The National Digital Inclusion Alliance retells a story of helping Hopkins Digital Access Initiative…

On Sunday, January 25, 2026, our executive director Angela received an email with the subject line “Help Needed in Minnesota.” By Monday morning, we were on a call with the leaders of the Hopkins Digital Access Initiative (HDAI) – Rebekah Crosby, Carolyn Leslie, and Beth Kivett – forging a new partnership to address urgent digital inclusion needs in Hopkins, a first ring Minneapolis suburb, a community flooded with ICE and CPB agents.

The tactics employed by ICE and CPB in Minnesota made it unsafe for many Hopkins residents to leave their homes. It echoed of early-COVID lockdowns that left people cut off from their community, wondering how they would continue to work, go to school, feed their families, or do any daily activity. As rapid response resources were organized through websites, Whatsapp and Signal chats, and remote learning platforms, it became clear that digital access is still the linchpin that determines whether a household can receive support in a time of need.

Lesson Learned: Times of crisis put the digital divide in the spotlight. These moments are a powerful reminder that those who have connectivity, access, and skills can remain connected to their community when others cannot, which may mean access to lifesaving medical care, information on how to remain safe in emergencies, critical communication with family and friends, and more vital resources. During prolonged crises, connectivity allows people to participate in faith communities, earn income, maintain social connections, support others, and participate in more activities that contribute to individual and community resiliency.

You can check out the article for the full account, including lessons learned.