Awareness
For the Greater Kansas City region to achieve Digital Equity, we must eliminate any gaps or barriers preventing organizations that provide digital inclusion services from obtaining the resources they need to sustain their programs. The links provided below represent a small sample of organizations that offer financial and other support resources
Opportunities
Missouri Office of Broadband Development
Kansas Office of Broadband Development
Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHTED IN 2025 BY DPO-KC AND THE KC COALITION FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION
MARCH
Civic and Social Engagement Speakers Included:
Greg Woodhams, Voter Education Chair, League of Women Voters Kansas City/Jackson-Platte-Clay Counties
Sharon Sanders Brooks, Civic Engagement Specialist, The Kansas City Public Library
Gerard McConaha, Assistant Director, Government Preparedness, Department of Emergency Services, Emergency Management Division, Johnson County, KS
Jerry Buckman, Digital Equity Manager, City of Kansas City, Missouri (Alert KC and Speakeasy KC initiatives)
APRIL
Workforce Development Speakers Included:
Cedric Deadmon, from Per Scholas Kansas City
Kayla McAbee, from Bishop Sullivan Center
Brandey Chandler, from Great Jobs KC, and
Mary Esselman, from Operation Breakthrough’s Ignition Lab
DPO-KC taps into gift grant from the Health Forward Foundation to provide computer devices, printers, mice and mouse pads to a group of local under-resourced nonprofits including:
Scholar Smarts: 10 laptops
Ryogoku Soccer Academy: 10 laptops
Greater impact KC : 5 laptops and IT support
Parkville Living Center: 5 laptops and IT support
Holmes Garden Neighborhood Association: 5 laptops, 2 Wi-Fi extenders and IT support
Della Lamb Community Services: office printer, 30 mice and mousepads, IT support
Phierx Tech: 1 laptop
MAY
Delivery of Essential Services Speakers Included:
Julie Riddle and Lindsay Tarasovic of UMKC Extension and Engagement in the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program
Joe Robertson, from LINC (Local Investment Commission)
DPO-KC hosted a Grant-Writing Workshop targeting small, under resourced nonprofits. A total of 11 organizations were represented in the workshop, 6 of which have received grant writing assistance:
JUNE
Recap of Net Inclusion Conference Attendees Included:
Jeremy Hegle and Marisa Martinez, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Leslie Scott and Leah Henrikson, Kansas City Digital Drive
Guidance and grant assistance provided for two additional local grant programs:
Additional non-profit recipient of HFF gift grant-funded computers and IT support:
AUGUST
Back to School how the digital divide affects K-12 education for students, their families, and educators speakers included:
. (Discussion facilitator) Tom Esselman, Executive Director, DEPO-KC
Dr. Katie Collier, Deputy Superintendent, Blue Valley Schools
Julian P. Robinson, Executive Director of Information Technology, Hickman Mills C-1 School District
DPO-KC contracted with Electro Mundo for the installation of a new broadband wifi network for the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Argentine, KCK
SEPTEMBER
Healthy Aging Speakers Included:
September is national Healthy Aging month which has been established to raise awareness on the physical and mental health of older adults. We will explore the successes and challenges of serving older adults in our region, especially as we integrate and leverage technology in our services. We will hear presentations from the following service providers.
FACILITATOR
Tom Esselman, Executive Director, DEPO-KC - Facilitator
Melody Elston, Assistant Director of Aging and Adult Services, Mid-America Regional Council (MARC)
Mark Logan, Director of Outreach & Enrollment, PACE KC, Swope Health
Roxanna Swaney, Nutrition and Health Services Director, KC Shepherds Center
Megan McNaughton, Tech Access Partnerships Coordinator, Kansas City Public Library
Yolanda Robinson, LINC Caring Communities Coordinator, Palestine Senior Citizens Activity Center