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Digital Navigator Summit

For digital inclusion service providers in the DMV

Connect, build skills, and exchange ideas to help local residents build digital skills and access.

​Join DC Public Library, in collaboration with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, and DC's State Broadband and Digital Equity Office, for DC's Inaugural Digital Navigator summit.

The Digital Navigator Summit will provide an opportunity for any and all direct service providers and potential providers who provide tech help, digital navigation, or other direct services related to digital inclusion to share best practices, build a strong network, and plan for a future that includes a significant increase in digital access for all community members.

This is a free, all-day event including breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. This event is made possible by the generous support of the DC Public Library Foundation and the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. 

Agenda overview:

• 10am: opening panel: The DMV's Path to Digital Inclusion
  • Hear from national and local leaders on the history and present overview of Digital Navigator and related Digital Inclusion programs and trends that indicate what we may be able to expect moving forward.
    • Moderated by Tony Williams, Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Digital Opportunity for Comcast.
    • Panelists:
      
      • Kevin Hughes, Administrator, DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office
      • Teri Mumm, Digital Navigation Program Manager, Marylanders Online
      • Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, DC Public Library
      • Abi Waldrupe, Associate Director, Special Projects, National Digital Inclusion Alliance 

• 11am: Session 1- Mapping our Digital Inclusion Ecosystem
  • Large group facilitated exercise on the landscape of digital inclusion resources across the DMV, with the goal of building a strong, cohesive network and identifying opportunities for collaboration and gaps. 
  • Please take a moment to fill out this DC area Digital Inclusion Asset Mapping Survey ahead of the Summit.
    • With Chelsea Kirkland, Digital Inclusion Coordinator, DC Public Library

• 12:30pm: Lunch

• 1:20pm: Session 2- breakout sessions
  • AI Integration Strategies for Digital Skills Programs 
    • With Tsion Tesfaye, Senior Research and Policy Manager, National Digital Inclusion Alliance 
  • Computer Comfort - Resources for New Computer Users 
    • With Paula Williams, Education Specialist, DC Public Library's Adult Learning Department
  • Supporting Customers with a Trauma-Informed Lens 
    • Jean Badalamenti, MSW, Health & Human Services Manager, DC Public Library 

• 2:20pm: Session 3- breakout sessions
  • Navigating the Feelings: Digital Navigator Softskills 
    • With Lo Smith, Executive Director, Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition
  • Empowering Digital Navigators: A Sneak Peek into the (Marylanders Online Navigator Education Toolkit) MONET Toolkit 
    • With:
      • Mega Subramaniam, Professor at the College of Information and co-PI of Marylanders Online, University of Maryland
      • Pawan Kumar Pradhan, Digital Navigator for Marylanders Online, University of Maryland - Extension 
      • Bory Ventura, Digital Navigator for Marylanders Online, University of Maryland - Extension 
  • Decoding Narratives: Practical AI and Media Literacy 
    • With Jessi Hollis McCarthy, Program Specialist, Poynter Institute 

• 3:30pm: Session 4- breakout sessions
  • Assistive Technology and Accessibility for All
    • With Patrick Timony, Librarian for Assistive Technology, DC Public Library's Center for Accessibility
  • Prompt Engineering Playground: Master the Art of Chatting with AI 
    • With Brittany Bernard, Educational Technology Manager, DC Public Schools
  • Beyond the Visit: Unlocking the full power of digital health 
    • With Amy R. Sheon, PhD, MPH, President & Digital Health Engagement & Innovation Consultant, Public Health Innovators, LLC

• 4:30pm: closing session: What's Next?
  • With Adrian Sutton, Digital Inclusion Coordinator, DC State Broadband and Digital Equity Office

And during the afternoon:

1pm-5pm: Future Tech Expo

Explore new and emerging technologies via hands-on demo of tools by local companies including:

• An Augmented Reality Experience with Capitol Interactive
• Mock Interviews with AI, presented by Capstone Interviewer 
• AI Automations & VR with Questr Automation
• Emerging free and low-cost platforms for refurbished devices with WildTech
• An AI-powered personal and oral history collection app with Oria
• Digital hands-on Ask Me Anything, presented by Orca Intelligence 

Register here for updates!

Reasonable Accommodations Information

The DC Public Library encourages people with disabilities to participate in our programs, services, and Board of Trustees meetings. 

If you have questions about physical access, need handouts in alternate format, or require American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, CART, or other reasonable accommodations to participate, fill out this form. If assistance is needed to make a reasonable accommodations request, please contact the DC Public Library Center for Accessibility by email at DCPLaccess@dc.gov or by phone at 202-727-2142. 

Please request any accommodations as early as possible, but at least seven (7) days in advance of the program or event, so that proper arrangements may be made. If you have requested ASL interpretation or other accommodation and find you cannot attend, please contact us promptly to cancel your request.

For a list of assistive technology available throughout the DCPL system, including audio loop systems, desktop magnifiers, and others, please visit this page.

To report access concerns at DC Public Library locations, please go to the ADA Compliance Issue Form. If assistance is needed to fill out this form please reach out to the Center for Accessibility via email at DCPLaccess@dc.gov or phone at 202-727-2142.

If you are interested in participating in this event and would like language assistance, please email: digital.inclusion@dc.gov

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