Finger Lakes Digital Inclusion Coalition Kick- Off Meeting

September 27, 2018 

In 2018, the Coalition, supported by the Pioneer Library System, received small grants from the Rochester Regional Library Council and Senator Helming. These funds allowed the Coalition to contract with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) to begin the official process of forming the Finger Lakes Digital Inclusion Coalition (FLDIC).

In September 2018 the FLDIC, led by the Pioneer Library System, organized a kick-off meeting with many libraries and community stakeholders, including representatives from business, government, non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools, and direct service providers. More than 100 people attended from 38 organizations.

The purpose of this kickoff meeting was to initiate talks for a digital inclusion coalition to serve the Finger Lakes region of New York. The goal of the kickoff meeting was to dialogue with a wide-ranging group of regional stakeholders about organizational and community interests that are impacted by one or more aspects of digital inclusion. During the meeting, digital inclusion was defined, community insights were shared and knowledge gaps were identified.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the following were identified as priority items:

· To present a unified community voice around digital inclusion

· To raise awareness about digital inequities and the impact on our communities

· To support digital inclusion providers through professional development, networking and information-sharing

· To strengthen the impact of digital inclusion programs through service partnerships

· To raise funding for digital inclusion programs

· To build political support for public investment in digital inclusion programs

Organizations Represented

Aurora Free Library

Avon Free Library

Bloomfield Public Library

Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County

Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System

City of Rochester

Clifton Springs Library

Clyde-Savannah Public Library

Coordinated Care Services, Inc.

Cornell Cooperative Extension

FED

FGP @ Office for the Aging - Livingston Co

Finger Lakes Library System

Former RPL Current RGS

Genesee Valley School Library System

Geneva Public Library

Goodwill

Legal Assistance of Western New York

Literacy Volunteers of Wayne County

Livingston County

Lyons Public Library

Macedon Public Library

MCLS/Rochester

Naples Library

Newark Public Library

Perry Public Library

Pike Library

Pioneer Library System

Rochester Regional Library Council

Senator Helming's Office

Senior Community Service Employment Program

Southern Tier Library System

St. John Fisher College

SUNY ATTAIN Lab in Perry, NY

Victor Farmington Library

W-FL BOCES

Williamson Public Library

Wolcott Civic Free Library

Wood Library Association (Canandaigua)