Digital Connect Makes Digital Navigation Approachable

Digital Connect (DCI) is an initiative of a Tribal-owned internet service provider (ISP) that offers a full complement of digital inclusion services to Tribal members and residents of the Gila River Indian Reservation, including individualized digital navigation, digital skills training, device distribution, and, more recently, digital equity research.

• DCI has had considerable success adapting to organizational learning, especially by pivoting to incorporate individualized digital navigation and reorganizing the program to prioritize regular presence throughout the Gila River Indian Community.
• Thanks in part to the ongoing commitment from its parent company, DCI benefits from having the time and space to experiment and learn, develop a strong vision for the organization, and become competitive for grants.
• Many of DCI’s staff, including its digital navigator, are members of the community, yet trust still had to be built over time through the development of accessible, reliable, and consistent programming.