Norma Estela Fernandez
Chief Executive Officer
Norma E. Fernandez is the CEO of EveryoneOn, an organization at the forefront of closing the digital divide in America. Since joining EveryoneOn in 2013 to establish its presence in Los Angeles, Norma has spearheaded efforts leading to thousands of households gaining access to high-speed internet and developing comprehensive strategies to engage various sectors in digital inclusion initiatives. Her leadership saw a significant transformation when she took the helm as CEO in late 2019 and right as the COVID-19 pandemic emerged a few months later.
During her tenure, Norma has grown and diversified the board of directors, doubled the organization's staff, and has successfully raised over $5 million from diverse funding sources. Her strategic initiatives include the creation of EveryoneOn's first Digital Skills Academy, which has trained over 4,500 individuals and facilitated the distribution of thousands of computers to income-insecure households across the country, as well as launching EveryoneOn’s advocacy activities. These efforts have expanded EveryoneOn's influence beyond Los Angeles to the Bay Area and Milwaukee, and dozens of other cities, in collaboration with major partners such as Capital One and Microsoft.
With a rich background as an urban planner and community development advocate, Norma brings a unique and valuable perspective to the field of digital inclusion. She has uplifted community-focused digital inclusion solutions and effective partnership models as a featured speaker at prominent forums like Net Inclusion and other nationwide conferences, and served as a guest instructor with NTEN and the Aspen Institute Digital Equity Accelerator. Additionally, she has been interviewed by the LA Times, various NPR affiliated media outlets, TIME Magazine, Univision and others to share insights on addressing the digital divide through an equity lens. Norma also contributes her expertise as a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council. In 2023, Norma was selected as a fellow with Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund and conducted a qualitative research project capturing the digital divide stories and experiences of underserved women.
Norma’s dedication to social justice and community empowerment is deeply personal, rooted in her experience as the daughter of Mexican immigrants and her journey as a first-generation college student. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Chicano/a Studies, as well as a M.A. in Urban Planning from UCLA. Beyond her professional pursuits, Norma is passionate about living a fulfilling life with her family and friends. Her unwavering commitment to digital equity and social justice has earned her recognition as a 2024 Digital Equity Champion by the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
Read more about Norma’s 2023 research project as a Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund fellow - From Fear to Confidence: The Digital Skills Journey of Underserved Women