Building Opportunity Through Service

Turning Support into Opportunity

When AmeriCorps members joined the Center for Digital Equity (CDE) as Digital Navigators, they arrived ready to serve — but many didn’t yet know just how personal the work would become. With the support of Literacy Minnesota, these members were embedded directly into CDE’s team and into community spaces, spending the past year helping people get online, build skills, and feel more confident using technology in their daily lives.

What began as service quickly turned into connection. Digital Navigators supported community members with everyday needs — accessing devices, learning basic computer skills, troubleshooting technology, finding affordable home internet, and navigating online tasks tied to work, school, health, and connection. Each interaction looked different, shaped by what the person in front of them needed most.

Meeting People Where They Are

For the AmeriCorps members, this work brought digital opportunity into focus. It wasn’t about abstract goals or systems — it was about listening closely and responding with care, such as sitting beside a senior as they wrote their first email. Helping someone with a disability feel comfortable using a new device, supporting a job seeker as they create a resume, or helping them sign up for a class.

In these moments, technology became a tool — not the point. The point was confidence, independence, and dignity.

One AmeriCorps member described a moment that stayed with them: taking time to comfort a man during a laptop distribution event, making sure he felt seen and supported before moving on. “That was the moment I realized why this work matters,” they shared.

Growing Together

The impact of the partnership flowed both ways. While community members gained skills and confidence, AmeriCorps members grew too — developing patience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of how access and opportunity show up in real life.

Many spoke about how rewarding it felt to be present for someone’s breakthrough, no matter how small it seemed. Helping a community member realize they could do this became a source of pride and purpose. Over time, these experiences shaped how members saw their work, their communities, and themselves.

At CDE, their presence strengthened our team. AmeriCorps members brought fresh perspective, new energy, and expanded capacity to our Digital Navigator work — allowing us to respond to more requests, support more events, and reach more people with one-on-one help.

What Lasts

Together, CDE and Literacy Minnesota helped create a model rooted in human connection and shared growth. Over the past year, AmeriCorps Digital Navigators provided thousands of hours of support, responded to hundreds of requests for help, and showed up consistently for community members navigating a digital world that doesn’t always feel welcoming.

Their story reflects what’s possible when service is grounded in trust and opportunity. When people are met where they are. And when digital support is about more than technology — it’s about helping people move forward with confidence.

Because expanding digital opportunity isn’t just about getting online.

It’s about believing you belong there.