In the summer of 2020, UMKC Leadership announced the creation of the Roos Advocate for Community Change Initiative (RACC) in response to the national unrest that was blanketing the country. UMKC committed to comprehensive and intensive work on campus and in the community; engaging our strong relationships with alumni, trustees, volunteers, and our community partners.
One of the outcomes of this action was the creation of the UMKC Digital Equity Working Group, charged with actively engaging and convening diverse community stakeholders to advocate for digital inclusion and equity.
The group consists of UMKC faculty, administration, student leadership, and external community partners; including representatives from the City of Kansas City, The Urban League of Greater KC, The W.E.B. Debois Learning Center, The Hispanic Economic Development Corporation, and the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC).
The group's recent efforts include establishing operational procedures, including a system for regular UMKC participation in the Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion and other digital equity initiatives, with particular emphasis given to historically underserved neighborhoods, and maintaining an ongoing inventory of UMKC personnel and programs that can contribute to these efforts.
Individuals or organizations interested in learning more or joining in this effort should contact the group's chairperson, Tony Luppino, UMKC Professor of Law.