WISCASSET — The National Digital Equity Center has announced its new nonprofit status, and its new board members, to kick off Digital Inclusion Week 2021.

Formerly a program of the Axiom Education & Training Center, the National Digital Equity Center has branched out as an independent nonprofit with the mission to expand nationally to close the digital divide. Digital Inclusion Week, Oct. 4-8, hosted by National Digital Inclusion Alliance, was held to recognize the importance of digital equity and pathways to digital empowerment.

The center provides classes that offer opportunities for professional growth, personal enrichment, the development of computer skills, and preparation for professional careers in a supportive environment, both online and in person. Through expansion of its program areas, NDEC looks to offer its programs to a wider audience and provide communities across the country with the expertise needed to mobilize broadband technologies through digital inclusion, literacy efforts, education, resource planning, funding research, infrastructure leveraging and stakeholder engagement.

The National Digital Equity Center’s board members include Lisa Leahy, president – director, business office, Maine Emergency Management Agency; Grace Cleaves, vice president – consultant; Mark Ouellette, secretary – CEO and president, Axiom Technologies; and Steven Koltai, consultant.

For more information about the center’s digital equity and digital inclusion resources, visit digitalequitycenter.org. To learn more about Digital Inclusion Week and to get involved, visit digitalinclusion.org/diw21/.