“If we don’t equip our kids and learners today with digital skills, with connectivity, with understanding, they disconnect.”

Richard Hicks, CEO & President, Inspiredu

I’ve spent over 18 years in the nonprofit space working to close the digital divide, and I can tell you that the conversation has fundamentally shifted. Before the pandemic, we were having important discussions about connectivity. Now, we’re beyond discussions. We’re executing. We’re witnessing a complete evolution in how communities understand the role of broadband in their lives, and it’s urgent.

At Inspiredu, my mission is clear: help learners of all ages develop the digital skills they need to be successful in their careers and in education. But what I’ve learned is that skills training alone isn’t enough. Connectivity is the foundation. Without it, students can’t do their homework. Parents can’t support their children’s learning. Adults can’t access the workforce pathways they need.

I remember a student who had only one place to access connectivity and a device: her school. Without this connectivity, she couldn’t do her homework, communicate with her teachers or access the resources the school provided. Her grades slipped and her engagement dropped. When we finally connected her family through our programs, everything changed. She engaged with online learning platforms, communicated with her teacher, and accessed Photoshop. She improved her grades. But here’s what stays with me: that student’s story is not unique. We hear it countless times from adult learning partners who tell us their children simply cannot be part of their educational journey without connectivity. It’s not a nice-to-have; it is an essential service. Connectivity has become a basic need.

What I’m working toward now is ensuring connectivity isn’t just available, but it’s paired with knowledge, training, and opportunity. Through our Family Learning Program, a part of our Learning Spark Initiative, we require adult learning partners to attend with their children because education requires both. We’re creating a one-stop hub of resources all in one place because families shouldn’t have to travel everywhere to get what they need. They shouldn’t have to search in the dark. We’re partnering with libraries, financial institutions, and community organizations across rural Georgia and beyond. We’re also working with groups like College AIM to help first-generation college students get devices and training so they can pursue cybersecurity and other high-skill careers because the workforce is evolving. AI is here. Consequently, new jobs will follow that we can’t even imagine yet. If we don’t equip our kids and learners today with digital skills, with connectivity, with understanding, they disconnect. We can’t let them fall behind.

We’re also bridging populations that have been left behind. This includes refugee populations who are now U.S. citizens looking to become part of this community and folks in southwest Georgia counties where nearly half the population lacks any connectivity at all except their cell phone. Inspiredu’s Volunteer & Training Center is becoming a community hub where people can access computers, training assistance, and resources. But we need more of these hubs. We need LEOs or fiber in those places in Georgia that are severely lacking in connectivity. We need a network of support.

When parents are involved in their student’s learning, grades improve and engagement thrives. When adults have access to digital skills training and resources, they can chart their own path forward. When rural communities are treated as partners in this evolution, rather than afterthoughts, they thrive. With LEOs and fiber, along with proper training and support infrastructure, we can ensure no learner gets left behind as we move into an AI-driven world. That’s what Inspiredu is working toward every single day.

Hear directly from Richard: