Young Leader Pivots to Broadband
James Clark (Ozaawaanakwad), a Mille Lacs Band descendant who works for the Band through the Lead for Minnesota (LFA) program, has been selected as one of 50 fellows of the American Connection Corps (ACC), a new program focused on bridging the digital divide, led by Land O’Lakes and LFA and funded through the support of 20 additional partners.
James grew up in the north metro but spent a lot of time at Mille Lacs in his youth with relatives including his great-grandparents, the late Jim (Naawigiizisiban) and Jessie Clark (Mookwewidamookweiban), who were well- known teachers, writers, and speakers of the Ojibwe language. "It gives me the drive to keep going, knowing they'd be happy that someone in their family is working hard to help revitalize the language," said James.
With LFA, a national nonprofit that helps outstanding young people become civic leaders, James has been providing support to the book- making project, and he's been assisting Samantha Peet with weekly online language classes for youth in the Ge-Niiganizijig program.
He has also been working with Elders to gather Ojibwe-language samples to add to a repository of language-learning materials. He has enjoyed making connections with Elders and native speakers around the Reservation.
"I can’t tell you how over the moon I was that the Band approved me working as a fellow," James said. "I love what I do. To me, it's not work. I haven't worked a day since I got here."
As part of a national network, James and other ACC Fellows will have access to national training on community organizing, broadband, and digital inclusion, and a network of LFA leaders nationwide. Over the course of the application window, the program received hundreds of applications from emerging leaders across the country. After an extensive interview process, the Fellows program selected 50 individuals to serve as community leaders across the country.
As an ACC fellow, James will help ensure that digital equity is woven across the Mille Lacs language revitalization efforts, which includes ensuring that Elders have access to and understand how to use technology tools and that youth have access to devices and hubs for internet access
to attend online language trainings. He will also work with the tribal leadership to determine broadband infrastructure gaps and get connected to opportunities for funding and technical assistance.
“I only have a calendar year, so my goal is to do what I can, knowing I can't achieve everything," said James. "LFA and ACC set high bars because they want us to do good things. They want to show what young people can do.”
James is also eager to contribute to the Band and to help preserve the language and culture that were so important to his family. "I don’t do this for me," he said. "I do this for those who came before me and those who will come after."
