Ibrahim Emara’s approach to digital inclusion is rooted in accessibility, cultural relevance, and strategic engagement. His digital inclusion efforts have directly impacted immigrants, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income students, ensuring they are not left behind in the digital age. Building capacity and access takes teamwork and dedication. Ibrahim co-developed and co-taught the Neighborhood Allies Adult Digital Skills Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative addressing “digital skills deserts” in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Ibrahim is developing a digital skills curriculum for refugees, incorporating Mandarin and his native Arabic to remove language barriers for immigrants. Ibrahim empowers his community and gives people control over their decisions and dollars. He created ‘Beyond Cable’ workshops to equip residents with knowledge of affordable streaming alternatives, helping households cut the cord.  With his multicultural fluency, emotional intelligence, and dedication to inclusive community-building, Ibrahim exemplifies the service ethic necessary to tackle complex challenges. Ibrahim Emara is our 2025 Digital Equity Emerging Leader.

Our next hero is keen to know, “What’s your digital equity story?” Kyla Williams Tate’s superhero skill is ensuring that everyone’s digital equity story is heard, valued, and acted upon. I have been fortunate enough to work with Kyla, because she is also a Benton Opportunity Fund fellow. As part of her fellowship, she is producing a podcast, The Digital Determinants, which looks at the impact of trust on digital participation, the implications of digital discrimination, and the unique challenges faced by descendants of the Great Migration in embracing digital technologies. And that’s a side project. For her day job, Kyla serves as Cook County’s first Director of Digital Equity. She has worked with the Housing Authority of Cook County on Broadband Expansion; partnered with suburban Cook County public libraries on a digital navigator network; launched a pilot program to list digital equity resources on 211 Metro Chicago and train resource navigators to take calls. The impact of Kyla’s work has been acutely felt in Cook County and its over 134 municipalities, including its biggest, Chicago. Digital Equity Champion for 2025, Kyla Williams Tate.

Today, we also honor the work of Susan Corbet. Susan has been a Digital Equity Champion since the days of BTOP [if you don’t know what BTOP is, you just might be a Digital Equity Emerging Leader] and is a founding member of NDIA.  Her leadership in the state of Maine is unparalleled. So much so, they call her the Main Maine lady. As the Executive Director of the National Digital Equity Center since 2017, her approach to digital inclusion is best embodied by the motto: “Partnering to Create Disruptive Strategies to Close the Digital Divide Across the United States.” Throughout Maine and beyond, Susan Corbett guides partners to create the most effective “disruptive strategy” for digital inclusion to make a difference in the lives of those that they serve. Digital Equity Champion for 2025, Susan Corbett.

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