Last week in Wichita: Why I left grateful and hopeful
Four days of training, partnership, and community members building what comes next
Wichita, Kan. (February 11, 2026) - Some days stay with you longer than you expect. The Wichita training was one of those days for me, not because everything went perfectly, but because of the people and the conversations.
Over four days in Kansas, our team worked alongside AT&T and trusted local partners to deliver hands-on digital skills training and distribute 200 laptops to community members building what comes next. The week included a press conference with Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and our CEO Tom Ferree, underscoring a shared commitment to expanding opportunity and digital access.
We partnered with Empower, Build & Rebuild, Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation, and Thrive Allen County, organizations deeply rooted in their communities and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit. The training focused on practical digital skills, including basic computer use and internet safety. For me, it meant getting back in front of people to talk about staying safe online and protecting personal information, conversations that always bring the work back to what matters most.
The devices, provided through AT&T’s Tech 4 Training program with Compudopt supporting refurbishment, logistics, and technical support, were intentionally paired with training so learning could continue beyond the sessions.
By the end of the week, it wasn’t the agenda or the logistics that stayed with me. It was the people and the moments in between that reminded me exactly why this work matters.
Erica: Building on a passion that already exists
That is where I met Erica Coulter.
Erica is a caregiver, and you can hear that in how she talks. She is pursuing her GED while also working toward multiple healthcare certifications, including CNA, CMA, and HHA, with plans to eventually become an RN. When I asked her why healthcare is, she did not give a long explanation. She simply said, “I just have a passion for caring for people.”
She has already been doing that work for five years, supporting people with physical and mental disabilities. This is not a career pivot for her. It is an intentional investment in growth. Erica is planning to stack credentials, expand her skills, and increase the ways she can serve others.
When she received her laptop, I asked how it would help. She smiled and said, “I can do my studying.” It was a simple answer, but it said everything about how access to technology can remove a very real barrier.
Richard: Learning a trade and building a future
I also met Richard Lewis, who stood out to me because he took time off work just to be there. Richard was born and raised on the northeast side of Wichita – a community he has seen weather hard times over the years. As we talked, he pointed out the window to a church next door and shared that he grew up there. It was a quiet moment, but it said a lot about how deeply connected he is to the place he calls home.
Richard is training to be a plumber under a master plumber, and he talked about how much he is learning by working alongside someone who truly knows the trade. That kind of apprenticeship takes commitment, patience, and drive. He sees it as a way to expand his skills and prepare for something bigger.
His long-term goal is to run his own plumbing business, not just for himself, but because he wants his community to thrive. The laptop he received will help him continue his education and support his business development, from planning and organization to learning how to manage and grow a company of his own. His story was a reminder that entrepreneurship is often rooted in place, pride, and a desire to give back.
Sister Becky: Connection as a form of service
Then there was Sister Becky Balthazor ASC.
Sister Becky shared that she plans to use her computer to stay connected with Sisters around the world. Those relationships are central to her life of faith and service. Her work is rooted in compassion, community, and connection, and it requires ongoing communication and coordination across distance.
There is an entrepreneurial spirit in that work too. Sustaining global relationships and responding to community needs takes creativity, intention, and resilience. For Sister Becky, technology is not about getting ahead. It is about staying connected so service can continue.
Snapshots from Wichita
The team behind the work
After meeting people like Erica, Richard, and Sister Becky, I was reminded that work like this only happens because of the people who show up day after day to make it real.
I want to acknowledge my colleagues Tammy Spring and Marco Mata, who facilitated training in both English and Spanish throughout the week. Watching them connect with participants across language, culture, and experience was genuinely moving.
They met people exactly where they were, created space for questions, and made learning feel approachable and empowering. You could see it in the room. People leaned in, helped one another, and gained confidence in real time. That kind of connection does not happen by accident.
I could not be prouder of my colleagues or more grateful for the care and professionalism they bring to this work.
When a community asks you to come back
As the four days came to a close, something else became clear. People were not just appreciative of the training or the 200 devices. They were already thinking ahead. They asked when we would be back. They asked what kinds of lessons future training courses might include. They asked how others could get involved.
That forward-looking energy stayed with me.
I left Wichita tired, grateful, and honestly a little emotional. I was grateful for AT&T’s partnership, grateful for local organizations that bring creativity and grit to their work every day, and grateful for Connected Nation’s team that makes this work possible on the ground. I also am grateful to Erica, Richard, and Sister Becky for trusting us with pieces of their stories.
This work is not just about devices or workshops. It is about the people, relationships, trust, and entrepreneurial spirit already alive in communities.
Wichita’s families, workers, students, and so many others made it clear they want us to come back.
After four days like that, I believe we should.
About the author
Heather Gate is the Executive Vice President of Digital Transformation for Connected Nation.
In that role, she is responsible for strategy development and implementation of programs that impact Digital Empowerment and Transformation for all people in all places. She provides project management services including identification of program challenges and goals as well as day-to-day oversight and funding research.
Heather served on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) from 2017 to 2021 and, in November 2021, was appointed as Chair to the rechartered committee which was redesignated as the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC).
