Recognized as part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
Through her leadership at the San Diego Futures Foundation, Irina Prokhorova is helping communities build the digital skills, access, and confidence they need to move forward in work, education, and everyday life.
SAN DIEGO, Calif.
For many people, technology just works. You send an email. Pay a bill. Upload a résumé. Join a meeting. Move on with your day. It’s seamless.
But across San Diego, that experience isn’t universal.
For thousands of people, something as simple as opening a laptop or navigating a website can feel overwhelming, unfamiliar, or completely out of reach. And when everyday systems move online, that gap becomes more than inconvenient, it becomes limiting.
That’s the space Irina Prokhorova works in every day through the San Diego Futures Foundation, serving as the Digital Bridge Program Manager. Irina leads digital education programs that provide technology training to communities across San Diego County.
Their classes help youth and adults develop the computer skills they need for work, education, and everyday life.
San Diego Futures Foundation
https://sdfutures.org/
Seeing What Others Miss
When Irina stepped into her role at the San Diego Futures Foundation, she didn’t just see a need. She saw a pattern that most people overlook.
Students trying to complete assignments from their phones because they didn’t have access to a computer. Families heading to libraries or community centers just to get online. Immigrants arriving in San Diego with little to no experience using digital tools.
And in a city known for innovation, that contrast stood out.
“It was eye-opening to see how many communities in San Diego cannot afford internet access or personal computers or do not have computer skills.”
That moment didn’t just inform her work. It grounded it.
Their services provide support to seniors, veterans, small business owners, refugees, adults returning to the workforce, and people from foreign-language–speaking communities.
They also support individuals with disabilities or anyone who needs to improve digital skills to move forward.
More Than a Class
Irina leads digital education programs through the San Diego Futures Foundation, but what she’s building goes well beyond traditional training.
Yes, the classes cover the essentials. Computer basics. Office tools. Internet safety. Skills people can use right away at work or in daily life.
But the real focus is removing the friction that keeps people from even getting started.
Because for many participants, the challenge isn’t just learning something new. It’s navigating everything that stands in the way of learning.
“We don’t just teach digital skills. We remove the barriers that often prevent people from accessing technology in the first place.”
That means making classes accessible. Providing low-cost refurbished computers. Creating an environment where people feel supported instead of judged.
And just as importantly, it means meeting people exactly where they are.
Who Shows Up
The people who walk into these programs bring very different life experiences, but often the same feeling.
Uncertainty.
Some are seniors who want to regain independence, tired of relying on others to handle basic online tasks.
Some are parents or caregivers returning to the workforce after years away, trying to catch up in a world that’s changed fast.
Others are navigating major life transitions, recovering from an accident, starting over in a new country, or stepping into a new career path without the tools they need.
And then there are those who simply feel behind.
Not because they lack ability, but because they’ve never been given the access.
“People are looking for a supportive place where they can build digital confidence step by step and use it in their daily lives.”
What’s Really Changing
Spend enough time around this work, and you start to notice something.
The biggest shift isn’t technical.
It’s personal.
At some point, something clicks. A participant sends their first email without help. Completes an application on their own. Navigates a website confidently. Logs into a system that once felt intimidating.
And in that moment, the story changes.
“I gained confidence, independence, and the ability to navigate technology on my own.”
That sentence comes up again and again.
Because what people gain here isn’t just skill. It’s agency.
The Stories That Stay With You
The impact shows up in ways that are hard to ignore.
A 35-year-old single mom shared:
“As a 35-year-old single mom of two, including an 8-year-old with autism, finding time for personal growth has been a challenge… The digital skills course provided by SDFF was a game-changer. It was the only program I’ve been able to complete, allowing me to learn new skills and gain confidence for my goal of an office job.”
Another participant described a turning point:
“Before the class, my computer skills were nearly non-existent. SDFF provided a high-quality refurbished laptop with installed software and the instructor brought her vast knowledge, technical skills, limitless patience and compassion for novice learners. The impact of this class for me is lifelong. The skills I gained changed the trajectory of my life. I can now enter the workforce with confidence and a competitive edge.”
One story that continues to stand out is that of an 85-year-old participant who, after attending classes, went on to publish a book that was later showcased at the San Diego Central Public Library’s Author Showcase and is now available on Amazon. What started as learning how to navigate a computer turned into something much bigger, a reminder that it is never too late to create, share, and contribute.
That impact shows up in real, everyday ways. Another participant received a free laptop through the program and went on to enroll in community college.
A Youth IT alumnus is now studying computer science at SDSU and participating in the Google Cyber Clinic. Another high school graduate is running a small business from home repairing computers.
Each story is different, but they all point in the same direction, people gaining the skills, confidence, and opportunity to move forward.
These aren’t small wins.
They’re life shifts.
Scale Meets Impact
Behind those individual stories is consistent, ongoing work.
Programs run year-round. Classes are offered six to seven times a week. In just the past five months, 115 trainings have been delivered across San Diego, covering everything from basic skills to internet safety.
The reach is wide.
Women small business owners from the Horn of Africa community center. Patrons at the LGBTQ Center. Residents in housing programs transitioning into jobs. Older adults learning in public libraries.
Different backgrounds. Different starting points.
Same goal. Move forward.
Another critical barrier many participants face is concern around online safety. As cyber threats and scams continue to increase, individuals are seeking practical, accessible education that equips them to protect their personal information and navigate digital environments with confidence.
Programs like SDFF’s provide a structured, supportive setting where participants can develop these skills incrementally and apply them immediately in both their personal and professional lives.
A Perspective Shaped by Experience
What makes Irina’s approach feel grounded is that her perspective didn’t start here.
Before San Diego, she worked with nonprofit organizations in collaboration with USAID, supporting women political leaders, strengthening democratic systems, and helping communities build economic pathways across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
She grew up in Kazakhstan, in a culturally diverse environment that shaped how she works across communities. Later, at the University of Arizona, she collaborated with immigrant communities and helped develop language programs for underrepresented regions.
Irina’s connection to the communities she serves is not only shaped by her global experience, but also by her own personal journey.
After stepping away from the workforce to care for her children, she understands what it feels like to return and realize how quickly technology has evolved in everyday professional life. That moment of catching up, of navigating systems that suddenly feel unfamiliar, mirrors what many of her participants experience.
“These experiences allow me to relate to the people we serve and design programs that meet them where they are. I am sensitive to the challenges different communities face.”
Her ability to connect across cultures adds another layer to that work. Fluent in both Russian and Spanish, Irina is able to engage more directly with the diverse communities she serves, ensuring that language itself does not become another barrier to access, understanding, or opportunity.
Opening Doors for What’s Next
One of the programs she’s most focused on right now is the Youth IT Program.
It’s built for young adults who may not have a clear path to a four-year degree but are looking for a way into the tech field.
Instead of waiting for opportunity, the program creates it.
Students work toward CompTIA A+ certification, gain hands-on experience through paid internships, and learn how to build and repair computers that are distributed throughout the community.
They’re not just learning.
They’re doing.
And that changes how they see themselves.
One participant shared:
“Thanks to the Youth IT Prep I was able to start working on my own private coding project… I was also able to build my first computer using the skills and money that I earned from the internship with SDFF.”
That’s the shift.
From uncertainty to direction.
A Simple Belief That Drives It All
At the center of Irina’s work is a belief that feels both practical and optimistic.
“Not everyone has equal opportunities, but when people are given the tools and access to even minimal resources they thrive, they succeed.”
She’s seen it across countries. Across communities. Across different stages of life.
And now she’s seeing it play out across San Diego County.
Why Her Story Matters Now
As more of life moves online, access to technology quietly shapes who is able to fully participate in the world around them. It influences who gets the job, who completes the application, who communicates with ease, and who is left navigating systems that were never designed with them in mind.
In that reality, Irina’s work is helping shift the trajectory, not through sweeping change overnight, but through something far more intentional and lasting.
One class, one person, and one moment of confidence at a time, she is helping individuals move from uncertainty to capability.
In a city built on innovation, that kind of work carries weight. Because progress is not defined by how advanced systems become, but by how many people are able to access and benefit from them.
This recognition is part of the March 2026 San Diego Weekly Standouts Series honoring leaders shaping San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
San Diego Weekly Standouts | March 2026 Honoree
About the San Diego Standouts Series
The San Diego Standouts Series from San Diego Weekly highlights individuals whose leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and service are helping shape the future of San Diego, California, the Cali-Baja region, and communities connected to the region around the world.
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1 Comment
It’s wonderful to see seeds planted through one program come to fruition and benefit so many lives! Irina is a shining example of an immigration process that resulted in producing a naturalized citizen now giving back and making life better for her community writ large. Impressive!