Encuentro Digital: Latino Digital Skilling Symposium

1 M Street Southeast,Washington DC 20003

28 September, 2022

Description

Hispanic Federation’s Encuentro Digital: Latino Digital Skilling Symposium brings together over 100 Latino digital equity leaders with policy makers and administration officials to discuss strategies, policies, and initiatives to help end the digital divide. Experts and leaders from the non-profit, public, and private sectors will participate in conversations on how to use our collective action to improve digital opportunities for the Latinx community. Panel conversations will include showcases of successful community-based approaches to digital skilling and workforce development as well as how to ensure the historic federal investment in digital equity reaches Latino communities. Register in-person here via Eventbrite or virtually via Zoom: https://bit.ly/EncuentroDigitalVirtualRegistration Agenda • Luncheon: Congressional Efforts to Support Digital Equity (90 Minutes) 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm • Presentation: Community-Based Approaches to Latino Digital Skilling (20 minutes) 1:35 pm – 1:55 pm • Discussion: A Conversation with Digital Skilling Leaders (45 Minutes) 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm • 15 minutes Break – 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm • Discussion: Federal Efforts to Address the Digital Divide (60 Minutes) 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm • 15 minutes Break – 4:00 pm – 4:15 pm • Discussion: Supporting CBOs Through Inclusion in Federal Initiatives (60 Minutes) 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm • Closing Remarks (15 Minutes) 5:15 pm – 5:30 pm • Reception (90 minutes) 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Schedule Luncheon: Congressional Efforts to Support Digital Equity 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included a historic investment of $65 billion to help close the digital divide and to ensure that all Americans have access to reliable, high speed, and affordable broadband. Speakers will address the strategies put in place to ensure diverse communities will benefit from this funding in a concerted effort to end the digital divide. Welcoming Remarks: Frankie Miranda, President and CEO, Hispanic Federation Opening Remarks: Hector Mujica, Head of Economic Opportunity, Americas, Google.org Gwyneth J. Gaul, Strategic Partnerships & Community Impact, Comcast NBCUniversal Invited Speakers: Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez D-NY-7 Senator Patty Murray, D-WA, Chair, USSC Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Senator Angus King, I-ME Senator Rob Portman, R-OH Senator Chuck Schumer, D-NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY Congressman, John Larson, D-CT-1 Senator Chris Murphy, D-CT Congressman Adriano Espaillat, D-NY-13 Presentation: Community-Based Approaches to Latino Digital Skilling 1:35 pm – 1:55 pm Hispanic Federation is supporting a cohort of 40 community-based Latino organizations with funding, curriculum, and best practices to conduct digital skills training in their communities. This presentation will discuss a research paper Hispanic Federation produced that examines the varied approaches these organizations use to provide digital workforce training and address the digital divide in Latino neighborhoods. Presenter: Diana Caba, AVP for Policy and Community Engagement, Hispanic Federation Discussion: A Conversation with Digital Skilling Leaders 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm This panel features a moderated conversation with three community leaders who have successfully implemented digital skills training in their communities. The goal of this panel will be to share best practices for community leaders to develop and grow a digital training program. Given that most new jobs created in the United States require digital skills, there is a growing need to expand programs like these in Latino communities based on models that have proven successful. Moderator: Diana Caba, AVP for Policy and Community Engagement, Hispanic Federation Invited Speakers: Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, El Centro Hispano (Durham, NC) Margarita Avila, Latino Academy of Workforce Development (Madison, WI) Dr. Darlene Williams, Executive Director, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (New York, NY) Discussion: Federal Efforts to Address the Digital Divide 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inequities experienced by communities of color in accessing broadband and in receiving professional digital training opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Latino workers—only 16% of Hispanic workers were able to work from home and Latino unemployment exceeded 20%. In addition, the lack of access to broadband disproportionately harmed Latinx students as many school systems shifted to remote learning. These challenges led to historic investments by the President and Congress to fund programs that address the digital divide. Our panelists will discuss how these investments will be implemented and how advocates can ensure Latino communities benefit from these efforts. Moderator: Brent Wilkes, SVP Institutional Development, Hispanic Federation Invited Panelists: Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson, Administrator, National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) Brendan Carr, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission   Discussion: Supporting CBOs Through Inclusion in Federal Initiatives 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm People of color now make up 40% of the US population and represent some of the most underserved communities in the United States, particularly as it relates to broadband adoption and digital skilling. This distinguished panel of civil rights leaders will discuss the digital divide, efforts underway to address it, and how diverse communities can ensure that Federal and State efforts to address this challenge are targeted to the communities that need the most help. Moderator: Frankie Miranda, President and CEO, Hispanic Federation Invited Panelists: Sindy Marisol Benavides, CEO, League of United Latin American Citizens Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League John C. Yang, President and CEO, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Closing Remarks: Michelle Duke, Chief Diversity Officer, National Association of Broadcasters & Chanelle Hardy, Head of Civil Rights, Google Networking Session / Happy Hour 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Enjoy snacks, drinks, and conversations with your fellow Encuentro Digital attendees after the conference.