Delia Sánchez is a Community Engagement Specialist for the State of Colorado’s Broadband Office, focusing on expanding and enhancing broadband access across the state.  She fosters strong relationships with local governments, community organizations, and residents to understand their broadband needs.  Delia’s past experiences, including as a native of Lima, Peru arriving in the United States over 20 years ago, provide her with the necessary skills and insights to effectively promote and implement broadband initiatives, ensuring that all communities in Colorado have access to the critical resources provided by high-speed internet.

Click here for more information about the Digital Inclusion Leadership Certificate and its self-paced counterpart, Digital Inclusion Training.

What motivated you to enroll in the program?  What challenges were you trying to solve?

I am always trying to learn new things and I am also a very curious person. My motivation came from a desire to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to technology and digital resources. I recognize that many communities, particularly marginalized ones, face significant barriers to digital inclusion which impact their ability to access essential services, education, and employment opportunities. With the knowledge and skills learned in the program, I feel more confident in implementing effective strategies and initiatives to ensure that everyone, regardless of where in Colorado they live, their  socio-economic status, age, etc, can fully participate in this digital world.

How has the course equipped you with skills to address the challenges of digital inclusion in your community or organization?  What have you learned through the course?

I’ve learned how to effectively assess the digital needs of various communities, identify gaps, and engage stakeholders in the process. This skill is crucial for understanding the unique challenges faced by different populations across Colorado. 

The course explains broadband mapping, which is critical in evaluating digital inclusion and provides us with a very specific way to help communities understand exactly where we need to work together to address gaps. Our office holds Summer Roadshows to meet with  stakeholders to discuss their broadband plans and how we can collaborate for success.  We use maps to describe the state of broadband access in each region (example below). Now, community members in each region have a better idea of the number of underserved or unserved units in their community and the total amount of money they have received through the Capital Project Fund (CPF) Grant to increase connectivity.

Can you share a specific example or two of how the course content has been directly applicable to your work in digital equity or related areas? 

One specific example is including stakeholders that understand and comprehend the importance of broadband in their community into the conversation. When I was planning The Summer Broadband Roadshow that the Colorado Broadband Office holds in each Colorado region, I made sure that we invited key stakeholders with expertise about the role and value of broadband in their communities. This includes officials from local government, public safety organizations, school districts, healthcare facilities, community anchor institutions and others who are invested in the state’s broadband expansion and improvement. 

 What aspects of the course content did you find most valuable, and why?

Colorado has a diverse population that continues to grow. Learning effective methods to engage and involve diverse local communities was immensely valuable. To close the digital divide, it is crucial to understand the policy landscape. The skills I have gained in advocacy have been incredibly beneficial when supporting digital equity at a larger scale. 

How has the course influenced your approach to creating plans and managing infrastructure for digital equity, especially in light of federal and state initiatives?

The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program in Colorado will create an estimated 1,987 construction jobs and 1,591 telecommunications jobs by 2026. We are aware of a potential workforce shortage and the impact that it can have in deployment.  

A month ago, I was assigned as the Program Manager for the Colorado Broadband Office Workforce Group. I am working with stakeholders from the public and private sectors to analyze data, support grant writing, and other activities  to further ensure the workforce needed for a successful deployment of broadband in Colorado. This course has given me the confidence to use data to make informed decisions, measure success and use the metrics as an example of how we are closing the digital divide in Colorado. 

Click here for more information about the Digital Inclusion Leadership Certificate and its self-paced counterpart, Digital Inclusion Training.