Arkansas is getting connected, and its teens are paving the way

Little Rock, Ark. (October 20, 2026) — On Thursday, October 8, the rotunda of the Arkansas State Capitol brought together people who don’t often share a stage: a 4-H youth leader, a county judge, a state legislator, the state broadband office, the Arkansas Municipal League, Community Action, AT&T Arkansas, and Connected Nation (CN).

They gathered for Voices at the Capitol, a Connected Arkansas forum hosted by the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association (ACAAA) during Get Connected Arkansas Week (October 4–10, 2026). The takeaway was simple: Arkansas is working to ensure everyone can fully participate in the digital world, and its approach offers lessons for every state.

Speakers at Voices at the Capitol, October 8, 2026.

“If you teach a child to plant and harvest, they can feed themselves for life,” said Jess Golson, Program Coordinator, CN. The same concept is true with digital skills. … Arkansas saw that reality and decided to make it their mission to feed their people for life.”

What does it mean to be connected?

The forum’s tagline got straight to the point: being connected today means being able to participate. Kamelle Gomez, Digital Opportunity Advocate with the Arkansas State Broadband Office, put the question directly to the audience: “What does it mean to be connected?” The answer depends on whom you ask. “For some, it means reliable internet,” something many Arkansans in rural communities are still seeking. “For others, it means being able to apply for a job, access health care, complete a school assignment, or grow a business.”

Getting there takes more than a signal. It takes a working device, an affordable plan, and the skills and confidence to use both. This year’s theme, Connected Arkansas: Building Brighter Futures for Our Children and Stronger Communities, challenges us all to help close that gap.

What we heard

The state. “It’s more than access, and we know that,” said Glen Howie, Director of the Arkansas State Broadband Office (ARConnect). “It’s a statewide effort to improve connectivity and engagement, one we have worked diligently to bolster.”

Industry. “The future of Arkansas is dependent on connectivity,” said Jacob Garrett, director of external and legislative affairs at AT&T, which also powers Connected Nation’s Teens Teach Tech program nationwide. “AT&T is proud to act as the cornerstone to the progress mentioned here today, and will continue to partner with community impact partners and youth programs like 4-H and Teens Teach Tech, represented here, to provide opportunities across the state.”

Community Action. Tomekia Moore, executive director of ACAAA, championed the week, bringing together the voices at the Capitol and the panelists and speakers participating in events throughout Get Connected Arkansas Week. She emphasized the week’s goal of raising awareness of “digital opportunity across the state of Arkansas.”

Local, legislative, and youth voices. Jefferson County Judge Ivan Whitfield, Mark Hayes of the Arkansas Municipal League, and Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge discussed how connectivity shapes residents’ access to public services and how communities are preparing for Census 2030. Stephanie Garner of ARVAC, Inc., highlighted Community Action’s work with families and early learning. Amanda Berryhill of 4-H shared her work with 4-H Changemakers and explained why teaching digital skills matters at any age.

Arkansas Kids: Connected to Their Future

Two days earlier, on Tuesday, October 6, ACAAA hosted a virtual panel, Arkansas Kids: Connected to Their Future, with partners from the Arkansas State Broadband Office and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Panelists Jackie Govan (Arkansas Head Start Association), Dr. Jeremy S. Owoh (Jacksonville North Pulaski School District), Cindy Phillips (4-H Changemakers), and Jess Golson (Connected Nation) focused on the people at the heart of this year’s theme: children. Their message was clear: connectivity creates opportunity, and no single sector can deliver it alone.

“Every day, we are failing people,” Golson said when asked why digital literacy matters in Arkansas. “Technology continues to advance daily, and those who lack foundational skills are being left behind. Providing reliable access and education to young people isn’t a great idea; it’s a necessity. And that need spans all age groups and communities.”

Teens Teach Tech: Arkansas leading the way

Connected Nation’s Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, is a national digital literacy initiative in which teens learn to use technology safely and then teach those skills to adults in their communities. Arkansas selected it as the state’s digital literacy champion program, and the results are hard to ignore. Since June, Arkansas teams have:

• Trained more than 2,500 adults in basic digital skills
• Earned more than $25,000 for their own programs
• Grown to more than twice the number of teams in any other state, with new teams joining every month

Behind every session is an adult gaining independence, a team securing support for its school or club, and trust being built across generations.

“I often joke that we are going to push a petition to rename Arkansas ‘Teens Teach Tech,’ but all kidding aside,” said Golson. “The impact of these teams and the speed and consistency with which they are advancing digital literacy should be shouted from the mountaintops. These young Digital Ambassadors are literally changing the lives of adults in their state daily.”

The week ends. The work doesn’t.

Get Connected Arkansas Week is over, but its lessons carry on. Arkansas shows what can happen when a state broadband office, industry partners like AT&T, community organizations, schools, and young people work toward a shared goal. Technology is the tool, but the story is about the families, futures, and communities it reaches.

Ready to be part of that change in your state? Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, is a great way to help young people become advocates for a better digital world. To start a team, contact Jess Golson at jgolson@connectednation.org or visit connectednation.org/teensteachtech.