In 2020, Lake County civic and community leaders came together to create the Waukegan Community Broadband Taskforce (Taskforce). Formed in response to the growing recognition of digital inequity in Waukegan, IL exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this group of committed stakeholders began envisioning a path to connect all members of the community to the future.
In 2022, the Taskforce launched ConnectWaukegan, a non-profit organization focused on helping low-income residents enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), an FCC benefit program that helped ensure households could afford the broadband they needed for work, school, healthcare and more. ConnectWauekgan’s first Digital Navigator was hired in the
spring.
In 2023, the organization name changed to ConnectLakeCounty to reflect the expansion of support and services being offered to residents in many municipalities in the County. A Lead Digital Navigator, Executive Director and Program Manager were added to the staff.
Today, ConnectLakeCounty is the only NPO in Lake County solely focused on digital inclusion work and is recognized at the state and national level as a preeminent leader in the digital equity ecosystem.
All individuals and communities are empowered and lifted by the opportunities that technology provides.
With guidance from our communities, we identify and implement efficient solutions that ensure the under-resourced residents of Lake County, IL can successfully engage with evolving technology in all aspects of their life.
Collaboration: We will lift communal voices and allow their guidance, perspectives and lived experiences to lead our development of best practices and processes.
Integrity: We honor our communities and their members by centering respect, integrity and authenticity in all interactions. We treat all individuals with dignity, ensuring they feel connected, seen, heard and supported.
Accountability: We commit to exercising principled morals and ethical values in each layer of our work. This looks like: setting relevant goals, evaluating core methods of approach and delegation, remaining transparent in communication and offering feedback for any adjustments.
Advocacy: We champion efforts on behalf of our community members by exploring available and effective individual solutions and by being a trusted advocate on behalf of their broader collective needs.
Empowerment: We empower our community and staff members to amplify their agency by providing intentional service, knowledge and tools to improve their quality of life.
Innovation/Entrepreneurial: We are dedicated to pivoting to meet the innovative demands of our work, while maintaining strong quality and efficiency in our efforts.
