PPI’s Mosaic Project Hosts its Sixth Women Changing Policy Workshop with Top Broadband Experts

April 7, 2023

The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) has long been a leader in the fight for equitable access to high-speed internet service, and thanks to President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the United States is making historic investments to close the digital divide. For the first time, families across the country will have expanded availability and affordability that will transform the way communities access education, jobs, and health care needs.

Building upon this work, PPI’s Mosaic Project hosted its sixth cohort of experts as part of its Women Changing Policy workshop series to elevate women to the forefront of policy making. Nearly 20 women who are experts in broadband, telecommunications, and digital equity gathered in Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and the media to learn how to engage in meaningful policy conversations.

The latest cohort heard from top journalists and reporters from The Hill, Meet the Press, and NBC News, and also met with key committee staff in the House and Senate to talk about internet access and affordability. They also met with the FCC to discuss telecommunication policies happening at the federal level.

The Women Changing Policy workshop is a two and a half day interactive training opportunity for women experts to hone the skills needed to communicate their work and ideas to policymakers and the media. The workshop is a chance for experts to expand their networks, while getting hands-on experience learning the ins and outs of Washington politics.

The sixth Women Changing Policy Cohort included:

Jenna Alsayegh, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at USTelecom
Meagan Bolton, Of Counsel in Ice Miller’s Public Affairs Group
Valarry Bullard, Director of the New Jersey Office of Broadband Connectivity
Naomi Jordan Cook, Co-Founder and CMO of the Virtual Global Consultant Group
Devika Daga, Director of Market Intelligence at Technology Transformation Services in the U.S. General Services Administration
Alexandria Dirl, Project Manager at #BlackTechFutures Research Institute
Molly Fohn, Policy Program Manager at Voqal
Dr. Crystal Grant, Technology Fellow with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project
Yen Jeong, Broadband Access and Digital Equity Fellow at OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
Dr. Kim Thu Nguyen, Principal and Founder at Silver Scaffold
Sara Nichols, Regional Planner at Land-of-Sky Regional Council
Christine O’Connor, Executive Director for the Alaska Telecom Association
Dr. Christine Parker, GIS and Data Visualization Specialist at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Pamela Price, Deputy Director of The Balm In Gilead, Inc.
Holly Rachel, Co-founder of Rachel + Winfree Consulting
Dr. Bibi Reisdorf, Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina
Brandy Reitter, Executive Director of the Colorado Broadband Office
Debra Socia, President and CEO of The Enterprise Center
Stacey Wedlake, Research Scientist with the Technology & Social Change Group at the University of Washington Information School

The Mosaic Project is a diverse network of women with expertise in the fields of economics, technology, and more. Mosaic programming aims to bring new voices to the policy arena by connecting cohort members with opportunities to engage with top industry leaders, lawmakers, and the media.

The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org.

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Media Contact: Amelia Fox – afox@ppionline.org