Join the Michelson 20MM Foundation alongside California’s leading digital equity advocates and community champions for a special town hall conversation on ending digital discrimination.
On November 16, 2022, the community will convene in person at The Beehive, home of SoLa’s social impact-focused Technology and Entrepreneurship Center. We’ll be joined by FCC Special Advisor Sanford Williams, hear special remarks from FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, and close out the evening with a celebration honoring the work of community leaders in the digital equity space.
Driven by the federal government’s historic $65B investment in broadband, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently launched a cross-agency Task Force to Prevent Digital Discrimination, which seeks to realize digital equity throughout the nation. During the event you’ll learn more about the progress the FCC towards advancing equity.
Don’t miss this opportunity to continue pushing for digital equity for all Californians and join the movement to eliminate digital discrimination in the Golden State!
JESSICA ROSENWORCEL
Chairwoman, Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel believes that the future belongs to the connected. She works to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services in order to ensure that all Americans get a fair shot at 21st century success. She believes strong communications markets can foster economic growth and security, enhance digital age opportunity, and enrich our civic life.
From fighting to protect net neutrality to ensuring access to the internet for students caught in the Homework Gap, Jessica has been a consistent champion for connecting all. She is a leader in spectrum policy, developing new ways to support wireless services from Wi-Fi to video and the internet of things. She also is responsible for developing policies to help expand the reach of broadband to schools, libraries, hospitals, and households across the country.
Named as one of POLITICO’s 50 Politicos to Watch and profiled by InStyle Magazine in a series celebrating “women who show up, speak up and get things done,” Jessica brings over two decades of communications policy experience and public service to the FCC. Prior to joining the agency, she served as Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, under the leadership of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV and Senator Daniel Inouye. Before entering public service, Jessica practiced communications law in Washington, DC.
She is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and New York University School of Law. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.
SANFORD WILLIAMS
Special Advisor, Federal Communications Commission
Sanford is a Lecturer of Law at UCLA Law School, and both a Special Advisor to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and a Deputy Managing Director at the Federal Communications Commission.
Sanford and his wife, Dr. Anastasia Williams, have three children: Kiara Imani Williams, Esq.; Dr. Sanford Johnathan Scott Williams; and Nia CC Williams.
Sanford graduated from Newark Academy in New Jersey in 1983 and then enrolled at Cornell University at the age of 15, where he earned his Undergraduate Degree in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering and an MBA from the Johnson School of Management. He later attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned a J.D. in 1996, and was a member of the Virginia Law Review.
Sanford was elected to the Manassas City, Virginia School Board in 2010 and served as a member until 2021, and the Chair from 2018-2021. Mr. Williams is the first African-American Chairman of the Manassas City School Board. Sanford is also a member of the Board of Directors of Kids in the Spotlight, a Los Angeles County based organization that helps foster youth heal and grow from trauma through the power of storytelling and filmmaking.
SHAYNA ENGLIN
Director, Digital Equity Initiative, California Community Foundation
Shayna Englin is the founder and CEO of 42 Comms, a strategic advisory firm, and is the Director of the Digital Equity Initiative at the California Community Foundation. Shayna spent more than two decades earning her stripes in the take-no-prisoners world of politics, where she learned to find a way or make one. She founded, scaled, and sold two political communications firms, published sector-leading research, served as the Managing Director for North America for Change.org, built strategic communications for Kernel, a neurotech company, and for a variety of mission-driven venture funds, and advised investors and startup leaders on strategy, communications, and public impact. Shayna is a published expert in leadership and change management and was named an “Influencer 50” by Campaigns & Elections magazine.
Connecting California is brought to you by the Michelson 20MM Foundation. If you missed our Connecting California events, you can find the recordings on our #ConnectingCA YouTube playlist.
Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation seeking to accelerate progress towards a more just world through grantmaking, operating programs, and impact investing. Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.