided to invest in digital equity. This is precisely why Union Bank partnered with EveryoneOn - for its expertise in providing internet access in digitally-redlined neighborhoods. “EveryoneOn’s deep community relationships, capacity-building trainings and device distributions enable Union Bank to understand the issue, reach more communities and have greater impact,” said Kathy Patoff of Union Bank. Union Bank, in turn, brings its financial prowess and the power of employee engagement to deliver that knowledge to communities. 

Third, and not surprisingly, data needs to be inclusive so funders can advocate for digital equity investments. Funders must approach communities with humility and collaborative intent to truly serve them. Before investing, funders should go into communities and ask people what they want and need. Only then can they make informed, long-term, sustainable investments.

Financial institutions and philanthropy looking to make real change should take note of these approaches if they’re truly committed to fostering economic stability in historically marginalized communities. If you’re interested in partnering with EveryoneOn to have a greater impact, we’d love to hear from you: support@everyoneon.org.

EveryoneOn Newsletter: From the CEO

Hello!

It has been a while since we sent you an update. I cannot think of a better time to reconnect with you than to celebrate our 10-year anniversary!

Much has happened since we were last in touch: COVID and all the inequities and racial tensions that surfaced and deepened, plus the historical $65B Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address digital equity.

Despite the challenges, we are thriving. I am sharing a few highlights in this newsletter of our progress and impact. 

Mostly, I want to thank you for standing by us, and for all you do to get communities connected. We have much further to go to achieve digital equity. I believe that with you by our side, we will ensure everyone has the opportunity and ability to thrive in our digital world. 

Stay tuned for our next note in August when we will share our impact report.

With gratitude,

Norma E. Fernandez

EveryoneOn Joins National #AlliantDayofAction

EveryoneOn Joins National #AlliantDayofAction

On July 20, the EveryoneOn team was proud to take part in Alliant Credit Union’s #AlliantDayofAction to engage our local and state policymakers, and thousands of people across the country, in advancing digital equity.

Along with Alliant Credit Union, we believe everyone deserves equitable access to the internet, digital devices, and the skills needed to use both. Yet, 52 million Americans lack access to the internet today. Together, we can change that and ensure all people have the tools and knowledge to tap opportunities only available online.

Due to the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), $65B in digital inclusion funding is about to hit state budgets. Now is the time to tell our elected officials why #DigitalEquity matters.

Join us in advocating for digital inclusion and equity by visiting the link below for a prewritten email and a step-by-step guide to tell your elected officials to prioritize digital equity planning today: https://fb.me/e/1VKDdqXdJ

And please share our social media posts or post on your own channels using #AlliantDayofAction.

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Looking to expand digital equity in your area? Learn more about how you can partner with us here.