New York State Digital Equity Network 2nd Annual Conference: Advancing Access through Collective Advocacy

Digital Equity Advocates Connected, Learned, and Built Collaborations at NYSDEN 2025

More than 100 digital equity advocates from across New York State gathered at Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence for Wireless and Information Technology on Tuesday, August 5th for a day-long conference focused on expanding digital access statewide.

Event Information (for Posterity)

Join digital equity leaders from across New York State at Stony Brook University on August 5, 2025 for a high-impact day of learning, collaboration, and advocacy. The NYSDEN Annual Conference brings together practitioners, policymakers, funders, and grassroots organizations to explore bold solutions for expanding digital access and opportunity in every region.

This year’s theme, Advancing Access Through Collective Advocacy, highlights how through strategic and collective advocacy we can unlock funding, drive outcomes, and fuel meaningful, community-based change. Through interactive panels, skill-building workshops, and case-driven breakout sessions, attendees will dive into urgent issues including AI and digital inclusion, hardware affordability, infrastructure volatility, funding diversification, and reaching underserved populations like people with disabilities and those impacted by incarceration.

Whether you’re working in the field or shaping policy, this conference offers practical insights, real-world strategies, and powerful networking to help advance your mission—and the digital equity movement statewide.

Hosted in collaboration with:

Center of Excellence for Wireless and Information Technology at Stony Brook University

Center of Excellence for Wireless and Information Technology (directions)
1500 Stony Brook Road 
Stony Brook, NY 11794-6040
Date: August 5, 2025
Time: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm – Conference / 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm – Networking Social Hour

Light Breakfast & Lunch Served (see menu below or download PDF)

Learn more about this year’s Conference Planning Committee.

Agenda

Update: Pre-Conference Mixer!
Arriving on the 4th with some time to kill? Consider joining some of your digital equity colleagues at a pre-conference mixer. It’ll be at Castaways in Port Jefferson (the next town over) from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Join us for a day of plenaries, panels, and workshops designed to educate, illuminate, and spur continued progress and innovation in digital equity throughout New York State

TimeTrack 1
(Room 200)
Track 2
(Room 152)
Slides/Materials/Speaker Info
8:00am – 9:00 amBreakfast & Networking
9:00 am – 9:15 amWelcoming RemarksWelcome Slides and Emcee Information
9:15 am – 9:20 amOpening Remarks
Joshua Breitbart, Senior Vice President, ConnectALL; Empire State Development
9:20 am – 9:55 amKeynote with Dr. Revati PrasadKeynote Speaker Information
10:00 am – 10:50 amFrom Coalition to Campaign — Turning Partnerships in to Advocacy Engines for Digital EquityPanelist/
Moderator Info: From Coalition to Campaign
11:00 am – 11:50 amThe AI Equity Conversation: Nonprofits, AI, and the Future of Equitable, Ethical ServiceAccessibility Is Equity: Centering Services for those with Disabilities in our Digital Inclusion ProgrammingPanelist/
Moderator Info: AI Equity Conversation


Panelist/
Moderator Info:
Accessibility is Equity
12:00 pm – 12:50 pmLunch
1:00 pm – 1:50 pmCross-Sector Alignment for Impact: Integrating Digital Equity into Workforce, Healthcare, and Economic SystemsWorkshop:
AI For Non-Profits: Workshop on AI Agent Creation
Panelist/
Moderator Info: Cross-Sector Alignment


Speaker Information and Slides: AI For Non-Profits
2:00 pm – 2:50 pmWorkshop:
Stronger Together: Strategic Casemaking to Power NYSDEN’s Collective Impact
Speaker Information and Slides: Strategic Casemaking
3:00 pm – 3:50 pmFunding in Freefall — Strategies for Sustaining Digital Equity in a Shifting LandscapePanelist/
Moderator Info: Funding in Freefall
4:00 pm – 4:30 pmClosingClosing Plenary Slides
4:30 pm – 5:30 pmNetworking Social

Lodging

Lodging is available at the Hilton Garden Inn (Stony Brook) or Danford’s Hotel & Marina (Port Jefferson). We do not have any room blocks reserved or preferred rates at either establishment.

Hilton Garden Inn
1 Circle Road
Stony Brook, NY 11794

Danford’s Hotel & Marina
25 E Broadway
Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Breakfast
Muffins, danish, bagels
Fresh fruit & berry salad
Spreads: creamy butter, cream cheese, & fruit preserves
Beverages: orange juice, coffee, decaf, & tea
Lunch
Assorted sandwiches & wraps w/lettuce, tomato, condiments
Halal grilled chicken wrap
Grilled balsamic vegetable wrap (vegan)
Roast beef & cheddar
Turkey & swiss
Potato chips
Fruit Salad
Beverages: canned soda or bottled water

ConnectALL is a proud sponsor of the 2025 NYSDEN Conference.

ConnectALL Logo