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Hello Coalition colleagues in WNY. </div>
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I wanted to be sure you saw this urgent request for action from the advocacy team in the statewide network. Whether you are helping people access digital health services and care, or working with students pk-16 to use digital tools in education, or supporting
those who desperately need basic public assistance services and must overcome the digital barriers to that, or any other critical program or service your organization provides and that has been impacted by inequities in who can access and use digital technologies,
I urge you to take action now. It is quick and simple but will make an enormous difference to so many people in New York!</div>
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Thanks,</div>
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Heidi</div>
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Heidi Ziemer</div>
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Community Investment Specialist</div>
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Mission:Ignite [previous: Computers For Children, Inc.]</div>
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701 Seneca St., Suite 601</div>
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Buffalo, NY 14210</div>
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heidi@missionignite.org</div>
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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> NYSDEN-LIST <nysden-list-bounces@lists.nysden.org> on behalf of Margaret Kaufer via NYSDEN-LIST <nysden-list@lists.nysden.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 6, 2026 8:02 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Jacob Schwartz <jschwartz@fortunesociety.org><br>
<b>Cc:</b> NYS DEN <nysden-list@nysden.org><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [NYSDEN-LIST] URGENT: We Need More Letters!</font>
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<div style="line-break:after-white-space">The STEM Alliance is sending this out to all past clients, all partner organizations, in our newsletter and on social media. Time to light a fire under this sign on letter.
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<div>Meg<br id="x_lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage">
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____________________<br>
<br>
Margaret Käufer<br>
President, The STEM Alliance <br>
<font><b><i>Creating a network of<span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"> </span><font size="5"><font color="#8eaf66">S</font><font color="#2885dc">T</font><font color="#797ed6">E</font><font color="#f7894d">M</font></font><span class="x_Apple-converted-space"><font color="#f7894d"> </font></span>learning
opportunities</i></b></font></div>
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<a href="http://www.thestemalliance.org/" originalsrc="http://www.thestemalliance.org/"><font color="#797ed6"><b><i>www.theSTEMAlliance.org</i></b></font></a></div>
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<a href="mailto:mkaufer@theSTEMAlliance.org"><b><i><font color="#216fd4">mkaufer@theSTEMAlliance.org</font></i></b></a></div>
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<b><i>914.419.1733</i></b></div>
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<div>On Apr 3, 2026, at 5:28 PM, Jacob Schwartz <jschwartz@fortunesociety.org> wrote:</div>
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<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">Hello NYSDEN,</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">Thank you to everyone who has written a letter so far! Your dedication to the cause of digital equity in New York State and your willingness to take action
matters, and we owe you all our gratitude.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">Unfortunately, that only applies to 13 people.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">For a network that cares deeply about digital equity, as I know we all do, that number should concern us. We are asking the state to treat these issues as urgent
and important. If we want them to take us seriously, we need to show that the people and organizations closest to this work are serious about it too.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">So, please take some time this weekend to get our message out! Again, the letter is already set up on Action Network:</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif; text-indent:-0.25in">
<span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; font-size:7pt; line-height:normal; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust:none; font-kerning:auto; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-feature-settings:normal"> <span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">Step
1:<span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/nysden-advocacy-letter-2026?source=direct_link&" originalsrc="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/nysden-advocacy-letter-2026?source=direct_link&" style="color:rgb(70,120,134); text-decoration:underline">Click
here</a><span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span>(<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/nysden-advocacy-letter-2026?source=direct_link&" originalsrc="https://actionnetwork.org/letters/nysden-advocacy-letter-2026?source=direct_link&" style="color:rgb(70,120,134); text-decoration:underline">https://actionnetwork.org/letters/nysden-advocacy-letter-2026?source=direct_link&</a>),
and follow the instructions.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif; text-indent:-0.25in">
<span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; font-size:7pt; line-height:normal; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust:none; font-kerning:auto; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-feature-settings:normal"> <span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">Step
2: Please add your own story to the letter (there’s a placeholder), or edit the letter to fit your own perspective (if you don’t add your story, make sure to remove the placeholder before sending the letter).</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif; text-indent:-0.25in">
<span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font-style:normal; font-variant-caps:normal; font-weight:normal; font-size:7pt; line-height:normal; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust:none; font-kerning:auto; font-variant-alternates:normal; font-variant-ligatures:normal; font-variant-numeric:normal; font-variant-east-asian:normal; font-feature-settings:normal"> <span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">Step
3: Share this letter campaign with your networks and friends!</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">This is a very low-lift action, and it’s coming at a genuinely critical moment, as the budget season reaches its conclusion.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">I know that supporting digital equity is truly a shared priority for all of us. But this is the kind of moment where we need to make that visible.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">In solidarity,</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt">Jacob</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192)">_____________________________</span></b><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)"></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">Jacob Basescu Schwartz</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">,</span><b><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">he/him
| Advocacy Committee Co-Chair</span><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)"></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">New York State Digital Equity Network</span></b><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)"></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">Phone: (917) 364-5112</span><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)"></span></div>
<div style="margin:0in; font-size:12pt; font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">Email:<span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span><u><a href="mailto:JSchwartz@FortuneSociety.org" style="color:rgb(70,120,134); text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)">JSchwartz@FortuneSociety.org</span></a></u></span><span style="font-size:9pt; font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif; color:rgb(12,100,192)"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif; color:rgb(12,100,192); background:white">|<span class="x_Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:SchwarJa209@gmail.com" style="color:rgb(70,120,134); text-decoration:underline"><span style="color:rgb(12,100,192)">SchwarJa209@gmail.com</span></a></span></div>
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