The Digital Divide: A Migration Story

The Digital Divide — A Migration Story
InQueery, Peoria Proud’s educational series, is thrilled to partner with Illinois Humanities to welcome Road Scholar Kyla Williams Tate to the River City. A true Renaissance woman, Kyla’s work sits at the crossroads of history, technology, and social justice. Her passion for understanding how systemic exclusion shows up in the digital world—and how storytelling can spark connection, advocacy, and equity—drives her dynamic approach to public education.
Join us for The Digital Divide: A Migration Story, a powerful program that traces how the Great Migration and other historic movements across Illinois shaped today’s patterns of digital access, trust, and opportunity. Drawing from her research as Cook County’s Director of Digital Equity and her work as a Marjorie and Charles Benton Opportunity Fellow, Kyla weaves together stories, data, and lived experience to reveal digital equity as part of a much longer journey toward freedom, belonging, and connection.
Blending lecture, storytelling, poetry, dialogue, and performance, Kyla invites audiences to explore community-driven strategies for digital inclusion and to reflect on how migration continues to shape access today. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the digital divide—and with the knowledge that every story of movement carries lessons for building a more connected Illinois.
This special program takes place the Friday before the River City Pride Festival at the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts.
This is a free event, with refreshments provided by Peoria Proud, including delicious coffee from Santa Rosa Café. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Come learn, reflect, and connect as we explore how history, art, and imagination can guide us toward a more equitable digital future.
Accessibility Notice:
The venue is fully wheelchair accessible, including accessible parking and restrooms. Seating will be provided, with standing room also permitted if preferred. An ASL interpreter will be provided.
Alcoholic beverages will present, Refreshments will include vegan and gluten-free options.
For additional accessibility requests or questions, please contact Todd Northcutt at todd.northcutt@peoriaproud.com.