In today’s digital age, concerns about online privacy and security have become increasingly prevalent. With the growing number of cyber threats and data breaches, safeguarding your online activities has never been more important. One powerful tool that can help protect your internet connection and keep your data safe is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). In this article, we’ll explore what VPNs are, why you might need one, and how to use them effectively to enhance your online security and privacy.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is like a secret tunnel for your internet connection. When you use the internet without a VPN, your data travels openly, like sending a postcard through the mail—anyone can see what’s written on it.
But when you use a VPN, your data gets wrapped up in a protective layer, like putting your postcard in a locked box before sending it. This process is called encryption. Encryption scrambles your data into a code that’s unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the key to unlock it.
Why is encryption important? Without it, hackers, advertisers, and even your internet provider can peek at your online activity. They could see your passwords, banking details, or personal messages. But with encryption, even if someone manages to intercept your data, all they’ll see is gibberish.
By using a VPN, you’re adding an extra layer of security to your internet connection, keeping your personal information safe from prying eyes. It’s like wearing an invisible cloak that shields you from online snoops.
Everyday VPN use
While VPNs were initially used primarily by cybersecurity professionals and tech-savvy individuals, they have become increasingly accessible and relevant to any internet user. Below are a few less thought of uses for a VPN.
- Secure Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks, such as those found in coffee shops, airports, and hotels, are notoriously insecure. Hackers can easily intercept data transmitted over these networks, putting your sensitive information at risk. Using a VPN on public Wi-Fi encrypts your connection, making it much harder for cybercriminals to eavesdrop on your online activities and steal your data.
- Access to Geo-Restricted Content: Many online services and websites restrict access based on your geographical location. For example, certain streaming platforms may only offer specific content in certain countries due to licensing agreements. By using a VPN to connect to a server in a different country, you can bypass these geo-restrictions and access content that may otherwise be unavailable in your region.
- Preventing ISP Tracking: ISPs have the ability to monitor and track their customers’ online activities, which can raise concerns about privacy and data collection. By using a VPN, you can prevent your ISP from tracking your browsing habits and selling your data to third parties for targeted advertising purposes.
- Remote Work and Online Security: With the rise of remote work and online collaboration, VPNs have become essential tools for ensuring secure access to company networks and sensitive data. VPNs enable remote workers to establish encrypted connections to their company’s servers, protecting confidential information from unauthorized access or interception.
A VPN is a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their online security and privacy. By encrypting your internet connection and masking your IP address, a VPN helps protect your data from cyber threats and surveillance. Whether you’re concerned about safeguarding your personal information, accessing geo-blocked content, or staying safe on public Wi-Fi networks, using a VPN is a simple and effective solution.
In an era where the digital realm is as essential as the air we breathe, it’s easy to forget that the internet as we know it is the result of decades of innovation and collaboration.
The internet’s origins trace back to the late 1960s with the development of ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. ARPANET was the first network to implement TCP/IP communication protocols—rules and procedures that govern how data is exchanged over the internet, ensuring that different networks can understand each other. This network facilitated communication among multiple computers on a single network, laying the groundwork for what would become the modern internet.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the scope of networking technology broadened from military and academic realms to include universities and the private sector, enabling a wider exchange of information. The Domain Name System (DNS), introduced in 1984, made navigating the internet simpler by allowing users to locate websites with easy-to-remember names (like www.example.com) instead of numerical IP addresses—a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the internet.
The 1990s heralded a major expansion of the internet to the general populace, significantly influenced by Tim Berners-Lee’s creation of the World Wide Web in 1989. The web provided a user-friendly interface—essentially, a way for users to interact with the digital content on the internet through web pages and links. Early web browsers such as Mosaic, and later Netscape Navigator, translated the web’s complex data into visual formats that non-technical users could easily navigate, fueling the dot-com boom.
The advent of broadband internet in the early 2000s, which replaced dial-up connections, offered users significantly faster access to the internet. This era also saw the emergence of social media platforms and e-commerce sites, as well as the early stages of cloud computing—where data is stored, managed, and processed on a network of remote servers hosted on the internet, rather than on local servers or personal computers.
The 2010s were defined by the mobile internet revolution, propelled by the global adoption of smartphones and mobile apps. This shift dramatically altered internet access and usage patterns, emphasizing connectivity on the move and services accessed through applications rather than traditional web browsers.
Today, the internet stands on the cusp of another leap forward with the rollout of 5G technology. This new generation of wireless technology promises even faster internet speeds, reduced latency (the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer), and the ability to connect a multitude of devices simultaneously. Anticipated to enable advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT)—a network of interconnected devices that communicate and interact with each other over the internet—autonomous vehicles, and immersive virtual reality experiences, 5G represents the next chapter in the internet’s ongoing evolution.
As we navigate this connected world, understanding the underpinnings of our digital experiences becomes paramount. Terms like “upload speed,” “download speed,” and “Mbps” are not just technical jargon but keys to unlocking a smooth, seamless internet experience.
Upload Speed: Imagine sending a letter. In the digital world, upload speed is the rate at which your “digital letter” (be it an email, photo, or video) travels from your device to the internet. Whether sharing a file with a colleague or posting a video on social media, your upload speed determines how quickly your content ascends into the cloud.
Download Speed: Now, think about receiving a package. Download speed is the pace at which data travels from the internet to your device. Streaming your favorite show, joining a video conference, or downloading a new app—all rely on your download speed. It’s what makes the wait for content to appear on your screen shorter or, at times, frustratingly long.
Mbps (Megabits per Second): This unit of measurement is the speedometer of the internet highway. Mbps quantifies how fast data is transferred to and from the internet. Higher numbers indicate faster speeds, ensuring that your online activities are smoother and less interrupted. Whether it’s a solo adventure online or a household’s collective digital activity, Mbps is a critical figure that shapes the experience.
Understanding these terms is more than an exercise in technical literacy; it’s about empowering oneself to make informed decisions about internet plans and usage. For those new to navigating the intricacies of internet plans or seeking to assist someone in their digital journey, the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council has launched an updated web page designed to demystify these concepts and help users navigate available internet plans.
In a time when digital access is a bridge to knowledge, opportunity, and connection, ensuring everyone can traverse this bridge is paramount. We invite you to explore our resources, deepen your understanding of the digital world, and share this knowledge with those embarking on their internet journey. Together, we can connect communities and create a more inclusive digital future.
Crafted with insights from ChatGPT 4.0, where artificial intelligence meets human curiosity.
January 11, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order informing that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is expected to end Spring 2024.
In 2021, Congress established the Affordable Connectivity Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and appropriated $14.2 billion for the program. The FCC was tasked to develop and implement the ACP as well as ACP outreach and awareness activities.
Since its implementation, over 22.5 million households nationwide, and more than 279,909 households across Maryland – 1 in 8 households – have utilized the program’s monthly $30-75 discount on internet service. District 2, comprised of parts of Carroll and Baltimore counties and small portions of the Baltimore city, has 30,153 households enrolled – 10% of all households.
The program is projected to run out of funding by April 2024. If this forecast is correct and no additional funding from Congress is received, we expect to see a statement from the FCC in March 2024, announcing the last fully funded month of the ACP.
Consumers must enroll in the program by February 7, 2024, 11:59 EST. Enrollment consists of ACP approval and enrollment with an internet company, so potential consumers should not delay in starting the process as it needs to go through FCC approval and internet service provider initiation.
All households enrolled in the ACP will continue to receive the benefit on their internet service until ACP funding. During the wind-down period, ACP households will receive notices from their internet company about the status and the impact of the ACP benefit ending:
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- Notification 1: Late January 2024, consumers will be updated about the possibility of ACP’s end and the potential bill impact.
- Notification 2: Fifteen days after FCC announces the last fully funded month of the ACP, consumers will be told of the ACP’s ending, date of the last bill ACP will be applied, cost of the bill without the ACP discount, and information about changing or stopping service.
- Notification 3: During the customer’s last bill or last billing cycle with ACP benefit, consumers will be reminded of the ACP’s ending, date of the last bill ACP will be applied, cost of the bill without the ACP discount, and information about changing or stopping service.
Internet service providers and U.S. Senators and Representatives are advocating for the continuation of internet service discounts to eligible households.
“Congress should continue to fund the ACP because Internet access has become essential to modern life, and one’s economic situation should not dictate whether or not they can participate in today’s economy,” said Kevin Brown of Quantum Internet and Telephone, a local family owned and operated Internet and telephone service provider based in Manchester, MD.
U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), JD Vance (R-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and U.S. Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) led their colleagues in the bicameral, bipartisan introduction of the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act (H.R.6929 / S.3565). The legislation would provide $7 billion for the ACP.
Digital equity organizations are showcasing the impact of ACP in hopes of displaying to legislators the power of the program for workforce development, community connection, and individual involvement in all sectors of life.
ACP Alternatives
Folks can also explore Lifeline, a federal program that helps limited income consumers pay for their telephone and internet services by providing a monthly discount. The cost of the program is shared by all telephone customers. In Maryland the program is called Tel-Life. You will sign up through a Lifeline provider company directly. Many companies advertise their Lifeline services, or you may find a list at www.lifelinesupport.org. When you sign up for Lifeline, you will need to provide full legal name, date of birth, last four digits of Social Security number, and address.
ACP Wind-Down Resources:
ACP Wind-Down Fact Sheet
ACP Wind-Down FAQ
Programa de Descuentos para Internet (ACP) hoja informativa sobre el fin del programa
We are not only connecting you to the digital world, but we are connecting people to people.
Diana Flores, CTIC American Connection Corps fellow, and Executive Director of ConectandoUs, reflects on the first CTIC Chromebook distribution event and looks forward to an upcoming Chromebook event and future community partnerships.
On December 19, 2023, we partnered with Find Your Purpose for our first Chromebook computer distribution event. At this event, we put computers in the hands of 70 Carroll County households, as well as connected them to digital skills and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) resources!
We were touched to see so many smiling faces and hear the importance of a new computer and these resources to recipients. People at looking for online jobs, families new to the country and the resources that live online, college students who had been doing all their schoolwork on their phone – and many more – received computers they can keep forever.
The power of a personal device for these individuals and their households is undisputedly valuable. According to research done by the University of California, Santa Barbara ownership of a device with a large screen (ie laptop, desktop) “provides a unique computing experience that cannot be replicated through public use of computers or shared devices”. With a personal device, users can navigate internet services and store data – without the restrictions of public spaces and shared devices. The possession of a computer, for all of us, is a connection to our increasingly digital world, and an invitation for full participation in the community, their personal development, and their professional development.
On January 15, 2024, we are partnering with Expanding Boundaries International to distribute Chromebooks at their MLK Day Family Learning Experience. On January 23, 2024, we are partnering with Mulligan Recovery Centers to host an ACP Sign-Up and Chromebook Distribution event.
Carroll County has been given the opportunity to grow through the ACP registration and Chromebook distribution events.
ACP is a Federal Communications Commision (FCC) benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more, by providing a monthly discount of internet service for eligible households.
We are able to distribute free Chromebooks for eligible households because of a grant awarded to the Carroll County Government and the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council by the state of Maryland.
When you attend one of our events, you step into a community-driven space where friendly faces are ready to guide you through understanding some of the resources that are available to you. The abundance of resources may feel overwhelming, but we want you to know that questions are not just welcomed but encouraged. Our commitment to empowering individuals goes beyond technology, it’s about ensuring that everyone feels supported and equipped to navigate the ever-evolving digital world.
As we reflect on past events and envision future ones, we recognize progress happens through collaboration. Our gratitude extends to our community partners and individuals who have helped us in our mission of “Moving Carroll Forward!” Every Facebook event share and conversation with a group is greatly appreciated.
Now, the CTIC asks you, what is your dream for your community, your family, and yourself? Consider the role that connectivity will play in shaping these aspirations and share your thoughts with us!
If you are interested in a new community partnership with the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council, you can connect with me, Diana Flores, at diana@carrolltechcouncil.org or info@carrolltechcouncil.org today!
Waited till the last second to get that perfect holiday gift? Coming up empty on ideas?
Fear not! Your friends at Carroll Tech have found the newest way of drumming up gift ideas for your long-lost uncle! Introducing the newest way to flood your brain with holiday gift ideas: ChatGPT.
If you are unfamiliar with ChatGPT, it is a free online service that you can use for most everyday purposes. With a built in AI (artificial intelligence), this service can give you answers and ideas to virtually anything. Need a recipe for some holiday cookies for your holiday work party? Boom, ChatGPT is on it. Perhaps you want a new workout plan for that New Years resolution, ChatGPT will give you an in-depth plan to start the new year off right.
There are plenty of ways to use this new and exciting service, but let’s focus on how we are figuring out that last holiday present for Grandma.
Step 1: Visit: https://chat.openai.com/ and login, or create an account. You can easily link your google account to ChatGPT for quick start-up. If you have any inquiries about security on ChatGPT please click here.
Step 2: Once signed in, you should see a screen that looks as such.
This is your home base for ChatGPT, where you will be inputting your holiday gift questions. Make sure to be precise as possible, and include some keywords that could spark some gift ideas (Sports, outdoors, gaming, art, etc.). Once you feel ready, go on and ask the AI for some ideas.
Step 3: Finding the right gift idea.
For my scenario I asked the AI to show me gifts for my grandma, who enjoys the Baltimore Ravens, as well as the beach. Depicted below shows just two of the ten results that ChatGPT generated.
In a very respectable manner I might add, the AI lists out multiple recommendations of gifts for me to consider for my Grandma and, honestly, this helped me out in a big way. Thanks, ChatGPT!
Artificial Intelligence may not be all the movies have made it out to be. Perhaps, it isn’t here to take over the world, just give you some last-minute holiday shopping ideas! Your friends at Carroll Tech hope that this has given you some relief, as the holidays have snuck up on us fast. Please enjoy yourself this holiday season, and we will see you soon in the New Year!
Every year, it’s certain someone will have to run out for a missed ingredient when the batter is half mixed and entree half cooked.
With so many recipes readying for the table and getting fixed up for family, friends, and neighbors, it’s too easy to leave an ingredient off the grocery trip list.
To avoid an eleventh-hour store visit during your holiday gathering – and the chaos that will inevitably greet you when you arrive to the grocery store holiday hassle – use ChatGPT to generate a list that don’t miss a thing.
- Simply, ask ChatGPT to “create a grocery list for me that will have all the ingredients in these recipes.”
- Copy and paste recipe ingredients from an online recipe or transcribe them from a cookbook. Enter the recipe ingredients as they are presented, with their specified amounts (eg 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 large yellow onion).
- Likely, ChatGPT will create grocery lists each time you submit a recipe. To get have them combined into one, once you’ve shared all the recipes you’d like, ask ChatGPT to “combine these shopping lists.”
- Then, you’ll see a combined grocery list of the recipes you shared. The one I got generated was even sorted by grocery store section! Grab, and go to the store confidently, knowing it didn’t miss a thing.
Some other useful ChatGPT prompts to prepare your mind and meaningful moments at a holiday gathering:
- What are some activities I can have planned or presented to keep ages 8-80 entertained while I cook?
- We want to eat dinner at 5:30. When should I begin cooking to have a full Thanksgiving dinner ready?
- You could add to this prompt by sharing recipes or the layout of what is available in the kitchen.
- What could I say to excuse myself from the gathering when I need a minute to myself?
- What are some Thanksgiving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages I should offer?
- What’s something unique I can cook for a Thanksgiving gathering?
What else will you ask ChatGPT for this year?
OSB has released the Maryland State Digital Equity Plan- DRAFT, and is requesting comments emailed through December 2, 2023.
The Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (BDEC) has created an awesome share spreadsheet OSB- Public Comment Collection Spreadsheet where you can enter comments and see the comments of others by section of the plan.
Key portions of the Maryland Digital Equity Plan:
Pg 1-5 Section 1.1 and 1.2: Digital Equity Principles and Barriers (see also Table 1 – covered populations – the state is going to organizing funding around reaching these groups)
Pg. 6-10 Section 1.5: Implementation Plan
Pg 16-18 Section 2.3.1: Strategies for overcoming barriers
Pg 18-30 Section 2.2.3: Objections and performance indicators. NOTE: OSB has listed statewide percentages for each metric, but not provided any baseline numbers to the total improvements in each area, no breakdown by county, and are using data sources that aren’t very granular. And for almost all categories, the plan says the state has a very small digital equity problem.
Pg 32-44 Section 3.1.3: Chart of existing digital equity assets (i.e., programs and organizations) by covered population – if you provide digital equity services, make sure you are in here
Pg 48-54 Section 3.1.3: Chart of digital equity programs (if you run a large digital equity program, make sure you are in here)
Pg 63-76 Section 3.2: Chart listing the obstacles by covered population to achieving: broadband availability, broadband adoption, digital skills, online security, and device adoption.
Pg 69 Section 3.2.1 Covered Populations: The state seems to be stating that they couldn’t find reliable sources of data for Individuals with Language Barriers and Individuals Who Have Low Levels of Literacy, so they aren’t going to speculate. But it’s not clear whether in the charts that follow, the State is capturing the digital equity gap for these populations.
Pg 78-98 Please skim these charts. There are people with skills in statistical analysis who will be weighing in on the Plan. But look at the tables – in most cases the Plan is stating there is 20% gap or less between the covered populations and the rest of the state, i.e., that where 95% of the state has a specific type of digital service/device, 70% to 80% of covered populations have that same service. For example, see Table 33 on page 97 states the percentage of people have a computer or desktop by covered area:
- 92% of higher income compared to 65.7% of lower income people -26.3% differential)
- 89.7% of White compared to 85% of minorities (-4.7% differential)
- 89.1% of people without disabilities compared to 73.7% of people with disabilities (15.4% differential)
- 87.8% for people with English proficiency and 81.2% for English learners (-6.6% differential)
If, in your experience, the groups you serve do not have access to digital equity services and devices at these levels, the State needs to hear from you.
Also, compare the above data with Table 35, 36, and 37 on pages 154-158. These tables provide a breakdown of the number of computers by household by income, race/ethnicity, and at-risk status.
Pg 171 Table 41: Confidence using the internet by household income. There is a similar chart by age on pg 180, but no corresponding charts by race/ethnicity, language barriers, or education level.
Join us for the MDEC Listening session with the State and provide that feedback. If you have time, make comments in the shared spreadsheet provided by BDEC as well. Click here to join the MDEC or share with others.
Where are we going? And, who is taking us there?
We announced Jack and Diana joining the CTIC Team – two digital navigators with the American Connection Corps. What does a digital navigator do, you might be wondering? A digital navigator is a trusted guide who plays a crucial role in assisting community members in internet adoption and the use of computing devices, building relationships with partners and organizations and emphasizing the strengths of the community in the process.
Jack and Diana are here to help community members acquire affordable internet access, obtain suitable devices, and develop digital skills and intentional relationships with technology – digital inclusion work. Well-versed with digital equity resources, they empower individuals to leverage technology towards their ambitions.
Our digital navigators will be working on an asset map with digital inclusion resources in Carroll County. This asset map will include the digital inclusion programs the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council is developing, along with the work of our partners. Any organization can be orient their work towards digital equity as resource access and online collaboration can progress many goals.
On a typical day, our digital navigators can work on a variety of tasks including
- Planning or delivering instruction at a Senior Planet event
- In partnership with the University of Maryland Extension, we work in collaboration with Senior Planet to deliver workshops, lectures, and courses that progress the unique goals and ambitions of participants.
- Senior Planet programs are designed around five impact areas: financial security, social engagement, creative expression, health and wellness, and civic participation. These areas represent opportunities in the lives of older adults where technology can have a transformative effect. In essence, the programming invites participants to learn through technology – instead of just having them learn technology for its own merit and without relevant applications integrated into the instruction.
- Communicating with a Veteran as part of the Veterans Transition to Technology program
- The Veterans Transition to Technology programming is designed to assist in digital equity and inclusion efforts in Maryland by addressing the challenges our veterans face when seeking work and support. We provide them with the technology, training, and partnership needed to successfully navigate an increasingly digital world.
- Attending a digital equity training session
- Researching a blog or building digital equity resources
- Creating or attending device distribution events
- Planning community action days
- Mark those calendars for upcoming Electronic Waste Management events
- Dec 4 – McDaniel College
- Jan 13 – Carroll County location beyond Westminster, TBD
- Mark those calendars for upcoming Electronic Waste Management events
Digital Navigators are vital in our community to keep all community members connected. Connect with Diana at diana@carrolltechcouncil.org or jack@carrolltechcouncil.org today!
Word Bank:
Digital equity is when all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society.
The digital divide is what prevents interactions among and between communities and prevents participation and opportunity in all areas of life.
Digital inclusion refers to the intentional activities and investments that work to reduce and eliminate historical, institutional, and structural barriers to access and use of technology for all individuals and communities.
The Carroll Technology and Innovation Council is excited to welcome to the team two American Connection Corps fellows, Jack and Diana!
Lead For America and the American Connection Project have teamed up to mobilize leaders to coordinate broadband development and digital inclusion through the American Connection Corps (ACC). This national service program is focused on bridging the digital divide, locally and across the nation.
Jack Bayne studied at McDaniel College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2022. Before joining us at CTIC, he worked for the National Park Service at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine with the Chesapeake Conservation Corps. “I am super excited to start giving back to a community that gave me so much in my time here at McDaniel.”
Some fast and fun facts on Jack:
- He played baseball at McDaniel, and currently is an assistant coach at his alma mater.
- He has 3 dogs.
- He has been to over 30 National Parks.
Diana is an executive board member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council and is currently studying business management at Carroll Community College. She is also the founder and executive director of ConectandoUs, a local nonprofit serving the Hispanic community in Carroll County.
Some fast and fun facts on Diana:
- Diana has been to 26 states in the U.S.
- She loves puzzles and the aquarium.
- She has an Australian Shepherd.
On October 18, 2023, ten speakers will take to the Ignite Carroll stage to traverse topics of cannabis, communicating affection, imaginary friends, foods fit for a president, and beyond. The speakers are people we know already – or will feel like we do by the end of the night. The best part is, every Talk is 5 minutes long – it’s efficient, it’s high-energy, and it’s all happening right downtown at the Carroll Arts Center.
“Ignite is an opportunity for people in our community to hear many different perspectives in one place, in a short amount of time,” said Chris Abell who is organizing Ignite Carroll 11 and has presented in the past. The Ignite concept puts multiple speakers in front of an audience, giving them 5 minutes apiece to enlighten the crowd. “It allows for people to come together or start a conversation about topics they didn’t know they were interested in.”
“Anyone can give an Ignite Talk,” said Firen Forrest, Ignite Talks President. Speakers on this year’s Ignite stage of varying levels of experience – some have taken on the stage for years, others have experience from separate speaking engagements, and some are facing their fear of speaking in front of a crowd right there on the Ignite stage. But they share two things: a burning idea and the guts to get on stage and share it with the crowd. What they talk about and how they do it is up to them.
“Getting up on stage and sharing yourself with your community is what Ignite Talks is all about—being vulnerable, sharing your passion, your insight, what motivates you or intrigues you,” said Forrest.
What can I expect as an audience member?
For each presentation, in 5 minutes, speakers will tell their story over the course of 20 slide presentations that auto-advances every 15 seconds. These constraints breed creativity for the presenter and, Forrest mentioned, sometimes creates “wacky situations” as the speaker tries to speed up or slow down to keep in time with the slides.
“The talks are short and punchy, and they’re often presented in a way that makes you think about the subject in a new way—an “aha” moment or an angle you weren’t anticipating,” said Forrest.
The style of the evening moves at a quick and compelling clip and the bite size presentations allow the Ignite audience to hear from over a dozen presenters on one fun, fast paced night.
“If you find a talk boring or just not your thing, you know it’s only going to be 5 minutes until something fresh and new comes along” added Forrest.
Why should you attend?
“A night of Ignite Talks rallies a community and gives that community a forum to know each other more deeply, to connect, and inspire each other,” said Forrest.
The energy of an Ignite night is uniquely invigorating. Audience members have described the evening being electric and entertaining – an event they look forward to time and time again. Every year and every speaker is different, so you’re bound to learn and see something new, even if you have attended before.
You may also walk away with the motivation and inspiration to step onto the Ignite stage yourself next time.
This year will also feature a Firecracker Networking session, inspired by the format of Ignite Talks. You’ll have an opportunity to inspire yourself and others by answering some questions we provide during the intermission.
Where can you see an evening of Ignite Talks?
Passionate people are building up and taking to Ignite stages across the world from Sydney, Australia to Accra, Ghana – and our own Carroll County, Maryland on October 18, 2023.
The Carroll Arts Center doors will be opening on this high-energy evening at 5:30 pm and the action will be taking place from 6 pm to 8 pm. This year will once again be hosted by the brilliant and energetic Vince Buscemi.
Get your tickets today and follow @carrolltechcouncil on Instagram to see speakers spotlighted in the weeks leading up to Ignite Carroll.