In digitally distressed neighborhoods, internet access often determines whether residents can thrive. Recognizing this, UNITE-LA is working with community leaders in the Antelope Valley and Pacoima to expand available service providers and service plan offerings. Supported by a Michelson Spark Grant, UNITE-LA’s efforts place community needs at the center of broadband design. The Spark Grant will help two communities in California move from planning to the implementation of broadband solutions. 

Antelope Valley: A New Model for Public Broadband

In the Antelope Valley, some neighborhoods do not have a single wireline internet service provider. The Community Coalition of the Antelope Valley (CoCoAV) is taking the lead to address this. Together with UNITE-LA, they will create a Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a public entity that will oversee a community-owned broadband network.

The Spark Grant funds will help bring the JPA to life. Once formed, the JPA will position Antelope Valley to apply for additional infrastructure funding. Unlike for-profit internet providers, this model prioritizes public benefit. By pooling demand across jurisdictions, it will reduce costs, attract investment, and deliver reliable internet where families need it most.

Pacoima: Organizing for Affordable Access

In Pacoima, residents have service options, but many face unaffordable or unreliable internet. Countless households pay more than $95 per month or rely on mobile hotspots. To address this inequity, the Pacoima Equity Group, together with UNITE-LA, will launch a Broadband Taskforce.

The Taskforce will bring the community together to design solutions from the ground up. Funds will cover community outreach, stakeholder convenings, and public education materials. The effort is already exploring creative models, including using a local charter school as a potential network hub.

A Shift Toward Community Power

Together, these initiatives represent a paradigm shift. Instead of waiting for large internet providers to expand into low-income neighborhoods, communities are building the systems themselves. By creating sustainable governance structures, the Antelope Valley and Pacoima are laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable digital equity.

Cristal Mojica, Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity at Michelson 20MM, emphasized the importance of this approach: “UNITE-LA’s project shows how communities can take ownership of their digital futures. By leading their own broadband solutions, the Antelope Valley and Pacoima are proving that equity and affordability go hand in hand.”

Beyond Two Communities: A Scalable Model

While rooted in local action, these projects offer an example for the entire state. UNITE-LA will document best practices and share replicable toolkits, enabling other underserved communities across the county to follow suit. By formalizing structures such as the Antelope Valley JPA and Pacoima Taskforce, these efforts will shape how broadband policy is developed in California and build upon the early and continued success of UNITE-LA’s LA DEAL consortium. LA DEAL was first launched with the support of a 2021 Digital Equity Spark Grant.

Looking Ahead

Broadband is more than a utility, it is a lifeline to education, work, healthcare, and civic participation. With the support of the Spark Grant, UNITE-LA is forging a new path forward, one in which communities build their own networks, advocate for their own needs, and ensure that no one is left offline.

About Michelson 20MM

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) is launching the next phase of their digital equity work in Pico-Union with support from a Michelson Spark Grant. This effort will bring neighbors, advocates, and policymakers together to design an community-led internet service project rooted in the users’ lived experiences prior to launching their service. Families will shape the vision for the service that will be affordable, reliable, and culturally inclusive.

“Digital equity is about the people who use the internet as much as it is about connecting them to technology,” said Cristal Mojica, Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity at the Michelson 20MM Foundation. “CHIRLA’s leadership shows that when we center community voices, we build solutions that last.”

Listening First, Building Together

CHIRLA will engage community members and host retreats to ensure low-income and immigrant families can speak to the challenges they face every day. From students falling behind in school without access to stable internet, to parents missing telehealth visits, to families being unable to access immigration resources, these stories will guide the pilot ISP’s design.

By hiring community ambassadors to conduct door-to-door outreach, CHIRLA will reach over 2,000 members and ensure trust and inclusion remain at the center. Residents are not just participants, they are co-creators of the solutions.

From Pilot to Policy Impact

This community-driven process that respects language and cultural context is more than a step toward reliable internet, it is a vehicle for civic empowerment. CHIRLA will invite local elected officials to hear directly from families, making sure that lived experience informs policy and funding decisions. The pilot ISP will become both a proof of concept and a call to action for broader change.

Building on 2024 Momentum

This project builds on the foundation CHIRLA laid in 2024 with their Michelson Spark Grant, which will be piloting as an ISP in Pico-Union. Their early work sparked hope and connection, showing that digital equity initiatives can succeed when anchored in community trust. The 2025 grant will expand on that vision, moving to full community engagement and leadership.

Anchored in a Community Hub

The groundwork being laid today will directly support the opening of the Immigrant Welcome and Empowerment Center (IWEC) in 2026, followed by their Data Center. Located within CHIRLA’s IWEC, the Data Center will provide affordable high-speed internet while also serving as a hub for civic life, digital literacy, and community empowerment.

Why This Moment Matters

The need for action is urgent. ISPs remain largely unaccountable for serving immigrant and low-income households, and every day without action deepens the divide. By engaging now, CHIRLA is ensuring the Pico-Union community claims its right to shape the digital systems it relies on.

A Shared Vision for Connection

The Michelson 20MM Spark Grants program invests in initiatives that remove systemic barriers to equity and opportunity. Supporting CHIRLA reflects a shared belief that connected communities are stronger communities. Together, CHIRLA and Michelson 20MM are proving that digital equity is not just about bandwidth, it is about people, dignity, and the power of connecting a community.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

By Cristal Mojica

This January, Angelenos compulsively refreshed the Watch Duty app and local news. Together, we witnessed the two most destructive fires in Los Angeles’s history in real-time. 

Except, for many Angelenos, it was not. 

A City on Fire, A Community Left Behind

Nearly 280,000 households in Los Angeles County lack internet access. During the Eaton and Palisades fires, many households received lifesaving evacuation orders too late or not at all. 

Now, Watch Duty notifications are ramping back up and grim headlines about fire season dominate the news. At the same time, lack of affordable, reliable connectivity leaves our communities vulnerable amid another crisis: ICE raids and deportations.

Wildfires and Disconnection

Whether facing a natural disaster or an immigration sweep, the digital divide leaves our most vulnerable communities in the dark. Without affordable internet access, they can’t receive timely information, connect with loved ones, or find urgent help. In California, internet bills average $80 a month. This reality won’t change without legislative action to make connectivity truly affordable.

In the midst of wildfires, California’s digital divide is a matter of life and death. Residents with reliable internet access get real-time information about fire boundaries, evacuation orders, and emergency resources. But for those who cannot afford reliable internet service, depending on methods like word-of-mouth or radio broadcasts can be their only option. If the power goes out, as it frequently does during wildfires, or neighbors are away, lives are endangered. 

ICE Raids and Digital Barriers

These same inequities are playing out amid ongoing ICE activity. Los Angeles’ digital divide disproportionately includes immigrant communities, low-income households, and people of color. In neighborhoods where connectivity is already scarce, immigrant families often don’t receive alerts about raids. Without internet, families can’t look up legal aid or contact attorneys. They can’t even confirm whether detained loved ones are safe. Now, fear keeps many from leaving their homes. Even public spaces like libraries, which might offer internet access, are no longer an option. This isolation further harms those already struggling. 

Disconnection creates a crisis within a crisis, deepening fear, confusion, and harm. They are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a systemic failure. Industry interests take precedence over the safety and well-being of long-marginalized communities.

There is an undeniable public safety crisis inherent in California’s digital divide, and California’s leaders must recognize that internet access is as crucial as electricity or water. It is an essential utility. 

People’s lives must take precedence over industry interests. Every Californian deserves access to reliable, affordable, and life-saving internet.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

The Michelson 20MM Foundation has awarded a Spark Grant to BRITE Media to create DISCONNECTED, a feature-length documentary exposing the human cost of the digital divide. Digital equity is not only about access to technology, it is about ensuring that everyone can participate fully in education, health care, civic life, and the economy. Without reliable internet, too many communities remain disconnected from opportunities others take for granted.

BRITE Media is determined to change that by bringing the fight for digital equity to the big screen and directly to the public. Through powerful storytelling, the film, which is previewed below, will show that when everyone is connected, society is stronger.

Making Policy Personal

DISCONNECTED shines a light on the people behind the policy debates. Advocates and policymakers have been working to close the digital divide, yet their work often happens out of the public’s view. Through the documentary, viewers will meet students struggling to complete homework without home internet, farmworkers unable to schedule medical appointments online, and families cut off from legal and immigration resources. Through empathy, humor, and hope, the film reveals why digital equity is essential for everyone.

“When we hear the stories behind the statistics, digital equity stops being an abstract issue and becomes urgent,” said Cristal Mojica, Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity. “Storytelling connects hearts and minds in ways data alone can’t. DISCONNECTED will help people see themselves in the fight for equity.”

Why Now Matters

The project is launching at a pivotal moment. Presently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) remain largely unaccountable for serving rural and low-income communities. This was further evidenced by ISPs’ efforts to advance state-level public policy that would enable them to withdraw critical Carrier of Last Resort services from our communities. As a result, every day without action deepens the divide.

DISCONNECTED will premiere during a period when raising public awareness can directly influence policy and funding decisions. Timely screenings and panel discussions can give communities the tools to demand change before opportunities are lost.

Expanding the Lens

The Spark Grant will allow BRITE Media to expand filming beyond Los Angeles into Ventura County’s rural agricultural communities, including Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Oxnard. These predominantly immigrant and low-income towns face persistent broadband access challenges. Without high-speed internet, children fall behind in school, patients cannot connect with medical providers, and families have limited access to legal and immigration services.

From Screenings to Action

DISCONNECTED is both a documentary and a call to action. The filmmakers plan to debut the film at festivals, where live screenings will be followed by panel discussions with community leaders, advocates, and policymakers. These conversations will move audiences from awareness to action. As momentum builds, the team hopes to secure streaming distribution to bring the digital equity movement to millions of households nationwide.

A Shared Vision for Connection

Michelson 20MM Spark Grants program invests in initiatives that tackle systemic barriers to equity and opportunity. Supporting DISCONNECTED aligns with our belief that connected communities are stronger communities. By amplifying the voices of those most affected by the digital divide, the film seeks to inspire collective action to close the gap for good.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

Ensuring everyone has access to affordable, reliable internet is key to unlocking educational, economic, and civic potential. The Michelson 20MM Foundation is committed to closing the digital divide, especially for underserved and historically marginalized communities. Through the 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grants cycle, we are proud to invest in innovative, systems-level strategies that have the power to create meaningful change at scale.

The 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grants support projects that advance policy advocacy, promote broadband as a civil right, and address digital equity as a social determinant of health. They help shape a future where all Californians can fully participate in society, democracy, and the economy.

Welcoming the 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grantees

BRITE

BRITE will bring DISCONNECTED, a feature documentary on the digital divide, to a broad public audience. The film tells the human stories behind digital discrimination and highlights the advocates working for change. By using empathy and storytelling, the filmmakers aim to turn policy into something personal and urgent. Through screenings, panels, and community engagement, DISCONNECTED will help spark national conversations around digital equity and inspire viewers to get involved.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

Building on their 2024 pilot internet service provider (ISP) project in Pico-Union, CHIRLA is launching a community-driven effort to close the digital divide. This project centers the voices of immigrant families by reaching over 2,000 residents to understand their internet access needs. CHIRLA staff and ambassadors will hold conversations at member retreats and through outreach that respects language and cultural context. Insights from these efforts will shape a pilot low-cost internet service designed with the community, for the community. The project also includes digital literacy education and free devices to ensure families can fully participate online.

UNITE-LA

UNITE-LA will advance community broadband pilots in Pacoima and the Antelope Valley. Their efforts target two of the most persistent barriers to digital equity: affordability and access. In partnership with local coalitions, UNITE-LA will support the launch of public broadband models rooted in community leadership and resident input. In the Antelope Valley, a new public broadband authority will begin implementing a shared network plan. In Pacoima, a task force will pilot strategies to reduce internet costs and improve service quality. This work models how place-based solutions can challenge digital redlining and shift broadband planning toward equity, transparency, and local control.

The Youth Law Center (YLC)

The YLC will help close digital equity gaps for foster and justice-involved youth. These young people face systemic barriers to internet and mobile access that stem from both restrictive institutional settings and the instability and disruptions caused by foster care experiences—barriers that can limit educational achievement, economic opportunity, and long-term well-being. YLC will assess all 58 California probation agencies for compliance with digital access laws, ensuring youth can pursue education and stay connected. The project combines legal strategy, public records research, and youth leadership to push enforcement where policy alone falls short. YLC will also advocate to expand Lifeline access, removing documentation and eligibility barriers for foster youth. This work redefines digital equity as a civil rights issue, grounded in justice and accountability.

Looking Ahead

We are inspired by the grantees’ visionary work and dedication to advancing digital equity across California. Their projects exemplify the innovative, community-centered approaches necessary to overcome systemic barriers and ensure everyone has meaningful access to the internet. As these initiatives take shape, we look forward to seeing the lasting impact they will have on public policy, community empowerment, and closing the digital divide for good.

About Michelson 20MM

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.

California’s digital divide continues to harm historically underserved communities. In 2025, we’re sharpening our Spark Grants focus to support community-driven efforts that advance digital equity across the state. The following focus areas reflect this commitment and guide our work.

2025 Digital Equity Focus Area

• Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement to Achieve Broadband for All: Efforts that increase civic participation in digital equity policy-making and regulatory processes at the local, regional, or state-level. 
• Digital Equity as a Social Determinant of Health: Efforts that address digital inequity through its impact as a social determinant of health. Specifically, we are seeking projects that are scalable across the state. 
• Internet Access as a Civil Right: Eliminating digital discrimination efforts that help address the impact that low-quality and/or unaffordable Internet has in areas that may superficially appear to have Internet access. The projects should provide tools to combat digital discrimination and to promote equitable access to broadband throughout California. By focusing on the role of race in the historical causes of digital inequity, we seek to grow awareness and uplift the voices and needs of underserved communities that have been deliberately excluded from connectivity by systematic redlining and disinvestment. 

Meet the Spark Community Advisors

To help shape our approach, we’ve partnered with leaders who bring deep experience in digital equity, policy, and advocacy. The 2025 Spark Community Advisors represent diverse voices from across California. Their work reflects the very goals we seek to promote: systems change, community engagement, and equitable access for all.

Natalie González

Deputy Director Digital Equity Initiative, California Community Foundation

Natalie Gonzalez is the Deputy Director of the California Community Foundation’s (CCF’s) Digital Equity Initiative. The Initiative is a multi-year project that will seed a digital equity movement in Los Angeles County with the power and capacity to successfully advocate for fast, reliable, and affordable broadband for all. Prior to working in the digital equity space, Gonzalez worked within the Public Policy and Civic Engagement department at CCF, supporting strategic partnerships, advocacy, local, and state initiatives, and the COVID-19 Community Health Project. 

With over eight years in the nonprofit sector, Gonzalez served as Director of Engagement at Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV). In that role, she provided support to youth development programs and services throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Gonzalez helped establish nationally recognized programs that promote youth empowerment, civic engagement, and leadership among under-resourced communities. Recently, she supported a county-wide initiative to mobilize young voters and increase voter turnout through grassroots organizing and social media activations. Gonzalez received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Merced. 

Arturo Juarez

Policy Advisor, NextGen Policy

Arturo Juarez oversees the on-the-ground implementation of NextGen’s Connect Corps pilot program and helps lead their broadband and digital equity policy portfolio. His work includes program design and set up, the training and management of digital navigators, and leading a broadband policy portfolio focused on universal access, affordability, equity, and literacy and navigation. 

Arturo started his career in the private sector. He worked for a multinational investment and financial services company, where he managed a $500 million investment portfolio. In the nonprofit sector, he has held roles in advocacy, fundraising, and partnership development. Prior to joining the NextGen Policy team, Arturo worked for the Biden/Harris Presidential Campaign as a Regional Director helping to get out the vote in several battleground states during the 2020 election.

Miguel Angel Segura

Director of External Relations, Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)

Miguel Ángel Segura (MÁS) holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science and Chicano/a Studies at California State University, Northridge, and Masters in Education from Loyola Marymount. After supporting the presidential campaigns for 2020, he joined the staff of US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on a special effort to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on schools, colleges, and universities. Miguel then served as an Advance Associate for the Office of the Vice President Kamala Harris.

Prior to his national focus, Miguel taught in Pico-Union and South Los Angeles. He also supported the LAUSD Board of Education. His focus on advocacy began early in his career when Miguel worked for a parent advocacy organization to support parents of English-learners, students with disabilities, and immigrant families. He also worked for the State Assembly and Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign   

As California continues to close the digital divide, community guidance, insight, and  wisdom will remain central to our approach. The 2025 focus areas and Spark Community Advisors reflect our shared commitment to advancing broadband as a civil right, a health need, and a tool for civic power. Together, we will continue to challenge systemic barriers and build lasting equity in every region of the state.

The Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle is currently open and will close on June 10, 2025. To learn more and submit a proposal, visit our website. 

About Michelson 20MM

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.