Connecting Communities to Thrive

Making a difference is something we all aspire to. I am passionate about how we can harness that aspiration to match talent to opportunity. Bringing that aspiration together as the “power of we” is how we can amplify all our voices to make an even bigger difference. That has never been more apparent or important than it is now. It’s one of the reasons I joined Verizon - to be part of something bigger that can truly change the world.

With the launch of Citizen Verizon, we are codifying what we already do - what we believe, what is imbedded in the DNA of our business, our people, and our processes: our ambition is to move people, and the world, forward together. The Citizen Verizon framework spells out the What, Why, and How of our approach and keeps us on track in terms of results so we can share our impact and continue to improve, pushing ourselves to go further, taking the world to a better place faster.

One of the three pillars of Citizen Verizon is digital inclusion; a plan to connect rural and urban communities, support multi-generations, and bridge the divide that currently prevents everyone from benefiting from all the possibilities of a networked world. By early 2021, Verizon will be championing the widespread rollout of 5G and all new mobile devices will be 5G capable; in essence, we will be connecting most rural and urban communities and enhancing the consumer’s ability to work, learn, play, and live like never before. We will be enabling a near symmetrical rural and urban experience and changing the face of the nation. Increasingly consumers will be able to work and live like they’re in a city even if they’re not, giving them access to a network that will power their lives through speed, low latency, and reliability.

But it’s not simply about access. It’s about leveraging technology as a tool to create a more inclusive society. We are connecting with at risk youth and under-resourced schools to provide the technology and training necessary to help them upskill and understand the power available to further their education and their pursuit of big, bold dreams. We’re committed to providing 10M underserved youth with access to digital and technical skills training by 2030. On the other end of the spectrum, we are partnering with retirement homes to support seniors in tech adoption and help them connect with their family and friends in a rapidly changing world. Different generations, different needs. Technology provides solutions and a unifying platform to weave together a common language and way of living and communicating in their communities and around the world. 

With the onset of a global pandemic and an accelerated shift to remote learning, the need to knock down barriers to digital inclusion became even more pressing. The Verizon Innovative Learning Program provides free internet access and next-gen technology-infused lessons to Title 1 middle schools; leveling the playing field for students in STEM and driving measurable academic improvements in participating students. Additionally, we’re expanding our commitment to education through our growing online resource platform, making learning tools available to all educators and students, a key driver in our quest to reach 10 million youth by 2030. We’re also bringing 5G technology to schools through our innovative learning labs where students and teachers are at the forefront of cutting-edge technology with a goal to deploy it in 100 schools by the end of 2021. Technologies like virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, and more immersive collaboration can turn lesson plans into living, breathing, dynamic experiences. We’re preparing students for a fast-moving future; one with opportunities they can seize. They bring their curiosity, we provide the technology. The result: progress.

And that, in essence, is what Citizen Verizon is all about: progress, for all. In a profoundly complicated time of unparalleled and unpredictable change, we find ourselves at the precipice - one with the potential for a good, even great, outcome for our global community. We can harness this energy to collaborate and combine energies and ambitions to forge a path that defines a new world following an economic, environmental, and social compass pointing in the right direction.

Please tune in to Yahoo Finance, the Yahoo home page, and Verizon on Twitter for the inaugural Citizen Verizon Assembly tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm ET. This virtual livestream will include a lineup of influencers and activists discussing strategies for driving social change.