BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
METHOD:PUBLISH
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:-//WordPress - MECv7.29.0//EN
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://marconisociety.org/
X-WR-CALNAME:The Marconi Society
X-WR-CALDESC:Advocating for a Digitally Inclusive World
X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T030000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=03;BYDAY=2SU
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T010000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=11;BYDAY=1SU
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
X-MS-OLK-FORCEINSPECTOROPEN:TRUE
BEGIN:VEVENT
CLASS:PUBLIC
UID:MEC-5b8ac1bf8013b0204a2c0e1988aafe75@marconisociety.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240618T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240618T130000
DTSTAMP:20240510T102122Z
CREATED:20240510
LAST-MODIFIED:20240531
PRIORITY:5
SEQUENCE:19
TRANSP:OPAQUE
SUMMARY:Connecting Missouri: Show Me Digital Equity!
DESCRIPTION:Advancing Digital Equity in Missouri through Partnerships, Innovations, and Community Engagement\nJoin us to hear the successes and lessons learned from Missouri’s collaborative efforts to foster digital equity across Missouri. Through strategic partnerships and innovative initiatives, the newly created Department of Economic Development’s Broadband Office, University of Missouri Extension, the Missouri State Library and Missouri Research and Education Network have spearheaded groundbreaking projects aimed at bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal access to technology and resources for all Missourians.\nOur panelists will delve into the strategies that create synergies between statewide organizations, leveraging resources and expertise to promote digital equity effectively—with measurable results. From establishing the State Steering Committee to developing interactive websites and implementing a facilitator program, our speakers will share their experiences and insights on driving impactful change in Missouri’s digital landscape.\nThis webinar will highlight the extensive public engagement initiatives undertaken by the panelists, facilitated by funding from pivotal sources such as the Digital Equity Act (DEA) and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). Learn how these resources empower communities to challenge existing maps and advocate for equitable access to digital infrastructure and services.\nDiscover how the partnership has extended its reach by equipping public libraries and nonprofit organizations with facilitator training programs. By empowering these local institutions to serve as resources for underserved communities, our panelists have made significant strides in narrowing the digital divide and fostering inclusive access to technology across Missouri.\n\n\n\nModerator:\n\nDawn Thurnau\nMissouri Research and Education Network\nMarketing Manager\n\nClick to view bio\nDawn Thurnau manages marketing and product development for the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet). Her team is dedicated to enabling innovation and opportunity through the use of technology. They have created turn-key programs for K-20 educators, libraries, and community organizations as well as developed partnerships to extend resources to reach underserved communities.\nShe has led initiatives including development of coalitions to pool and extend commodity checkoff dollars, launching a lifestyle program through a local health care system with goal-based incentives, and creating the MOREnet Immersive Learning Lab, a makerspace where educators can explore new educational technology and collaborate to create classroom activities using these tools.\nWith experience in agriculture, health care, and education, her volunteer activities often include rural economic development and youth leadership opportunities. She enjoys outdoor adventures, college football, and a variety of international cuisine. Thurnau has a bachelor’s in agriculture education from the University of Missouri and a master’s in agriculture policy from William Woods University.\n\n\n\n\nPanelist:\n\nD’Mitri Farthing, Jr.\nOffice of Broadband Development\nDigital and Economic Opportunity Specialist\n\nClick to view bio\nD’Mitri Farthing, Jr. is the first person to serve as the Digital and Economic Opportunity Specialist for the State of Missouri’s Office of Broadband through the Economic Development Council. In this role, he managed the State’s implementation of the Digital Equity Act (DEA) as a member of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act team, which lead to him authoring Missouri’s first ever Digital Opportunity (Equity) Plan. He has managed federally funded grants and their implementation in the state to increase digital economy for all, focusing on the most disadvantaged Missourians. Farthing was instrumental in creating collaborations between public and private sectors to ensure higher return on investment with the resources allocated to Missouri.\nFarthing is currently wrapping up a competitive two-year fellowship program through Govern for America with the goal of addressing our nation’s biggest challenges. He earned his BA in Science, Technology, and Society from Colby College and Masters in Global Technology and Development from Arizona State University.\n\n\nPanelist:\n\nNoah Washburn\nUniversity of Missouri Extension\nStatewide Extension and Engagement Specialist\n\nClick to view bio\nNoah Washburn serves as the Statewide Extension and Engagement Specialist for the Office of Engagement, University of Missouri System. Before coming to Missouri, he was the County Director and ANR Extension Agent in Rhea County for the University of Tennessee Extension. Before the Tennessee opportunity, he worked for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture as the Program Director for LeadAR, Arkansas’ statewide leader development program. Noah previously served as the 4-H Youth Development Program Director, where he provided leadership to the State 4-H program.\nHis previous work experience includes three years as an Associate District Director in the Ouachita District, Arkansas (southwest 25 counties), where he provided administrative leadership in the areas of Agriculture, 4-H, and Community and Economic Development. Prior to this administrative role, Mr. Washburn served four years in Union County, Arkansas, as a County Extension Agent-Staff Chair. Before moving to Arkansas, he worked fourteen years with the LSU AgCenter as a Parish Chair and Ag/4-H Agent in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.\nWashburn holds a Bachelor’s and master’s in animal sciences from Louisiana Tech University. He is currently completing requirements for a doctorate in Leadership from the University of Central Arkansas.\n\n\n\n\nPanelist:\n\nRobin Westphal\nState Librarian\nMissouri State Library\n\nClick to view bio\nRobin Westphal has served as Missouri’s State Librarian for 6 years. Prior to that she served as library director in both Johnson City (TN) and Chillicothe (MO). Robin also has experience working in a school library and a law library. As state librarian, Robin has held critical roles on both the Missouri Bicentennial Commission and Census 2020 Advisory Board. She also serves on the executive board of the Western Council of State Libraries. She has oversight of several different initiatives aimed at digital equity in the state of Missouri, including a variety of training and evaluation resources to address the accessibility gap.\nIn addition to involvement in professional organizations, Robin served on many community boards, including YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council and Country Club, serving as president for both the Chillicothe Rotary Club and Chillicothe RII Board of Education.\nRobin has two grown daughters; she and her partner, Ryan, love to travel and are always thinking about the location of their next adventure. Westphal obtained a B.S. in Political Science from Kansas State University and a master’s in library science from Emporia State University.\n\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://marconisociety.org/events/connecting-missouri-show-me-digital-equity-2/
ORGANIZER;CN=The Marconi Society:MAILTO:
LOCATION:Zoom Platform
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://marconisociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Connecting-Maine-Featured-Image-1.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR