Event details
About this event
Based in rural Washington, Yakima’s economy has always revolved around agriculture and many areas of the Yakima Valley, especially the tribal land that is home to the Yakama Nation, have extremely limited access to the internet. Join us for this Broadband Interest Group meeting to learn how Yakima's local community foundation stepped up to play a critical role in their hyperlocal ecosystem. Our speaker will share on Yakima Valley Community Foundation's Broadband Action Team, the foundation's community-led public/Tribal/private partnership - which has been touted throughout the region as a best practice - and about how they were recently recognized by the Washington State Broadband Office as an Above & Beyond awardee.
Background
The Broadband Interest Group's goal is to gain an action-oriented understanding of the role philanthropy can play in supporting broadband access, specifically in rural, Indigenous/Native communities and communities of color in our region. This group will partner with our Tribal Broadband Learning Community, federal and state government offices, community leaders and funder networks to help our communities get improved broadband access.
Speaker
Estakio Beltran, Yakima Valley Community Foundation, Director of Advocacy & Community Innovations
Estakio Beltran is the director of advocacy & community innovations at the Yakima Valley Community Foundation. Estakio has spent over a decade advising senior members of Congress and high-ranking officials. He grew up in foster care and lived in multiple placements all over the Yakima Valley, but he mainly stayed on the Yakama Reservation. His passion is centered on improving the health and wellness of everyone living in the Yakima Valley. It is what motivated him to work in Washington D.C., run for Congress and be a mentor to others. Estakio graduated from Davis High School. He earned his bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and his master's degree in public administration from Columbia University.
Please contact Lyn Hunter with any questions.