Student Voices Shaping the Future

This year, during the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative's Study Away week, students from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy stepped into consultant roles with local organizations to support the Digital Access for All (DA4A) initiative. Their innovative and inspiring projects offered fresh perspectives on bridging the digital divide and creating more inclusive, connected communities.

Benjamin Rocks and Montana Crossman partnered with the Women's Resource Center, where they developed a creative plan to celebrate the achievements of individuals completing technology courses, helping boost confidence and visibility for those making strides in digital learning. In addition, they established a technology loaner program to increase access and improve digital equity, and they streamlined the navigator note-taking process to support better continuity of care when different staff work with the same individual. Their efforts focused on making the user experience more consistent and supportive.

Meanwhile, Ryne Mills and Reese Gheen worked alongside the Sarasota Technology Users Group (STUG) to tackle the growing digital divide in the community. They reflected on current barriers and proposed actionable ideas, including a standout recommendation: providing devices to participants enrolled in tech classes—with the opportunity to keep the device upon completion. This approach not only encourages participation but also builds long-term engagement and ownership in the digital space.
These students brought curiosity, compassion, and creativity to their work—and their contributions didn't go unnoticed.

As part of their continued engagement, Benjamin, Montana, Ryne, and Reese will be sharing their reflections and insights in the DA4A LinkedIn group in the coming weeks. We encourage you to follow along, ask questions, and engage with them directly. Their experiences can help us all think differently about the solutions we need—and the role we can play in shaping them.

Let's Keep Growing—Together
If you're not yet a member of the DA4A LinkedIn discussion group, we invite you to join us. And if you're already part of the group, consider inviting colleagues, friends, and partners who share a passion for digital equity and community impact. The more voices at the table, the stronger our movement becomes.