Philadelphia – Today, the City of Philadelphia was named a 2024 Digital Inclusion Visionary Trailblazer by The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). This national program recognized the Digital Equity unit of the Office of Innovation and Technology’s efforts and achievements towards closing the digital divide in Philadelphia. 

Recognizing the array of interests and unique barriers of its community members, Philadelphia joins a highly selective number of Visionary Trailblazers this year. Visionary Trailblazers are communities that have deeply integrated digital inclusion throughout their government. NDIA awarded a total of 34 Visionary awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments, paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US.  

In an increasingly connected society, digital inclusion—access to affordable high-speed internet, devices, and digital skills training—is essential not only to participate in today’s world but also to finding greater opportunities to thrive using tools to navigate the internet confidently and independently.  

“Closing the digital divide is an imperative step in creating economic opportunity and access to government resources for all Philadelphians,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “This award is a testament to the industry leadership of the Office of Innovation and Technology and the impact of the City of Philadelphia on the future of innovation for greater opportunities for residents”.  

“This recognition reflects the incredible leadership of Juliet Fink-Yates, Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager for the Digital Equity unit, and the hard work of her entire team to create more digitally inclusive communities,” said Melissa A. Scott, Chief Information Officer, City of Philadelphia. “Being a Visionary Trailblazer is a testament to the City’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring residents have access to the resources necessary to thrive in a digital world”. 

“In the past decade, we’ve seen local governments step into the important role of building digital inclusion ecosystems, where organizations that provide services can connect and thrive,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA Executive Director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers celebrates these critical efforts to bring digital opportunities to all residents.” 

Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. The City of Philadelphia achieved Visionary Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through: 

NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers has set the national standard for excellent digital inclusion work since 2016. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions. 

Philadelphia Continues to Pave the Way in Digital Inclusion  

The Office of Innovation and Technology has continued to advance efforts in achieving digital equity through the growth of partnerships and resident engagement.  

Interested in learning more about how we plan to achieve digital equity? Read our 2024 highlights: 

 

About National Digital Inclusion Alliance: NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with more than 1,900 digital inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.  

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