In an increasingly digital world, access to technology is a fundamental right. Connected Society is a nonprofit focused on dismantling the digital barriers that marginalize our most vibrant communities. We believe that innovation should be an equalizer. By providing digital/AI literacy education and technical resources, we empower minority owned small businesses to reclaim their visibility and provide students with the practical skills necessary to understand. From local storefronts to global classrooms, we are dedicated to building a future where everyone has the tools to connect and thrive in the modern world.
The foundation of Connected Society was born at my kitchen table, where I spent my childhood acting as a digital translator for my parents. Coming from a developing country where technology was a luxury they did not have, my parents faced a world that was moving faster than the tools they were given to navigate it. That role that taught me early on that technology is either a bridge to opportunity or a wall that keeps people out. That realization deepened as I looked from my home into the streets at my own town. Living in a predominantly white area, I found myself constantly searching for our Hispanic community. I saw incredible small businesses from cafes and to stores that hold our culture together struggling to stay visible because they lacked the digital marketing and social presence needed to compete. It became clear that my passion for innovation is a resource that could empower my own community. If I could build the digital bridges they were missing, I could ensure our culture was thriving. Eventually, this local spark caught a global flame at the Girl Up USA Summit. Sitting at a roundtable discussing the barriers to education, I was moved by the plight of Afghan women and the systemic ways they are being silenced. By partnering with Girls Towards Leadership and She Learns She Leads, I began building the digital literacy and programming workshops that define our work today.