Kristi Zappie-Ferradino

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.

“We are on a mission to help residents overcome the digital divide,” says Rachel Williams, the first digital navigator for Washington County (ME) who brings essential digital skills to the community’s older population. The National Digital Equity Center (NDEC) is utilizing a Google.org grant through the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's (NDIA) National Digital Navigator Corps program for Rachel and the team of Digital Navigators to help residents in this remote part of the state become more connected to the digital world.

“The difference between opportunity and frustration often comes down to a simple digital connection,” said Abby Russell.

In Appalachia Kentucky where reliable internet access and digital literacy can mean the difference between opportunity and isolation, Ashley Smith is helping people navigate a new path forward. As the local Digital Navigator, Ashley has worked one-on-one with hundreds of residents, connecting them to education, jobs, and essential online resources. One of Ashley’s first clients was a college student struggling to use Blackboard, a platform essential for online coursework. Frustrated and falling behind, she turned to Ashley for help.

In 2020, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) convened a group of digital inclusion practitioners to establish a definition for the term “digital navigator.” The term described a model for digital inclusion built upon years of similar work, tailored for the new realities of the time.