A Tour of Kansas City’s Digital Divide

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s first Net Inclusion Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, brought together activists from around the country who are working towards the same goal: for everyone, from all walks of life, to have access to the Internet. As a student of Florida International University (FIU), I had the opportunity to attend the Net Inclusion Summit, along with my classmate, Romina Angelelli, and our professor, Dr. Moses Shumow. During my time at the summit, I attended some incredibly informative lectures by excellent speakers. But it was the tour around Kansas City to different organizations addressing the digital divide that moved me beyond measure. The tour went to three locations that have successfully built networks to provide Internet access in underserved communities: Juniper Gardens, Reconciliation Services, and Wayne Miner. To see those community leaders in action, their passion illuminated, and to hear about their experience first-hand was inspiring.