News and Announcements
Building Digital Equity in California: Spotlight on the 2025 Spark Community Advisors
Published Date
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.