NYCADE Steering Committee

Nell Eckersley

Literacy Assistance Center 

Nell Eckersley has been providing ed tech and digital literacy skills professional development workshops since 2008. As the Director of Digital Equity Projects at the Literacy Assistance Center in New York City, Nell provides professional development workshops for adult educators across the US, including a monthly Adult Education Google Club. Her particular areas of interest are strengthening digital literacy skills for adult education practitioners and learners, integrating technology into the adult education classroom via mobile devices, and digital inclusion for all.

Elaine Roberts 

Catholic Charities

Elaine Roberts is the Director of Programs for the International Center, the ESOL department of Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS). As part of CCCS’ Division of Immigrant and Refugee Services, the International Center provides ESOL and Citizenship Preparation programming in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley. Prior to joining Catholic Charities, she worked with adult learners throughout NYC at several community-based organizations. She has been a steering committee member for the New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy (NYCCAL) since 2011 and board member for the New York Association for Continuing and Community Education (NYACCE) since 2021.

Jin Hyun Bae

Queens Public Library 

Bio

Brian Mendes 

Fifth Avenue Committee

Bio

​Jacob Schwartz

The Fortune Society 

Jacob is the Digital Equity Program Manager at The Fortune Society, where he leads initiatives that expand technology access and understanding for New York City’s justice-impacted community. Drawing on experience as an engineer, educator, and advocate, he designs programs that empower individuals with essential digital skills. A lifelong learner with an eclectic background in electrical engineering, architecture, music, and politics, Jacob integrates analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to advance inclusion by fostering digital curiosity and engagement. He also serves on the Formation Committee of the New York State Digital Equity Network and the AI Working Group of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

​Lainey Skaggs

Family Health Centers at NYU Langone 

Lainey Skaggs is a Project Coordinator at the Family Health Centers at NYU Langone Health (NYULH). Her work at NYULH aims to increase access to virtual health care and reduce health disparities, by increasing digital health literacy, access to technology and broadband, and utilization of digital devices in Brooklyn. In addition to her work at NYULH, Lainey has served as administrative lead of the Sunset Park Are Digital Equity Group (SPADE), a digital equity-focused coalition based in South Brooklyn, since 2024. ​