On March 16, the Information Technology Department (ITD) held the Digital Inclusion Community Kick-Off event, sponsored by Comcast, at Oak Grove Park filled with direct access to County resources and partners dedicated to impacting the community with digital accessibility. 

The event was a success with more than 200 attendees, 80 gallons of water served thanks to Miami-Dade County’s Water and Sewer Department, and included other County departments, such as Office of the Mayor, Commissioner Bastien, PROS, Libraries, MDFR, MDEAT and MDPD.

Twenty partnerships were also on-site offering direct resources on-sire, such as The Miami Foundation, Comcast, CareerSource, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Miami Ed Tech, Small Business Division, SEEK, OIC South Florida, Suited for Success, MAJOR, Sant La and The Center for Independent Living

Community Engagement Manager Erica Lopez coordinated these efforts to ensure residents have the digital access and knowledge they deserve to open doors of opportunity through digital inclusion.

“This event is a celebration of the County’s efforts – the partnerships we have formed, the digital divide we are closing, and this is only the beginning,” said Ms. Lopez.

Ms. Lopez has been working for the County in the Information Technology Department’s Innovation Division for over a year and has been a reliable asset who goes above and beyond by implementing programs and initiatives that benefit our County residents. 

She has played a big role in developing the Broadband and Digital Equity Plan for Madam Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, by strengthening partnership with the Florida Office of Broadband and overseeing the Local Technology Planning Team with over 200 members and has assisted multiple organizations in receiving over $20 million in state funding for broadband. Additionally, she hosted a successful Digital Inclusion Summit last fall with more than 200 attendees.

“Ms. Lopez has a strong sense of community. Just look at the partnerships she has formed during her tenure here at ITD. It is remarkable,” added ITD Communications Manager Eileen Hernandez. “She is an advocate for our community, bringing resources to areas that will benefit from a Future-Ready vision.”

In April, Ms. Lopez and the Information Technology Department coordinated and successfully executed Miami-Dade County’s presence at eMerge Americas, where they partnered with other County departments to showcase the recent innovation and development in the works for a Future-Ready Miami that included AI, GIS maps and more. The event hosted more than 13,000 attendees.

Ms. Lopez is a graduate of Florida International University. When she is not strengthening relationships or planning community events, she enjoys spending time with her growing family. 

“I show up at work every single day. No matter how challenging the day is, I tackle my duties proudly and am honored to serve Miami-Dade County. There is no better feeling than forging these relationships with our community leaders to provide equal opportunity for everyone,” added Lopez.