During a half-day workshop at Maywood City Hall in August, LA DEAL, in partnership with the Digital Equity Los Angeles Coalition, trained 40 Southeast L.A. community members to become powerful broadband access and digital equity advocates. The event, sponsored by the California Community Foundation’s Digital Equity Project, provided participants with crucial knowledge about the digital divide, along with practical strategies for engaging elected officials and advocating for change.

Participants also learned how to speak with the media and mobilize other community members in the fight for digital inclusion. To ensure full participation, the workshop facilitated free child-care and translation services, making it accessible to all.

The impact of this training was immediate—just days later, several participants attended Huntington Park’s City Council meeting, where they successfully advocated for the passage of a Digital Discrimination Ordinance, approved unanimously. The event marks a significant step toward building a more connected and equitable Southeast L.A.

For more information, please reach out to Liliana Aide Monge, Director of Digital Equity, at [email protected].