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Building a Digital Equity Movement: Inside Massachusetts' Digital Navigators Network

The Patterson Foundation

In this episode of Digital Access Discoveries, host Read Corley sits down with Kathy Bisbee, Director of the Alliance for Digital Equity, to explore how Massachusetts is building one of the nation’s most promising models for digital inclusion. Kathy shares powerful lessons from launching a statewide Digital Navigators network, co-designing a credentialing program, and championing digital equity in both rural and urban communities. Learn how facilitative leadership and lived experience are shaping the future of tech access, and why true community ownership is key. 

Timestamps 

  • 00:00 – Podcast intro and guest Kathy Bisbee
  • 01:18 – Importance of the Digital Navigator network
  • 02:03 – Lessons from building the Mass Navigator network
  • 05:55 – Facilitative leadership and network weaving
  • 07:04 – Co-designing training and support
  • 15:16 – Foundations of the statewide credentialing program
  • 17:05 – Digital Navigators lead the push for recognition
  • 21:19 – Designing a statewide conference and credentialing model
  • 27:35 – Rural vs. urban challenges in digital equity
  • 33:10 – How to support the movement

Links to Learn More 

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