The DI Learning Circle is a monthly convening of digital skills trainers and digital navigators to come together to create a space of networking and collaboration, providing an opportunity to present about their current programs, solicit feedback on their curriculum, and build spaces of collective learning and brainstorming how best to fill the digital skills needed in the KC metro area. This is a recap of all the meetings in 2025 and what connections came out of these convenings.
What is the Digital Inclusion Learning Circle?
A number of digital skills trainers teach classes at a variety of nonprofit organizations, libraries and educational institutions in the Kansas City metro area, and many of these institutions have similar goals in helping develop basic digital skills for their clients/students. Some have been successfully operating for years in this space and have developed a strong digital curriculum, while others are emerging and need different types of support or guidance. The Learning Circle aims to connect organizations and resources by socializing gaps, needs and surplus capacity through collaboration and convening with digital skills instructors and adjacent professionals. We are always asking–how might we better fill these gaps? Who might be part of this community? That’s where the Learning Circle fits in.
The Digital Inclusion Learning Circle enriches the ecosystem for digital skills trainers by:
- Creating space for networking, sharing stories/curriculum, and presenting on current/upcoming programs
- Encouraging growth and collaboration of all digital skills classes in the region
- Fostering collaboration across state lines
- Encouraging engagement and utilization of Digital Services and Support Center at LAMP campus
A look back at 2025
KC Digital Drive held 11 Learning Circle sessions in 2025. This year, the format changed where every other month, organizations were allowed to “host” a Learning Circle meeting at their office. Each non-hosted session in between had one or two curated presentations where organizations shared their digital programs, what challenges they faced when building their curriculum, and their goals and aspirations moving forward.
2025 Presentations:
- January: “Looking Ahead to 2025” presented by KC Digital Drive
- February: “Guiding Digital Skills with Older Adults” hosted by Carol’s Corner at the LAMP Campus
- March: “Brainstorm Capacity-Building Tech Solutions for NPOs” presented by KC Digital Drive featuring the Code for KC program
- April: “Digital Solutions for People with Disabilities” hosted by Missouri Assistive Technology
- May: “Learn about i.c.stars and Middle Skills Development” presented by i.c.stars Kansas City
- July: “Gap-Informed Digital Curricula” presented by Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
- August: “Literacy KC Tour & Overview of Digital Programs” hosted by Literacy KC
- September: “Evidence-Based Technology Learning Among Justice-Impacted Women” presented by KU Center for Digital Inclusion
- October: “Past, Present and Future State of Your Curriculum” group discussion facilitated by KC Digital Drive
- November: “Overview of Cybercreationz Tech” presented by Cybercreationz Tech
- December: “Digital Access in the Latinx Community” hosted by Latinx Education Collaborative/Revolucion Educativa/EducaTec
Impact
Attendees of the Learning Circle filled out a feedback form at the end of 2025 and shared how impactful their experience has been. Seven organizations responded (23%), sharing that they have gained many valuable experiences from being involved in this group, including being able to promote their programs, gain resources to bring back to their clients, professional development opportunities, and an impactful peer group. 87% of responses said that the Learning Circle is a great way to connect to the Digital Inclusion ecosystem.
Pam Rooks with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas shared a similar sentiment, saying that, “It has been very helpful to know what other organizations are working in this area and what resources they offer.” Also, Megan Dorantes with The Toolbox KC shared that the Learning Circle has been a helpful outlet “… to share any advice or frustrations our organizations may experience, and to gain new information and solutions.”
Ron Green with digiSTORY KC and KC IMAGINE, a frequent Learning Circle attendee, stated that he enjoyed hearing what other nonprofits organizations are doing with their training programs, and how beneficial it is to be connected to that “shared community.”
Newer attendees in the digital inclusion space, like Chase Benton with Guadalupe Centers, said, “I have learned a great deal about how other organizations go about digital inclusion; including implementation, wins, and challenges.” Since starting at Guadalupe Centers digital skills classes earlier this year, he stated he appreciates the opportunity to foster new collaborations, finding resources to share back with his clients, and is very likely to recommend the Learning Circle to other digital skills instructors.
Finally, Megan McNaughton with the Kansas City Public Library’s Tech Access program, another frequent attendee of the Learning Circle, expressed her excitement for this shared space. “I really enjoy hearing what other people in the digital training field are doing in the community, offering connections/collaborative opportunities, and generally building a network of like-minded colleagues.” She also appreciated the opportunity to cross-promote her own partnerships with other organizations in this space.
The Learning Circle includes more than 30 organizations and attracts about 10 regularly in each monthly session. Past attendees include staff from:
- Catholic Charities of Northeast KS
- Cyber Creationz Tech
- digiSTORY + KC IMAGINE
- Guadalupe Centers
- Hispanic Economic Development Corporation
- i.c.stars
- Jewish Vocational Services
- Kansas City Public Library
- KU Center for Digital Inclusion
- Latinx Education Collaborative
- Literacy KC
- Missouri Assistive Technology
- Parkville Living Center
- Paola Free Library
- Per Scholas
- Rockhurst University
- The Toolbox KC
A look ahead at 2026
The efforts of the Digital Life Exchange (DLX) through the Digital Inclusion Learning Circle meetings will continue in 2026 to further build energy around networking and collaboration among organizations to avoid fragmentation, silos and overlaps to support the region’s digital skills training ecosystem.
For organizations or individuals looking to join the Learning Circle, please email Leah Henriksen at lhenriksen @ kcdigitaldrive dot org.