The Digital Divide in Austin with Jess Ross

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect (the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council), Thom Singer talks with Jess Ross from Austin Free-Net.  They provide services to help eliminate the "Digital Divide" in Central Texas.  Those of us who work in tech do not often think about people in our community who do not know how to use computers and smartphones, and as our society goes more digital, these people are being left behind. Austin Free-Net works to empower people through technology.     About JESS ROSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN FREE-NET Jess Ross is the Executive Director of the legacy non-profit Austin Free-Net. When not dedicating her passion and efforts to digital equity and inclusion in Austin, Jess is a singer-songwriter and enjoys performing live in central Texas. Her voice transcends a variety of different genres including blues, soul, pop, rock, jazz, latin and country. Inspired at an early age by her public grade school music teacher and strong female artists including Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, Whitney Houston and Alanis Morissette, Jess Ross has been performing for an audience since 1995. Jess attended Berklee College of Music in 2003 and later was employed by Berklee to lead management of academic performance facilities in various locations on campus. Her shows offer a variety of musicianship including full band, trio and duet compositions. Jess Ross moved to Austin, Texas in 2011 to immerse herself in the music scene of the Live Music Capital of the World and later worked alongside executives at the local iconic establishment Strait Music Company before shifting gears during the 2020 pandemic to help marginalized community members easily access digital resources to improve their lives with Austin Free-Net. Jess Ross was selected by Austin Free-Net's Board of Directors to serve as Interim Executive Director in 2021 and accepted the role of Executive Director in 2022. She created and launched the Learn & Earn Program in March 2022 to great success and was recognized by The Texas State Library and Archives Commission in the same year. Austin Free-Net was named finalist for Best Non-Profit in Austin in 2023 and their digital literacy programs were nationally recognized by the Community Broadband and Digital Equity awards in 2023 for Digital Equity Project of the year. Jess was also selected to co-chair the National Digital Inclusion Alliance's Digital Inclusion Week Committee 2023. Jess Ross is committed to helping improve the quality of life for everyone in Texas by empowerment through technology, creating and performing music and reconnecting communities so that we may all thrive together.    About AUSTIN FREE-NET 

Austin Free-Net is a legacy non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion in Central Texas. Founded in 1995, Austin Free-Net has been a cornerstone in the community, providing essential digital literacy training, internet access, and technology resources to underserved populations, empowering individuals with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age. We have the unique distinction of being the first organization to provide wired internet and computers into Austin Public Library branches. 26 years later, we are the first organization to introduce free, bilingual Digital Navigator services to Austin Public Library branches. As technology continues to evolve, we are thoroughly committed to trailblazing digital inclusion efforts in Central Texas and nationwide.

Austin Free-Net's mission is empowerment through technology. At the heart of our mission is the belief that access to technology and digital literacy is a fundamental right. We provide a safe and judgement free space to ensure that everyone in the Austin community, regardless of their socio-economic background, has equal opportunities to access and use digital tools, thus empowering them to improve their lives and participate fully in the digital world. We serve all residents under the Texas sun.

About Austin Technology Council

Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.