Welcome
The second quarter of 2025 brought both challenges and heroism to St. Louis. In May, an EF-3 tornado swept through the area, damaging thousands of buildings and knocking out power and internet service across our neighborhoods. This storm made clear just how crucial it is for residents to have reliable digital access and up-to-date information. It’s a stark reminder that our mission to bridge the digital divide is more urgent than ever. We are deeply grateful for the resilience of our neighbors and for the quick actions of first responders, tech volunteers, and connectivity partners who stepped up to help.
March 21st, 2025: ConnectSTL Day
Our first quarterly ConnectSTL Network Meeting of 2025 (March 21) brought together our advocates, service providers, and city partners at the Forest Park Trolley Room. We heard discussions on local digital inclusion efforts and heard from an expert panel:
- Simon Huang – Chief Technology Officer, City of St. Louis / SLDC
- Dr. Brandy Clay – President, Carousel Foundation
- Halley Moore – Partnerships Manager, GeekPack
- T. Christopher “Chris” Peoples – Equity & Economic Impact Director, Great Rivers Greenway
- Jillana Williams – Early College/Dual Enrollment Coordinator, Harris-Stowe State University
Each panelist shared how their organization is bridging digital gaps in the community.
Notably, former Mayor Tishaura Jones proclaimed March 21, 2025, as “ConnectSTL Day” in St. Louis. A great honor recognizing our shared commitment to digital equity.
Beverly George, the NPower Community Help Desk Manager, introduced the NPower Digital Navigators to the ConnectSTL community for the first time! Sekhar Prabhakar gave a live demo on the C-Edge portal, and Val gave a sneak peek of work done with the Chameleon development team on the ConnectSTL platform.
Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed previously to the discussion.
(If you missed it, watch for a summary video at the link below)
Upcoming Events
ConnectSTL & 314 Oasis: Digital Day in The Park
Thursday, July 18th at Fountain Park — In partnership with 314 Oasis
This year’s ConnectSTL 2nd Quarter Meeting will take place on July 18th as a Digital Day and Community Healing Oasis at Fountain Park.
We’re joining with 314 Oasis, an outdoor pop-up space designed to help residents recover from climate trauma, and several community partners to bring a day of support, healing, and digital connection to local families.
The event will include:
- Games and youth activities provided by BGG Foundation
- A dedicated healing area for families and individuals
- On-site technology support from NPower
- A Tech Clean-Up station from PCs for People for safe electronics recycling
- Digital literacy resources and info from Moveworth
- Other community-based services and opportunities to connect
This is a day to show up for our community with meaningful services, healing spaces, and safe play for kids while providing access to digital tools and knowledge.
Digital Inclusion Week 2025 | October 6–10
Mark your calendars! Digital Inclusion Week 2025 will take place October 6–10. This national awareness week (by NDIA) celebrates efforts to close the digital divide. We’re planning a week of events to celebrate access, equity, and innovation in St. Louis. Right now, we need your help to make it a success. We are:
Seeking volunteers: If you want to help organize or assist at events, we’d love to have you.
Gathering ideas: Do you have an idea for a workshop, class, hackathon, or community conversation about technology? Let us know!
Inviting hosts: Would your organization like to host an event during that week (an information session, tech class, etc.)? We can assist with planning and outreach.
Plus, keep an eye out for something special on Friday, October 10 .
Details coming soon!
If you’d like to co-host, contribute, or help plan Digital Inclusion Week, reach out to ColeTan@stlouis-mo.gov and let us know how you’d like to plug in. Let’s showcase St. Louis’s commitment to closing the digital gap together.
Storm Recovery Connectivity
In the wake of the May tornado, the tech and civic community mobilized quickly.
Local developer Anthony Miller created relieftracker.onrender.com, a live, crowdsourced Tornado Relief Directory aggregating verified local and federal recovery resources. A platform to make it easier for residents and organizations to find up-to-date support, locations, and aid programs.
TechSTL launched “WeBuild: Tornado Tech Triage,” activating local developers, engineers, and digital creators to assist nonprofits, churches, and small businesses impacted by the storm. Their rapid-response effort provided tech support, damage assessment tools, and volunteer coordination.
Christian Johnson, a civic technologist, launched CivicCapture, a mobile-friendly tool designed for real-time community engagement during disasters. In response to the recent tornado damage, he created this platform to help everyday people document and share photos of storm damage, report hazards, and support clean-up efforts.
Connectivity in a Crisis
When the power went out, partners stepped up in a big way.
AT&T waived overage fees and introduced mobile charging stations and Wi-Fi hotspots at sites like the MLK Community Center, allowing people to stay connected while also accessing water and snacks.
Verizon did the same, waiving charges through mid-June, donating $10K to the American Red Cross of Missouri, and setting up emergency charging stations across the city, including at 12th & Park and Refresh Community Church.
And I’d also like to mention the Urban League St. Louis. Their team has been on the ground since day one, helping families with emergency needs, clean-up support, and connection to long-term services. They continue to show up where it matters most. You can support their disaster relief work at ulstl.com.
Official FEMA Approval
FEMA Disaster #4877 was officially approved on June 9, 2025, which opens up access to federal recovery help.
If you or someone you know was affected, visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for aid.
We encourage all who are able to support or volunteer with organizations that are actively helping to strengthen and rebuild our communities.
ADVOCATE SPOTLIGHTS: Community Updates
Tech for Elders – GrandPad: We’re grateful to Liz de Laperouse for highlighting GrandPad tablets as a tool for older adults. These senior-friendly tablets make it easier for older neighbors to connect with family, access information, and explore the digital world in a simple, safe way.
Doorways Initiatives: Our partner Doorways continues to support residents facing housing instability or living with HIV, and they’ve been making some strong moves. Their Career Services team uses tech tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and Microsoft Copilot to help people with job searches, resumes, and small business planning.
They’re also planning a job fair with partners who offer security roles at data centers that include tech training. Doorways is looking for more partners who can offer IT or cybersecurity training. Feel free to reach out if that’s in your lane
New C-Edge Partnership: We’re excited to announce a partnership with C-Edge to offer free virtual digital skills classes to our community. These online sessions will be open to residents of all ages, providing help with everyday technology and digital literacy no matter where you are on your journey. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated and we’re here to make it accessible, friendly, and right at your fingertips.
Community Spotlight:
Nominate a Digital Equity Champion
Do you know someone who’s making a difference in bridging the digital divide in St. Louis? We want to shine a spotlight on local Digital Equity Champions! Maybe it’s a teacher running coding classes for kids, a librarian who goes above and beyond to help patrons get online, a community leader refurbishing computers for neighbors, or any other unsung hero. Nominate them to be featured in our upcoming newsletters, events, or our portal! This is our chance to celebrate the people on the ground who drive digital inclusion in our city. To submit a nomination, email ColeTan@stlouis-mo.gov with the person’s name and story. Let’s give our local heroes the recognition they deserve!
Digital Literacy Education Launching Soon
We’re happy to report the launch of the Digital Literacy Education program ! Led by SLDC and our community partner MoveWorth will offer free classes to all ages – from seniors to teens and adults – covering basic computer use, online safety, job search tools, and more. The program provides digital literacy courses for participants across various community groups, including seniors, elementary students, and young adults. Watch for upcoming schedules and contact grow@moveworth.com to enroll.
Program Updates
ConnectSTL Portal (Pre-Launch): The online portal will soon be available as our central digital inclusion hub. In the meantime, we’re recruiting early registrants and beta users to help test and populate it. Early members can help set up profiles and post resources. The portal will list organizations that offer accessibility, computer training, device distribution events, digital literacy classes, tech support, and more. Early members will get a head start.
We’re still adding partners, so if your organization wants to be listed, now’s the time!
Email ColeTan@stlouis-mo.gov for information on how to join. This portal will be a major resource for our community, and we want you to be part of it.
2025 Goals & Priorities
Looking ahead, our focus is on:
- Growing Partnerships: We aim to expand our coalition by connecting with more nonprofits, schools, healthcare providers, and businesses. Collaboration multiplies impact!
- Collecting Community Stories: We want to highlight real stories of how technology changes lives in St. Louis. Through blogs, videos, and social media, we’ll share successes and lessons from residents, helping inspire each other.
These priorities guide our work together. Your participation can make a difference. Ask how to join our working groups.
How You Can Get Involved
We welcome everyone who wants to help close the digital divide:
- Volunteer: Give a few hours as a Digital Ambassador at an event, mentor someone on basic tech skills, or help our learning labs. (Email ColeTanl@stlouis-mo.gov to get on our volunteer list.)
- Partner: If your organization provides services (internet, training, devices, etc.) or has a venue, let’s connect! Partners can host training sessions, share resources, or co-sponsor events.
- Host an Event: Plan a community workshop (e.g. “Intro to Computers” class or Wi-Fi sign-up drive) at your church, library, or rec center. We can help promote it to our network.
- Spread the Word: Invite others to join the coalition by sharing our website or this newsletter.
Every bit of help counts, whether it’s offering a hand at an event or forwarding this newsletter to a friend.
Where to Get Help
If you or someone you know needs digital access or training, here are some free options:
Learning Labs:
Four Recreation Centers (Tandy, Wohl, 12th & Park, and Marquette) now have Learning Labs with free computers, high-speed internet, NPower Site Coordinators can provide one-on-one tech support, set up your devices, or teach basic computer skills.
NPower Community Help Desk:
At each Learning Lab, the NPower help desk is available by appointment. The Navigators can assist with everything from email setup to online job searches. Contact Community help Desk Manager, Beverly George, at 314.310.1031 for more information.
St. Louis Public Library:
Every branch offers free Wi-Fi, public computer use, and tech classes. SLPL’s Online Learning resources include courses (Microsoft Office and job skills) and LinkedIn Learning for cardholders. Ask a librarian about one-on-one tech tutoring or check the SLPL website for schedules.(slpl website listed here)
CEdge Learn Platform:
Through our partnership with C-Edge, city residents can access free online certifications in cybersecurity, GIS, coding, and more. Visit CEdge Learn and create a profile (use your city address) to enroll in courses at no cost.
ConnectSTL Portal Early Access:
Even though our full portal hasn’t officially launched yet, you can request help. If you’re struggling with a digital issue like finding affordable internet service or getting a computer, you can submit a help request, and our team will connect you with the right resources. The portal’s directory is growing with listings for public Wi-Fi locations, digital services, and more.
Thank You to Our Sponsors & Partners
A special thank you to our sponsors for the ConnectSTL Summit and Quarterly Meetings. Your support helps us advance digital equity in St. Louis. We also want to thank all of our partners, including Verizon, Microsoft, World Wide Technology, The Delmar Divine, The Urban League and St. Louis Public Library for their dedication to digital inclusion.
Stay Connected!
Visit our website for the latest updates on ConnectSTL’s efforts and events in St. Louis.
Contact Us
For more information or to get involved, reach out to:
Email: coletan@stlouis-mo.gov
Thank you for being part of the ConnectSTL community. Together, we’re making St. Louis more digitally inclusive, one connection at a time!
— ConnectSTL