Digital Opportunity Workshop

Three grants totaling $35M in funding for Maine were terminated by the federal government in May, leaving 130,000 Mainers without the digital skills training and technology assistance they need to successfully use the internet. The funding loss disproportionately impacts Maine’s most vulnerable populations, including seniors, rural communities, small businesses, veterans, and students. 

Maine’s Digital Equity Alliance gathers for the third annual Digital Opportunity Workshop, with a very different mission at hand – how to provide meaningful support in light of significant federal cuts. The in-person meeting will bring together 70+ members of Maine’s digital opportunity and broadband community to plan for the future in the wake of terminated funding. 

The grant funding had focused on providing everyone in Maine with the skills and technology to safely and meaningfully use the internet. It is critical that this work continues, to ensure that no one is left in the digital dark – empowering people, businesses, institutions, and communities to thrive in a connected world.

Agenda

9:00-9:30 Registration Jewett Hall 

9:30-9:45 Welcome Jewett Hall Auditorium

Susan Corbett, National Digital Equity Center

9:45-10:15 Keynote Jewett Hall Auditorium

 Regina (Gina) D. Cooper Benjamin, Deputy Director at the NDIA

10:15-11:00 MCA Digital Opportunity State of the State Jewett Hall Auditorium

Jessica Perez, Maine Connectivity Authority

11:00-11:45 Regional & Wabanaki Broadband Partners (RWBP) and Connectivity

Hubs: The Evolution of Digital Opportunity Jewett Hall Auditorium

Kendra Jo Grindle, Maine Connectivity Authority

How is Digital Opportunity evolving in Maine? Most RWBP efforts are winding down; C-Hubs are just starting to do programmatic work. How are they working in their regions and collaborating with partners on digital opportunity offerings? How can we navigate this changing landscape to still see the work move forward even if it’s in a different way than we’d originally envisioned?  Panelists include Olivia Jolley from the Hancock County Planning Commission,  Nakia Dana from the Passamaquoddy Tribe - Indian Township, Liz Caruso from Somerset County Economic Development Council, and Elaine Abbott from Sunrise County Economic Development Corp.

12:00-12:15 Overview of the Afternoon & Group Photo Jewett Hall Auditorium

Marijke Visser, Maine State Library

12:15-1:15 Lunch with Reflection & Next Steps Fireside Lounge, Randall Center 

Jan Kearce, Maine Development Foundation

1:30-3:30 Breakout sessions

Concurrent session 1 Jewett Hall Auditorium

Breakout 1: Policy

Breakout 2: Advocacy

Participants will learn more about how state and local policy-making takes place and how grassroots efforts can educate and inform policy-making. Following the policy session, participants will have the opportunity to put their learnings into practice through group work that will allow them to bring real world grassroots tactics to their communities. Led by Joe Oliva from the Maine Broadband Coalition and Alf Anderson of AARP Maine.

Concurrent session 2 Fireside Lounge, Randall Center

Breakout 1: Meeting People Where They Are                      

Breakout 2: Strategies you Can Implement to                                                     Meet People Where They Are

Participants will hear from organizations that serve covered populations and how to apply strategies shared in their own context.  Panelists will include representatives from the Aroostook Community Action Program, Dan McGloin, UMA Prison Education Partnership, and Jon Knepp, Thompson Free Library. Led by Reid Plimpton, Northeast Telehealth Resource Center and Patrick Flynn, University of Maine Augusta

3:45 Closing remarks Jewett Hall Auditorium

Susan Corbett, National Digital Equity Center and Marijke Visser, Maine State Library

4:15-5:30 Networking Reception sponsored by MCD Global Health, the Northeast

Telehealth Resource Center and the National Digital Equity Center

Art Gallery, Jewett Hall