Comcast Proudly Welcomes Newest Class of Digital Navigators
This week, Comcast welcomed its newest class of Connect 404 Digital Navigators to The Battery for a day of training and inspiring dialogue. This is the third class of Digital Navigators to matriculate through the program since the partnership between Comcast, Inspiredu, and Raising Expectations, Inc. began last year to encourage digital literacy in vulnerable communities.
Creating Digital Opportunities
Through its $1 billion Project UP initiative, Comcast has created multiple programs to expand digital resources to those in need. Comcast launched Lift Zones in community centers throughout the country to provide students with free WiFi outside their homes. Comcast Internet Essentials provides access to affordable, high-speed Internet to families connecting more than 10 million people over the past decade. The Digital Navigators Program is an essential element of Project UP’s mission to expand digital access.
Digital Navigators are individuals affiliated with trusted community organizations who are trained to help people access the internet, use devices, and build digital skills. These individuals are essential to closing the digital divide and helping those in need gain access to critical digital resources.
Funded by Comcast, the Connect 404 Digital Navigators program was developed from a partnership with Inspiredu and Raising Expectations, Inc. The interns in this program receive digital training from Inspiredu in digital literacy, computer access, and demographic considerations for the populations they will serve. Once the Navigators complete training they are equipped with the skills to facilitate digital workshops, canvas local neighborhoods to identify those in need of digital training, and support community outreach efforts.
Empowering Navigators Through Dialogue
The day kicked off with a welcome ceremony for the newest class of Connect 404 Digital Navigators. Comcast’s Amy Wright, Community Investment Director, opened the ceremony with words of encouragement followed by a panel discussion.
Moderated by Lisa Walker Holloway Senior Manager of External Affairs, the panel discussion featured current Comcast employees who began their careers as interns. The distinguished panel included:
- Katie Fernandez, Senior Specialist, Community Impact
- Atiyah Kennedy, Manager, Government & Regulatory Affairs
- Marc Gafoor, Senior Specialist, Government & Regulatory Affairs
The panelists provided insight on time management, goal setting, and the importance of networking and building professional relationships. “Use discipline as fuel, not motivation”, explained Atiyah Kennedy. “You may not always feel like doing something today, but that’ll defer your dream for tomorrow.”
Digital Navigators: Paying it Forward Through Technology
In the audience of newly established Navigators were two returning Navigators eager to share their experiences in the program.
At just 17 years old, Jomari Patrick is already thinking about legacy. A rising senior at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, Jomari was handpicked by the nonprofit Raising Expectations to join the Connect 404 Digital Navigators program, an opportunity he earned through dedication, perseverance, and a passion for growth.
“I was chosen for my hard work and determination,” Jomari says. “Being part of this program has helped me grow – not just in tech, but as a person.”
With a natural knack for technology, Jomari has been working with gadgets since he was 13. As a Digital Navigator, he now uses those skills to support his community while continuing to develop new ones.
Jomari sees the program as a full-circle moment. “The knowledge we get is something we can pass on. I want to train the next group of navigators so they can become leaders too.”
In her second year as a Digital Navigator Azariyah ‘AZ’ Johnson is forging her own path and helping others find theirs. A student at Frederick Douglas High School in Atlanta, Azariyah was also introduced to the Connect 404 Digital Navigators program through Raising Expectations. She joined for the first time last summer, and now she’s back for round two.
“I had never done anything like this before. It was my first summer job, and I got to try things I never imagined,” Azariyah says. “The skills I’m learning go beyond technology. I now know how to interview, apply for jobs, and carry myself professionally.”
For Azariyah, Digital Navigators are more than mentors, they are bridges to opportunity. They not only help navigate the digital world but create access to skills that may be inaccessible to vulnerable communities.
To learn more about Comcast’s partnership with Inspiredu and Connect 404, check out these stories:
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