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Advancing to Digital Equity in CT Keynote: Tracie D. Hall

Followed by a panel discussion with community stakeholders

Mark Digital Inclusion Week with Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association and the first African American to lead the association since its founding in 1876. Hall received BAs in law and society and African American Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara; an MA in international studies from Yale University; and a Master of Information Science from the University of Washington Information School. Hall has written and spoken widely about digital inequity, the role of libraries in disrupting the socio-economic divide, as well as the need to eradicate information redlining and information poverty.

The theme of this year’s Digital Inclusion Week is “Turn the Moment into a Movement!” Since the pandemic began, everyone has been acknowledging the importance of closing the digital divide. Millions of federal dollars are flowing into the expansion of broadband networks. There remains a funding gap, however, between the amounts going to network construction and those going to digital inclusion measures.

Following Tracie’s keynote, a panel will amplify the voices of the Connecticut residents most affected by digital discrimination and redlining. Hall will join a discussion led by experts in the fields of health, workforce development, legal aid, re-entry, adult education, and housing assistance, all of whom will discuss benefits of digital inclusion from their vantage points. Together we will address the challenge of turning this moment of awareness into a real movement for digital inclusion.

Juan Fonseca Tapia, Neighborhood organizer, Center for Leadership and Justice Dr. Nasreen Al Omari, East Hartford Adult Ed instructor Yadira Jeter, East Hartford Works Career Navigator Rafael Rodriguez-Cruz, Greater Hartford Legal Aid attorney Lamond Daniels, Chief of Community Services, City of Norwalk Homa Naficy, Executive Director of The American Place, Hartford Public Library Robert Gagne, digital navigator, Hamden Public Library Elisabeth Michel, Health Equity Operations Specialist, Hartford Healthcare