Event Date: Sept 19, 2025
Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Zoom
Admission: Free
The Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion (KCCDI) is an open, collaborative group of organizations who foster digital equity and access to technology for Kansas City metro communities. KCCDI meets monthly on the first Friday of every month to hear about the work of local digital inclusion practitioners, and share information about upcoming opportunities in the digital inclusion space. KCCDI meets twice monthly on the first and third Friday every month to hear about the work of local digital inclusion practitioners, and share information about upcoming opportunities in the digital inclusion space.
FEATURED CONTENT
September is Workforce Development Month. We’ll hear from two leaders in this space to discuss the programs they offer to help people find their next job or embark on a new career and the role digital inclusion plays.
Ina P. Montgomery, founder of Urban TEC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the digital divide in Kansas City’s underserved communities, with a focus on areas east of Troost Avenue and rural neighborhoods and tackling challenges like limited internet access, affordable devices, and low digital literacy to empower individuals and promote equity.
Karen Altenhofen, Director of Workforce Development for Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas, which empowers individuals with the skills, training, and support needed to secure meaningful employment, opening doors to brighter futures and stronger communities.
Roberta Rowland, Director of Business Services with Workforce Partnership, which operates a network of career centers in Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties offering professional expertise and funding resources to employers and eligible job seekers.
BROADBAND CLUSTERS DEMONSTRATION
Just because a network is “available” on paper doesn’t mean households in that ZIP are actually online. BroadbandClusters.org, created by Hari Narayanan is a free tool that highlights the gap between broadband availability and adoption.
With feedback from the national digital inclusion community, he’s added more metros including Kansas City. The site brings together FCC, Census, and HUD data to show neighborhoods where adoption still lags. It now includes cluster maps across 25+ metros and ZIP-level insights.
NEXT MEETING
The next KCCDI meeting will be held virtually on Friday, Oct 3rd, 2025.
Please email lscott@kcdigitaldrive.org if you have announcements to share at an upcoming Coalition meeting.