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Charlie French, UNH Extension Program Leader and Mike Apfelberg, United Way of Greater Nashua Executive Director.
On May 29th, the inaugural Overcoming Digital Barriers in Greater Nashua Summit was convened at Nashua Community College, bringing together nonprofit and small business professionals, digital advocates, and community members dedicated to expanding digital opportunity across the region and the state. Hosted by the United Way of Greater Nashua, the event focused on identifying needs, challenges, and promising strategies for ensuring everyone can participate fully in the digital age.
Charlie French, Program Leader at UNH Cooperative Extension, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the many ways local efforts are effectively advancing New Hampshire’s Digital Equity Plan. Despite recent cuts to federal funding for digital literacy and connectivity, French underscored that excellent work is already underway across the state to advance digital opportunity. This includes Nashua’s innovative Tech Connect United initiative, which has mobilized over 100 digital navigators to help individuals gain comfort with devices and online resources. The Nashua Public Library also stood out for its dynamic lending program, offering a range of digital tools and devices to residents, as well as serving as a critical access point to a host of digital resources for the public.
Throughout the afternoon, UNH Cooperative Extension facilitated breakout sessions, where participants shared firsthand experiences and ideas for supporting digital inclusion in their communities. Discussions explored how local organizations are forming coalitions to increase internet access, provide assistive technology for people with disabilities, and offer help with essential online resources such as job applications and educational opportunities. One key theme that came through the afternoon discussions is the need to better connect resources and assets across the region, particularly given declining public funding. Participants emphasized that there is a strong linkage between workforce preparedness and digital literacy skills, particularly for those for whom English language is a barrier and those who do not have access to a computer or digital device.
The summit’s energy and spirit of collaboration underscored that while challenges remain, communities across Greater Nashua—and all of New Hampshire—are finding creative, grassroots solutions to bridge the digital divide. If you missed the summit, you can see the keynote and panelist presentations, courtesy of the United Way of Greater Nashua, at https://youtu.be/Esck4YnHcuo.
