Lessons from Cambridge: How JEDI Set the Stage for ELEVATE
In 2025, we launched ELEVATE with one clear goal: to transform public libraries into trusted, tech-enabled hubs for digital access and opportunity. But the blueprint for that vision was shaped years earlier—through the groundbreaking work of the Digital JEDI initiative, and especially the leadership of the City of Cambridge.
What Is Digital JEDI?
The Massachusetts Digital JEDI Initiative—short for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—was a statewide effort to close the digital divide through community-rooted partnerships. Funded by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), the initiative empowered a cohort of cities to expand internet access, distribute devices, deliver digital skills training, and provide culturally responsive support.
Cambridge wasn’t just a participant in JEDI—it was the lead city, piloting a comprehensive, library-centered model that inspired statewide replication.
You can learn more about the full initiative at massdigitaljedi.org.
Cambridge’s Model: A Library at the Center
Through the JEDI project, Cambridge Public Library emerged as a central access point for digital equity services. With strong support from city departments and nonprofits, the library became the first stop for many residents in need of:
- Devices
- Digital coaching
- Internet access
- Career and language learning resources
In fact, over 50% of all digital equity service requests in Cambridge were initiated at the public library—a testament to its deep trust and reach within the community.
What We Learned—and Applied to ELEVATE
1. Libraries Are Ideal Anchors for Digital Equity
Cambridge showed us that libraries already serve as digital lifelines. What they need is infrastructure to manage and scale that role.
ELEVATE was designed as that infrastructure—offering a Digital Services Hub that helps libraries track device lending, enroll patrons in digital literacy programs, and connect users to human support.
2. Equity Is Not a Feature—It’s a Framework
Cambridge led with equity: hiring multilingual navigators, hosting culturally responsive workshops, and co-designing solutions with the people most affected by the digital divide.
ELEVATE reflects that DNA. Every feature—from coaching tools to referral tracking—is built with equity, accessibility, and community input at the core.
3. Integration Enables Scale
One of Cambridge’s key insights was that digital equity can scale citywide—if systems talk to each other. Their use of SirsiDynix Symphony within the library made it easy to centralize access and reporting.
That’s why ELEVATE integrates directly with Symphony and other leading library management systems, enabling low-friction adoption across regions and states.
From Cambridge to Lawrence—and Beyond
Today, ELEVATE is being piloted at Lawrence Public Library, with support from the Essex County Community Foundation, and expanding to nearby cities like Methuen and Chelmsford through the MVLC network. This regional momentum is powered by the same structure that made Cambridge’s JEDI model so effective:
- Strong community trust
- Library-based coordination
- Scalable digital infrastructure