You are here: Home / Community Activities / Coast to Coast - Knight Foundation: Bridging the Digital Divide

Coast to Coast - Knight Foundation: Bridging the Digital Divide

When Jul 28, 2020
from 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM
Add event to calendar Outlook/Android
Apple iPhone/iPad
Add to Google Calendar Add to Google Calendar

 

Webinar Speakers

Joshua Edmonds
Joshua Edmonds is the City of Detroit’s inaugural Director of Digital Inclusion and a Poverty Solutions Fellow at the University of Michigan. Joshua is responsible for developing a sustainable digital inclusion strategy to bridge Detroit’s digital divide. Joshua’s work intersects with public policy, telecommunications and public-private partnership building. While at the City, Joshua has testified in front of Congress on the matter of digital equity, hosted Detroit’s first Digital Inclusion Summit, and most recently, helped raise $23 million to provide every public school student with broadband and computers. Prior to his current role, Joshua served as a Digital Innovation Fellow at The Cleveland Foundation where he leveraged philanthropic and corporate funding to help address Cleveland, Ohio’s digital divide. Joshua also worked on President Obama’s ConnectHome initiative at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority.
Jordan Sun
Jordan Sun joined the city of San José as the new Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation (MOTI). Jordan brings deep, cross-sector global experience in innovation, technology, government, and healthcare to work on behalf of the residents of San José. Jordan Sun received a B.S. from New York University (NYU) and attended Yale University’s School of Management. He is an advisor with UCSF Innovation Ventures’ Catalyst Program as well as a former startup mentor at Plug and Play and commercialization fellow with Yale’s Office of Cooperative Research.
Bruce Clark
Bruce Clark is a seasoned executive and expert consultant adept at infusing order, urgency and purpose into complex endeavors. Having served across public, private and non-profit sectors, he brings senior level perspective on how disciplined planning, cooperation and execution can bring even the loftiest of goals within reach. As executive director at “Digital Charlotte,” he has helped redefine the municipal roadmap for closing digital divides so that rural, low income, or historically marginalized communities have full access to the opportunities of an increasingly technological economy. As a managing director of operations and strategy at Common Thread Strategies, he consults major philanthropies, investment organizations and social impact projects. He prioritized themes of social justice and shared prosperity into regional and national campaigns as marketing director for Infobelt.

 

 

 

Reference Links: 

 

https://digitalcharlotte.org/spread-the-tech/

 

https://knightfoundation.org/

Filed under: tech, openbeam, npc

Two types of event information being shared in the following:

1. A list of Beam aware upcoming community events of all types. 

2. A list of noteworthy past events that have one or more of the following contents: presentation slides, video recordings as well as takeaways. 

Upcoming Events
Building Trust in an Age of Skepticism Jul 21, 2026 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM — Virtual
In the City for Good: Rochester Mayor Candidate Forum Jul 21, 2026 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
City of Rochester - Community Development Block Grant Jul 22, 2026 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM — 125 Live - Center for Active Adults (125 Elton Hill Dr. NW)
City for Good - Rochester CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM: Ward 5 Jul 22, 2026 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Rocheser Area Foundation 12 Elton Hills Dr NW
LWV-R Candidate Forum Olmsted County Commissioner District 6 Jul 23, 2026 06:30 PM - 07:45 PM — Roch Pub Library Aud, doors open at 6 pm
Disability Summit Jul 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 12:30 PM — Commons Area at the Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Heintz Center
2026 IRC International Friendship Date Jul 30, 2026 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM — Thursday on First
6th Annual Rochester Community Back-to-School Party Aug 15, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Soldiers Field
Upcoming events…
Community News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



Housing as an Element of America's City for Health

Jul 2026: PB reporting -- Downtown population and housing boom

Sep 2025: DMC Housing Presentation at Rochester Housing Alliance September, 2025 Meeting 

  • Video Recording
  • Presentation Slides

Last Updated July 21, 2026



America's City for Heath and Older Adults Needs

Jul 2026: AARP Tech and Agining 

Mar 2026:Tech Enabled Aging In Place Talks Postings

Oct 2025 AI Summary of Dave Beal's PB Op Ed: "Include older adults in Rochester's Plans"

Last Updated July 20, 2026



Lifestyle Wellness

Jul 2026: Brain Health Series Workshops

Apr 2026: Rochester Mayor Proclamation 

March 2020: Rochester Mayor Proclamation  

Lotus Health Foundation Workshops 

Last Updated July 17, 2026



Sports Complex Phase 2 - Indoor Facilities

Jul 13, 2026: City Council Study Session - Funding Options for Indoor Phase 2 

Apr 27, 2026 City Council Study Session Community Engagement Rochester Regional Sports Center, Stadium & Sports Fields

Last Updated July 14, 2026



RPS Long Term Technology Plan

July 7, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: The Long Range Technology Plan (LRTP) serves as a comprehensive roadmap, defining the strategic direction for technology deployment and technical support within the district over the next three to five years.

Last Updated July 10, 2026



America's City for Health (ACH)

Jul 2026 PB Op Ed on America's City for Health and Wellness 

May 2026: DMC University Trademark Handling -The DMCC holds several DMC-related trademarks, including “Destination Medical Center,” “Discovery Square,” and “America’s City for Health.” 

References: Reimagine what can be done to fulfill the vision of ACH -- info LINKS

Last Updated July 09, 2026



Silver Lake Stadium Concept

The Rochester City Council has unanimously approved a six-month exclusive negotiation agreement with Madison-based Landmark Development to explore a potential sports-focused redevelopment of the Silver Lake Power Plant site.

Last Updated July 08, 2026



Mayo Clinic Bold. Forward. Unbound.Grainger Linear Park

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Lourdes Grainger Linear Park The project involves the construction of a 30-foot linear park

Last Updated July 07, 2026



Peace Plaza paver adjustment plan

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Meeting Paver Improvement

2025: City Council Study Session PB Reporting; DMCC Board Meeting Proceedings; Public Media Reporting: Post Bulleting, Star Tribune

 

Last Updated July 07, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

July 6, 2026: City Council Meeting - Extension of agreement

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated July 06, 2026



Rochester Transit Contract Award

Jul 6, 2026 City Council Meeting: Action Requested: Adopting a Resolution awarding a contract and facilities lease with Via Transit Twin Cities LLC for operating Rochester's public transportation system.

Last Updated July 06, 2026



Co-design Information

Jun 20, 2026 Co-Design as Civic Infrastructure Video Recording and Presentation

Co-Design as Structural Accountability White Paper

 

Last Updated July 02, 2026



City of Rochester Housing Enablement

Jun, 2026 Planning commission supports planned infill project

Apr, 2026 The City of Rochester is now accepting proposals for the sale and redevelopment of two City-owned residential parcels located in the Durand Subdivision and Hilmer’s High View Acres.

Reference: AI Analysis of Infill Strategy

Last Updated June 27, 2026



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 NewsSpring, Winter Newsletters; Apr 2026 Siheung, Korean Newsletter;  Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 News: Sister City Trips: Japan; Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

General Info: Sister Cities Relationship Logs; IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated June 22, 2026



Curriculum Development

Jun 2026: Social Studies Curriculum Three Shifts in the New Standards

Ethnic Studies Strand, Disciplinary Literacy Practices. Centering Student Inquiry

Last Updated June 18, 2026



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026