At digitalLIFT, we are beyond proud to congratulate our Founding Executive Director, Kami Griffiths, for being named a 2026 Digital Equity Champion by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society at Net Inclusion 2026 in Chicago. This prestigious award — the Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award — recognizes leaders who have demonstrated sustained commitment, innovation, and impact in advancing digital equity across the country.
Recognition of Kami’s contribution reflects more than two decades of visionary leadership, community partnership, and tireless advocacy for inclusive and culturally grounded digital learning. From building community-centered training models to expanding multilingual instruction and empowering hundreds of nonprofit and government partners, Kami has shaped digitalLIFT into a national force for meaningful digital inclusion. In 2024 alone, under her leadership, digitalLIFT reached thousands of adult learners and trained hundreds of community trainers — a testament to her commitment to human-centered, equitable solutions.
But our celebration goes beyond digitalLIFT. We also extend heartfelt congratulations to the other deserving awardees:
- Dr. Mariette Bien-Aime Ayala, recognized as the 2026 Digital Equity Emerging Leader for her groundbreaking work building community-responsive digital learning pathways.
- Bill Callahan, honored as a 2026 Digital Equity Champion for his decades of transformative leadership — from expanding how we think about digital inclusion to shaping national data and policy conversations.
These leaders exemplify the spirit of this award not only by advancing digital inclusion but also by centering equity, collaboration, and community power in all they do.
We are deeply grateful to NDIA and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society for creating and sustaining the Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Awards. By elevating leaders across the digital equity movement, this award amplifies the voices and work that are critical to building a more just and connected world.
Thank you to everyone who participates in and supports this movement — from community trainers to nonprofit partners, advocates, policymakers, learners, and funders. Your commitment inspires us every day. Together, we’ll continue working toward digital equity so that everyone has the skills, support, and opportunity to thrive in our digital world.
In her acceptance speech, Kami gave an insight into her 20-year purpose-driven career. Here’s what she had to say.
“My journey into digital inclusion began more than twenty years ago, in 2003, when I realized that a career in graphic design—while creative—wasn’t giving me the sense of purpose I was looking for. I took a job teaching computer classes with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Over the next three years, I taught hundreds of people how to use computers to search for jobs. And in the process, that work changed my life.
One student in particular has never left me. She came into class hoping to apply for a job at her local grocery store. The problem was they no longer accepted paper applications. Everything was online. We spent 45 minutes copying and pasting her résumé into an online form, navigating drop-down menus and unfamiliar fields. Then we hit pages of confusing questions she didn’t understand. She looked at the clock, realized she was about to miss her bus, and had to leave—without ever submitting the application.
Not long after that, I worked with another student who had lost his home in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina. He had received a letter about a program that could help him rebuild his life. There was just one catch: the application was online. He could request a paper version, but it would arrive too late to meet the deadline. Together, we completed the online application. He got the help he needed. But I still think about this question: what would have happened if he hadn’t had someone sitting next to him?
I have many stories like these—and I imagine many of you do as well—stories of people whose lives were shaped not by their ability or motivation, but by their access, or lack of access, to digital tools and skills.
It’s because of these people that I decided to dedicate my career to closing the digital divide. They’re the reason I helped establish digitalLIFT as a nonprofit 18 years ago. I do this work so people can apply for that job, access critical public programs, reconnect after a disaster, or simply participate fully in today’s world.
Because internet access and digital skills aren’t luxuries—they’re game changers. And everyone deserves the opportunity to benefit from the power of the internet.”
Join us in celebrating these remarkable champions — and the ongoing work ahead.
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