Juneteenth marks the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That delay reminds us how powerful access to timely information can be, and how harm is prolonged when it is withheld.
Today, the digital divide raises similar questions about who is still waiting for access to jobs, healthcare, and opportunity. At digitalLIFT, we see digital literacy as freedom work, ensuring people have the skills and support to fully participate in a connected world.
New Chinese-Language Workshop Offerings
digitalLIFT is expanding access to digital skills training by offering three new workshops in Chinese, designed to support more inclusive, language-accessible learning in communities.
- Smartphone Fundamentals (智能手机基础) – A beginner-friendly curriculum covering essential smartphone skills for both Android and iPhone users, with flexible content to meet learners where they are.
- Intro to Generative AI (生成式人工智能入门) – An accessible introduction to generative AI with hands-on activities using tools like ChatGPT, helping learners build confidence with emerging technology.
- WeChat (微信) – A practical workshop on using WeChat, a widely used messaging and social platform, including key features and basic safety practices.
These new resources help partners extend digital inclusion efforts to Mandarin-speaking learners and strengthen equitable access to essential digital skills.
Strong partnerships are at the heart of digital equity. In King County, a recent collaboration with digitalLIFT helped frontline staff across more than 20 organizations strengthen their digital navigation skills, embedding technology support directly into health and human service systems.
In Santa Clara County, Sourcewise has built a sustainable model to support older adults through hands-on digital access programs, multilingual training, and peer learning opportunities, reducing isolation and increasing independence.
Together, these partnerships show what’s possible when community organizations invest in practical, people-centered digital inclusion models that scale. From training staff to directly supporting older adults, each effort helps more residents gain the confidence and skills needed to fully participate in a connected world.
Resources for the Digital Inclusion Movement
Each month, digitalLIFT publishes new insights that support the evolving work of digital inclusion practitioners, educators, and community partners. These resources reflect growing needs across the field for practical, people-centered approaches to digital access and learning.
- A Mindful Approach to Engaging with Social Media: Explores how individuals and practitioners can foster healthier, more intentional relationships with social media, emphasizing digital well-being and informed participation.
- Rebuilding Effective Training for the Modern Workforce: Looks at how workforce and digital skills training must evolve to meet today’s learners, focusing on relevance, accessibility, and real-world application.
- From Pandemic Response to Long-Term Connection: How Tech Advice Sessions Continue to Support Older Adults: Highlights how short-term pandemic-era tech support models have grown into sustained, trust-based services that help older adults build confidence and independence online.
Together, these articles offer practical guidance for strengthening digital inclusion work, shifting from isolated interventions toward ongoing, adaptable support systems that reflect community needs.
2025 Annual Report: Expanding Digital Equity Nationwide
digitalLIFT’s 2025 Annual Report highlights a year of growth, partnership, and impact as digital access became increasingly essential for everyday life. Across California and Texas, digitalLIFT programs delivered thousands of service hours, distributed hundreds of devices, and expanded multilingual, culturally responsive training for communities navigating an increasingly digital world. From essential skills like Medical ID activation to building stronger social connections, the report reflects how digitalLIFT is helping more people access opportunity and stay connected.
Together, these efforts demonstrate the power of community-based digital inclusion to strengthen systems, expand access, and advance equity nationwide.
upLIFT: Stories from the Field
Each month, we’re featuring stories, insights, and successes from digital inclusion leaders across the country. Each story highlights real-world strategies, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to closing the digital divide.
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