Leadership
The Steering Team is the leadership committee for the Coalition and helps to set vision, ensure inclusivity, and drive decision-making toward Coalition objectives.
- Secretary: Imaltzin Astorga, Southwest Organizing Project
- Governance and Coalition Building Working Group Lead: Nzinga-ain Barberousse, University of Chicago Internet Equity Initiative
- Internet Working Group Lead: Lili Diaz & Rodrigo Perez, Center for Changing Lives
- Devices Working Group Lead: Lynetta Parks, Chicago Urban League
- Digital Learning Working Group Lead: Aisha Ahrens, Women’s Business Development Center
- Backbone Convener: Devon Braunstein, City of Chicago
- On-Boarding Lead: Keona Owens, Touchgift Foundation
Community Ambassadors bring their lived experience and expertise, network, knowledge of community, and fresh ideas to the Coalition.
- Ronnie Chatman, Roseland
- Nominated by Phalanx Family Services
- Antonia Hernandez, Belmont Cragin
- Nominated by Northwest Center
- Grace Li, Bridgeport
- Nominated Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
- Consuelo Martinez, Back of the Yards
- Nominated by Kids First Chicago & Chicago Connected
- Floyd Vaughn III, North Lawndale
- Nominated by I AM ABLE
- Claiborne Wade, Austin
- Nominated by Kids First Chicago & Chicago Connected
The Guiding Team, who led the creation of the Digital Equity Plan, was made up of community leaders, community-based organizations, government agencies and institutions, and digital equity subject matter experts who each bring a unique perspective on the digital divide.
![Reyna Rodriguez](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/Reyna.Rodriguez.png)
Digital Coach Coordinator, Northwest Center
![Consuelo Martinez](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/ConsueloMartinez.png)
Back of the Yards Parent Leader
![Sasha Neri](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/KateLapinski.png)
Librarian - Adult Learning and Economic Advancement, Chicago Public Library
![Sasha Neri](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/SashaNeri.png)
Librarian - Tech, Content and Innovation, Chicago Public Library
![Pat Steward](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/PatSteward.png)
Digital Inclusion Manager, Chicago Housing Authority
![Alvyn Walker](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/AlvynWalker.png)
Worker-Owner, ChiCommons
![Andrew Wells](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/AndrewWells.png)
VP of Workforce Development, Chicago Urban League
![Marisa Lewis](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/MarisaLewis.png)
Chief Policy Officer and Board Liaison Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
![Jasmine Williams](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/JasmineWilliams.png)
Senior Policy Analyst Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
![Dwayne Douglas](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/DwayneDouglas.png)
Chicago Area Broadband Initiative, QUILT Corporation
![Rachel Herter](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/RachelHerter.png)
Chief Information Officer, Lawndale Christian Health
![Karina Aguilar](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/KarinaAguilar.png)
Belmont Craigin Parent Leader and Chicago Connected learner
![Dr. Erica Taylor](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/EricaTaylor.png)
Medical Director of Congregate Settings, Chicago Department of Public Health
![Bridget Hayman](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/Bridget-Hayman.png)
Director of Communications at Access Living
![Sabrina Jackson](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/SabrinaJackson.png)
Parent Programs Manager/Community Organizer, Teamwork Englewood
![Dominique Smith](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/DominiqueSmith.png)
Garfield Park Community Leader and CPS Special Education Classroom Assistant
![Berenice Pond](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/BerenicePond.png)
Senior Manager of Family and Community Engagement, Chicago Public Schools
![Becky Raymond](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/BeckyRaymond.png)
Executive Director, ScaleLIT
![Katheryn Hayes](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/ccclogo.png)
Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications and Operations, City Colleges of Chicago
![Daniel Block](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/Daniel-Block.png)
Professor and Chair of Geography, Sociology, History, Africana Studies, and Anthropology Coordinator, Chicago State University
![Devon Braunstein](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/Devon-Braunstein.png)
Digital Equity Director, Mayor’s Office
![Jill Gottfred-Sohoni](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/Jill-Gottfred-Sohoni.png)
Stakeholder Engagement, Circle Root Collaborative
![Lauren Burdette](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/LaurenBurdette.png)
Deputy Director for Policy and Equity, Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice
![Elyda Healy](/content/dam/city/sites/digital-equity-council/photos/ElydaHealy.png)
Interpreter