Where the District stands. What we're already doing. And what you can do next. Resources from the May 19 panel on Workforce Development and AI Literacy.
Five facts about the District. Read them in order. The story they tell is urgent, uneven, and unfinished.
A moderator and three panelists, each working a different layer of the same problem: community, data, and policy.
Founder and CEO of OptimaNova AI, a DC-based AI consulting and implementation firm. Serves on the DC Mayor's Advisory Group on AI Values Alignment. Member of Leadership Greater Washington Class of 2024. Author of AI for Good (Aug 2025) and The 5th Quadrant (Apr 2026). Former CEO of Byte Back and 29th Executive Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Founder of InnovateUS and former United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer in the Obama administration. InnovateUS provides free AI and digital training to public-sector workers across the country. Author of a forthcoming book on AI and Democracy (June 2026).
Senior Fellow at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, where he leads the Workforce and Education research area. Current work includes PATHWISE (a workforce intelligence tool that tracks AI talent demand in real time) and comparative studies of AI adoption in the United States and Germany. Two decades at the intersection of labor economics, technology, and public policy.
Leads community technology programs, AI upskilling initiatives, and staff training across DC Public Library. Focused on helping DC residents build practical, actionable digital skills in ways that are inclusive, collaborative, and grounded in real life.
Real programs. Active right now. Open to DC residents, workers, and government employees.
In February 2026, DC became the first major U.S. city to require responsible AI training for all government employees and contractors. Built in partnership with InnovateUS.
Learn more about OCTO →Free AI literacy programs at DCPL branches across the District. Includes the 4-part AI Fundamentals series with Computer CORE (Anacostia and West End libraries) and dedicated workshops for job seekers.
View upcoming workshops →A community-led, open learning collective modeled on DCPL's pilot AI Upskilling Cohort. Participants use design thinking to build AI-enabled solutions for real-world DC problems. Free and open to the public.
Visit The Upskilling Labs →One-on-one tech help with trained navigators at participating DCPL locations. Drop-in or by appointment. Supports essential online tasks and basic digital literacy skill-building.
Find a Navigator →Pick the role that matches yours. We've gathered concrete next steps for each.
The May 19 panel is one moment. The work is ongoing.
The District's official AI guidance, policies, and procurement framework.
Visit OCTO →Workshops, navigators, and upskilling programs across all DCPL branches.
Explore DCPL →The District's official AI framework. Values, principles, and the citywide roadmap.
Read the Plan →Every number on this page is sourced. Click through, read deeply, draw your own conclusions.