Kristi Zappie-Ferradino

Launched in 2024 by the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and powered by a grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), the Digital Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Consortium is bringing together 22 community partner organizations across 40 cities and towns to close the digital divide—and open pathways to economic mobility. What makes the Digital JEDI Consortium unique isn’t just its scale.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance launched the 2025 Digital Navigator Program Toolkit. It provides guidance for setting up and managing successful digital navigator programs. The authors of the toolkit are experts from the NDIA team who have experience training, supporting, and learning from hundreds of digital navigators and programs providing digital navigator services across the country. The toolkit takes readers from conception to execution to sustaining a digital navigator program, with concrete tools and advice from practitioners across the country. 

When Abraham Camez set up shop at the Hoopa Valley Community to sell his signature smoked BBQ, he noticed something that stuck with him. “A lot of people around here make incredible food or handmade goods,” he said. “But many of them weren’t making sales simply because they didn’t accept credit cards.” That everyday observation planted the seed for a brand-new community program—that’s now helping local vendors modernize their small businesses, accept digital payments, and grow their customer base.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance has worked with and learned from the thousands of people on the ground in communities across the country who are doing the important work of narrowing the digital divide. Along the way, we've learned about five essentials for running successful digital navigator programs:

“Technology isn’t just about computers—it’s about creating access to jobs, education, healthcare, and staying connected with family,” says Joe Hillaire, the lead Digital Navigator for Lummi Nation, a Tribal land located along coastal northern Washington state. Joe is helping the Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC) build a Digital Navigator program by providing skills training and facilitating access to digital tools for residents of the Lummi Reservation. The Lummi people have deep ties to th

Working in rural Iowa, where seven of the state’s smallest incorporated communities are located, Digital Navigator Allison Ruhl has been tirelessly building a program to reach residents with technical assistance, digital skills training, and devices. Her work bridges the gap for people in hard-to-reach geographies, helping them gain the tools and confidence they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Allison is central to the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN)’s participation in NDIA’s National Digital Navigator Corps.

Nearly 5,000 people call the Umatilla Nation home. On any given day, residents across the reservation come together to celebrate and honor their heritage and culture. Community is an integral part of every day, and connecting is woven into the fabric of Tribal life. For Tribal communities, ‘connectivity’ means preserving traditions while engaging with the modern digital world. Unfortunately, limited technology and connectivity resources on the Umatilla Reservation have also left many residents without the opportunity and tools needed to thrive in today’s online society.

Mark Revolinski knows a thing or two about technology. After retiring from thirty-eight years in the telecommunications industry, he and his wife relocated from Wisconsin to Texas to be closer to his grandchildren. As a young retiree, Mark wanted to use his talents to give back, and while determining his next move, his wife saw a social media post from the Pottsboro Library in search of a digital navigator for their pilot program.

When Shannon O’Brien first set up office hours at the Westport Library, she wasn’t sure what to expect. Within hours, seniors were trickling in, some holding laptops they hadn’t turned on in years, others with questions as simple as “How do I set up an email account?” After Shannon’s help, the relief on their faces was immediate. For her, these moments aren’t just about answering questions—they’re about helping neighbors gain confidence in a digital world that can often feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate.

“For me, being a Digital Navigator is an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped me,” shares Tyler Smith, Gila River’s Digital Navigator. “I want to help elevate our digital skills and uplift our voices in the pursuit of digital equity.” Born and raised in the Gila River Indian Community, Tyler embodies the mission of the Digital Navigator program. With his deep roots and passion for giving back, he is bridging the gap between infrastructure and accessibility, empowering residents one connection at a time.