Five years ago, the Center for Digital Equity launched a bold vision to expand digital equity across North Carolina.
Together with residents, community organizations, libraries, educators, funders, advocates, industry leaders, and government partners, we worked to expand access to technology, strengthen digital skills, build trusted partnerships, and create new pathways to opportunity.
Along the way, we learned lessons that challenged our assumptions, reshaped our work, and deepened our understanding of what communities need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
As we close one strategic chapter and prepare for the next, we’re sharing what we accomplished, what we learned, and how those lessons are shaping where we go from here.
A Letter from Our
Executive Director
Before exploring the stories, milestones, and lessons in this report, hear from Executive Director Bruce Clark as he reflects on the journey that brought us here—and the vision guiding what comes next.
Building Opportunity Together
Behind every milestone in this report are people working together to solve problems, share knowledge, and create new opportunities. Take a look inside this year’s Digital Navigator Gathering.
Highlights from FY26
The Digital Navigator Gathering reflected something we’ve learned over the past five years: lasting digital opportunity is built together. That same spirit of collaboration shaped the final year of our strategic plan—bringing new partnerships, expanded programs, stronger systems, and lessons that are already guiding what comes next.
Explore the work that defined our year.
Connecting People to Trusted Support
CDE Digital Navigators expanded their reach while providing deeper, more personalized support to residents across North Carolina.
Building Skills for a Digital World
ConnectTech, AI learning, and workforce readiness helped more community members build confidence in the workplace and in everyday life.
Creating Lasting Technology Access
Affordable devices, internet connectivity, and repair partnerships created stronger pathways to seamless technology access networks.
Strengthening the Ecosystem
Community partnerships, research, and shared learning strengthened the infrastructure supporting digital opportunity and long-term impact.
Making Data Work for Communities
New measurement tools and shared data practices are helping partners improve services and understand the needs of the communities they serve.
Strengthening the Foundation
Investments in people, systems, communications, and organizational capacity positioned CDE for long-term sustainability and impact.
Take a closer look at how we’ve invested in the people, programs, and partnerships building a more connected North Carolina in our FY26 Financials.
Five Years of Impact
Together, these milestones represent five years of building digital opportunity across North Carolina.
By the Numbers
Residents Served
Devices Distributed
Digital Navigator Interactions
Trainings Delivered
Partner Organizations Engaged
Counties Reached
A Five-Year Journey
Select a milestone to explore the journey.
2021 — Digital Navigator Expansion
CDE Digital Navigator services expanded, connecting more community members with trusted one-on-one support for technology, internet access, digital skills, and online services.
What We Built Together
The past five years can be measured in milestones and metrics, but the most meaningful outcomes are found in the people behind them.
Hear from partners, volunteers, and community members as they reflect on what this work has meant, what they’ve learned, and why building digital opportunity has always been about more than technology.
Looking Beyond the Numbers
The most valuable outcomes of this strategic plan cannot be measured by numbers alone.
They are the lessons we learned, the assumptions we challenged, and the insights that continue to shape our work today.
Access is the Starting Point
Access opens the door, but opportunity begins with skills and support.
People Must Stay at the Center
Technology succeeds only when it helps people achieve what matters most.
Strong Systems Learn and Adapt
Communities thrive when organizations learn, connect, and grow together.
Impact Is More Than Activity
Real success is measured by the opportunities that become possible.
The Next Chapter
Over the past five years, we expanded access, strengthened partnerships, and learned alongside the communities we serve.
Those experiences changed how we think about digital opportunity. Today, they form the foundation for our next chapter.
The Digital Opportunity Operating System
The Digital Opportunity Operating System (do.OS) is the framework guiding CDE’s next strategic chapter. It brings together the lessons from the past five years into a shared model for creating lasting digital opportunity through people, partnerships, and connected systems.
Looking Ahead
Five years ago, we set out to help build a more digitally equitable future.
Together, we expanded access, strengthened communities, and learned that lasting opportunity is created not by technology alone, but by people working together.
Those lessons now shape everything we build next.
The work continues.
The partnerships continue.
The learning continues.