The brisk Chicago wind was no match for the warmth inside the Sheraton Grand Riverwalk this February. From February 3-5, over 700 practitioners, academics, and digital equity advocates gathered for Net Inclusion 2026. While the sessions were packed with useful program strategies and policy updates, the true “crown jewel” of Net Inclusion is never found on a slide deck. Rather, it’s the palpable, unyielding sense of community that defines the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
In a field that often deals with data, tech devices, and complex legislation, Net Inclusion reminds us that our work is, first and foremost, about people.
A Call to Action: Dream, Resist, Do
The conference kicked off with an electric atmosphere as NDIA Executive Director Angela Siefer took the stage. Her opening remarks were more than just a welcome; they were a rallying cry. Acknowledging, first, the people who make digital inclusion possible, then addressing the shifting landscape of digital equity funding and the challenges ahead, Angela left the 700+ attendees with three powerful directives for the year:
- Dream: To envision a world where digital equity is a realized right, not a luxury.
- Resist: To stand firm against any rollbacks in progress and the systemic barriers that keep our neighbors offline.
- Do: To take the tangible, daily actions that turn advocacy into impact.
Following Angela, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered a stirring address. He spoke passionately about the city’s role as a host for this movement and reaffirmed a collective commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. His words underscored that digital equity is social justice, and Chicago stands proud as a partner in that fight. As such, NDIA was thrilled to present Mayor Johnson with the City of Chicago’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazer award, which the city has been awarded four years in a row.
Honor, History, and Champions
Day two opened with a surge of momentum and emotion. In honor of 100 years of Black History Month, the world-renowned Leo High School Boys Choir filled the ballroom with a breathtaking rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as their voices reminded us of the resilience and history that ground our work today.
Building on the representation of this year’s host city, Gina D. Cooper Benjamin, NDIA’s Deputy Director, presented Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, with Cook County’s 2025 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer award.
The energy continued as we celebrated the 2026 Digital Equity Champions. These individuals and organizations represent the vanguard of our movement—those who have gone above and beyond to bridge the divide in their local communities. Seeing them on stage was a reminder that, though our road to achieving digital equity has not been and will not become easy, we are strengthened by the champions who go the extra mile to make inclusion tangible in our communities.
Never “Goodbye”, Always “See You Next Time”
The final day of Net Inclusion 2026 opened with a special fireside chat between Angela Siefer and Anna M. Gomez, Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), discussing the current landscape at the FCC, broadband affordability, the fight for protecting consumers, and what we can all do together to close the digital divide.
The day concluded with attendees embarking on tours of Chicago digital inclusion program sites, giving attendees the opportunity to visit community organizations that are bridging the digital divide in real time.
The Power of the NDIA Community
Beyond the engaging sessions, invigorating speeches, and the much deserved awards, the “magic” of Net Inclusion always happens in the hallways, during coffee runs, and over shared meals. It is a space where a digital navigator from a Tribal community can sit with a local policymaker and find common ground, where digital inclusion practitioners from either side of the country can share working strategies, where the people who laid the foundations of digital transformation can share insight and context with those who are new to the field.
Net Inclusion is more than a conference; it’s a homecoming. It’s where we recharge our batteries, share challenges, celebrate wins, and remind one another that we are not doing this work in isolation. After departing the Windy City and heading back to our respective corners of the country, we carried the echoes of Chicago with us. We are energized, we are united, and we are ready to Dream, Resist, and Do.
Net Inclusion 2027 in Columbus, Ohio, will be here before we know it! Stay tuned for the opening of registration and make sure you save by reserving your spot early. In the meantime, continue to stay involved with NDIA by checking out our other events like Digital Inclusion Week and monthly Community Calls!