By day, Tiffany White works in the E-Commerce department at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, but that’s not her only job.
“Our goal is to ensure everyone in Charlotte has internet service,” Tiffany explained.
She also works part time for The Center for Digital Equity, led by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Board Member, Bruce Clark. The center helps local residents enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a Federal Communications Commission benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
Members who utilize the ACP receive a $30 credit each month for their internet services. Thanks to recent support from the Biden administration, more internet providers are offering services at lower costs, making internet free for some people who receive this credit.
“There’s a lot of things you’re unable to do without internet. You’re not able to work from home, which I think a lot of people take for granted,” Tiffany emphasized.
Thursday, July 21, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Charlotte to talk with state legislators about the Biden-Harris administration’s investment in affordable, high-speed internet. Tiffany introduced Harris before she took the stage.
“I was very humbled when I got the call asking if I wanted to introduce her,” Tiffany said. “I tell people it was humbling, magical and everything in between. For her to be so down-to-earth was an experience.”
Tiffany also had the opportunity to meet with Harris and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper before the event. “Governor Cooper asked what he could do, and I said, we need a little bit more marketing. There’s a lot of people that just don’t know about the program.”
Tiffany knows all too well the struggle many people face; that’s why this work is so meaningful to her.
“I’ve been there myself and I’ve had some hard times,” she explained.
Although her time with the governor and vice president were limited, it was beneficial. “It made me feel good to be able to share this information with them,” Tiffany said. “The vice president told me, ‘You’re the one that’s on the frontline talking to people every day. You know what’s going on and we need to hear what’s going on so we can help.’”
Tiffany even refers customers she works with to The GRID: Powered by Goodwill, Goodwill’s electronics store, which offers new and used technology at an affordable price.
“Not only am I doing this for The Center for Digital Equity, but I can also mention Goodwill as well. I just happen to be in E-Commerce, which is a part of The GRID, so it works.”
Tiffany’s overall goal is to help others, just as others have done for her throughout her life.
“I just love what I do because I love helping people.”
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