Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn and Englewood

Connecting Our Communities Southwest Smart Communities Plan

M a r c h 2 0 1 0

Southwest Smart Communities Plan

1 Why We Need Smart Communities

Digital technology is transforming our commerce, culture and community. It provides businesses with efficiency, advertising, new markets and new products, and citizens with real-time communications and information about everything from social networks to the daily news. With digital technology, students can learn in new and exciting ways and seniors can remain connected to a fast-paced world.

A neighborhood without broadband access and These programs and projects are catalysts. No and our seniors, where education is a lifelong digital literacy is at a competitive disadvantage in one program is sufficient to provide all the digital process, where local economies thrive and grow an age when local economies are increasingly resources a community needs. But by putting in because they are connected to the larger connected to regional and global economies. place a network of resources to jumpstart a economy, and where residents connect with This plan is a roadmap for building tech-savvy culture of technology, we can support and enhance government and can advocate for their needs. communities for the Southwest Smart the values of our neighborhoods on the Southwest Communities Partners, comprising three Chicago Side, the places where we care for our children neighborhoods — Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn and Englewood. It is also a collaborative effort, bringing together representatives from community-based organizations in the three neighborhoods and more than 100 residents from the communities.

The projects we outline in our plan will be most effective when they work in conjunction with each other. Outreach gets neighbors involved in trainings to use digital technology to improve their daily lives. Students use broadband technology in new digital media labs in school. Local entrepreneurs visit business centers where they can learn more about using software to become more efficient — and more profitable. Southwest Smart Communities Plan

2 The Southwest Smart Communities Partners

The Southwest Smart Communities Partners (SSCP) represents three of five digitally underserved neighbor hoods in Chicago that are participating in the Smart Communities program, which aspires to enable full participation in meaningful digital activities by households, businesses and institutions to increase local 2knowledge, expand economic and educational opportunities, and enhance connections among residents and businesses. The program, which includes Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, Humboldt Park and Pilsen (Lower West Side), is part of the City of Chicago’s Digital Excellence Initiative and is administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago. Each of the five communities is part of the New Communities Program, a long-term initiative by LISC/Chicago to support comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods.

Smart Communities responds to a major recom everyone in a community to fully participate in suitable software that meets the needs of mendation of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on the era of information technology. Southwest individuals, families, businesses and communities. Closing the Digital Divide, whose work Smart Communities Partners began our work of • Digital education that provides the training culminated in the 2007 report, The City that determining how to foster digital excellence in and technical support for users to become NetWorks. The Advisory Council’s vision is that our communities by addressing these five drivers: comfortable and proficient with technology. Internet access, hardware, software, education • Raised awareness and evolving mindsets • Digital programming, skills and content and mind-set changes will lead to digital that value learning, connecting and communi that makes technology relevant and useful to a transformation. Smart Communities will develop cating through technology, and that recognize broad array of users and improves information a series of pilot projects to “test how best to the personal and economic opportunities of convert digital excellence into personal and Internet participation. flows into and out of neighborhoods. community transformation.” • Effective Internet access that is high-speed, affordable and available everywhere. The Southwest Smart Communities Plan builds In its report, the Advisory Council identified • Affordable hardware that can run the full upon these drivers and the quality-of-life plans digital excellence drivers that are necessary for range of Internet resources and includes prepared by each of our NCP communities. Southwest Smart Communities Plan

Neighborhoods and Lead Agencies Auburn Gresham is a predominately African- Chicago Lawn is a multi-ethnic working class Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn and Englewood American, moderate-income community that has community determined to create an attractive, are contiguous neighborhoods, each with their seen a rebound in the late 1990s after two decades safe and inviting place to live for families from own history, assets and challenges, but sharing a of residential flight and a few years of commercial many backgrounds. Today, African-Americans need for increased investment and opportunities disinvestment along the 79th Street retail strip. and people of Mexican and Arab descent are for residents and local businesses. Working New facilities, programs, housing and businesses purchasing homes in the area, becoming a part of existing institutions, and supporting new together in the SSCP provides us with an excellent have been opened with efforts of a new alderman, opportunity to learn how to link communities types of organizations and businesses. an alliance of community organizations, and through the use of technology, build solutions investment from the city. that work in different neighborhoods, and use Greater Southwest Development Corporation the process of designing and implementing (GSDC) is a mature, financially solid organization The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development technology solutions to foster communication with a history of successfully positioning our and collaboration. Corp. (GADC) was formed in 2001 to support and community to compete for investment and coordinate the development and investment maintain a mixed-income economy. GSDC Each of our three neighborhoods is represented coming into the neighborhood. GADC works launched our community’s first Center for by local organizations that have a record of closely with local nonprofits and elected officials Working Families and spurred the investment of organizing residents and providing comprehensive on programs from a major recycling initiative to over a half billion dollars in local commercial, community development. community planning. industrial and housing development. Southwest Smart Communities Plan

The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is a 29-member, institutional-based organizing Community Population Current Residents Reason: Reason: Reason: project founded in 1996, which works with faith 2000 Broadband Without Cost No Interest Difficult Usage Broadband to Use institutions, public schools and service organizations including the GSDC. SWOP’s current work includes organizing around housing AUBURN GRESHAM 55,928 38% 34,675 49% 41% 35% issues, immigrant rights, violence reduction and local school reform. GSDC and SWOP co-lead the CHICAGO LAWN 61,412 51% 30,092 50% 39% 32% NCP process in Chicago Lawn. ENGLEWOOD 40,222 56% 17,698 35% 39% 18% Englewood, once home to the city’s second busiest shopping district at the transit-served HUMBOLDT PARK 65,836 43% 37,527 53% 33% 29% corner of 63rd and Halsted streets, in recent decades has struggled to reverse a long decline in population and economic health. New PILSEN 44,031 38% 27,299 62% 39% 41% development in this largely African-American community has begun to breathe life into the Table 1: Why residents don’t use broadband Internet neighborhood and large public investments suggest a stronger future.

Teamwork Englewood was formed in 2003 to neighborhoods across the city whose residents This plan provides a roadmap for addressing serve as a vehicle for bringing together residents, are older, Latino, African-American, low-income each one of these barriers so that residents of organizations, churches and businesses in the or less educated. Smart Communities can take full advantage of community. As the lead NCP agency in Englewood, digital resources — from online city services and Teamwork Englewood organizes diverse A survey of residents identified three primary social networking to employment opportunities representatives of the community to participate barriers to regular broadband use: and online banking. Access to these resources in a collaborative and comprehensive approach • cost will in turn help make technology another tool in to community development. • lack of interest the ongoing development of our communities. • difficulty of use Confronting the Participation Gap Four of every 10 Chicagoans face barriers to We learned from the survey and follow-up broadband access and therefore are limited or outreach meetings that a concerted effort will be nonparticipating users of the Internet, according needed to bring technology tools and benefits to to the July 2009 study, Digital Excellence in Chicago. our community residents. While lower-cost is a The study — conducted by the University of factor, we have learned from experience that Illinois at Chicago and the University of Iowa and access is not enough. We need to reach people commissioned by the City of Chicago — found individually, through their local affiliations and particularly low levels of Internet usage in the block groups and prove the tangible benefits five Smart Communities and similar of technology. Southwest Smart Communities Plan

5 6 Southwest Smart Communities Plan

7 A Bottom-Up Planning Process

Community planning for the Southwest Smart Communities Partners has been a process that included Smart Communities design meetings, SSCP steering committee framing, sustained outreach, and a series of public meetings that brought together more than 130 representatives from the three neighborhoods. Lead agency staff and volunteers targeted several underserved populations to bring them into the planning process, including youth, seniors, people with criminal records and other hard-to-reach populations. The resulting vision and work plan are truly collaborative, using the ideas, hopes, and insights of our local residents, business owners, nonprofits, schools, libraries and other institutions.

The process began with representatives of all than a hundred people representing a broad mindset and content. The input from this Smart Communities lead agencies, City agencies, swath of residents and organizations from all meeting shaped the list of projects listed below. and private-sector technology firms participating three Southwest Side Chicago neighborhoods in several meetings in February and March of participated. After a presentation of the draft To augment the findings of the three public 2009 to discuss program opportunities and vision and goals, the audience self-selected into meetings, SSCP staff have reached out to local share technical information. These meetings hour-long break-out sessions to discuss the businesses, schools, libraries and other were used to develop draft vision statements digital needs and program possibilities for key community stakeholders that have an interest in and goals, identify key constituencies, define local constituencies: youth, disconnected technology, both for their own uses and as potential priority corridors for broadband access, populations such as people with criminal records providers to local residents. These one-on-one and brainstorm opportunities for projects that and people with disabilities, seniors, local meetings in each of our three neighborhoods would meet the vision and goals. The SSCP businesses, employees and Spanish speakers. added to our understanding of the communities’ Steering Committee also met during the spring assets and needs and laid the groundwork for to focus the five drivers of digital excellence for On May 14, a public workshop at Kennedy-King partnerships when planning leads to projects. the district’s three communities, identify key College in Englewood offered more than 30 partners in our communities, plan for a series of participants the opportunity to evaluate and add public meetings, and create a vision statement to the list of ideas created from the April meetings. for the district. For this workshop, participants also self-selected into hour-long breakout sessions on key topics. On April 16 and 18, 2009, SSCP held two public The groups were organized by the five drivers for workshops at the Perspectives Charter Schools digital excellence: hardware and software, Calumet Campus in Auburn Gresham, and more access, education and training, tech support, and Southwest Smart Communities Plan

8 Strategies and Projects

This plan proposes a set of programs and projects around five strategies to build the digital future of the Southwest Smart Communities Partners. Our community vision provides a strong framework for the technology strategies and projects of the partnership between our three neighborhoods.

As Smart Communities, we envision using technology to connect these three neighborhoods and reduce the physical and psychological barriers that have hampered their cooperation and slowed their collective progress. We will overcome racial and cultural barriers to using technology in our daily lives. We also envision using technology to address common challenges across the Southwest Smart Communities Partners: stimulating economic development and continuing 4to revitalize our neighborhoods. As this plan unfolds, residents of the Southwest Smart Communities Partners will enjoy significantly greater public and private access to the Internet in digitally and socially linked communities. Public kiosks, Internet cafés and public web access within local small businesses will make digital technology visible and readily available. A Southwest regional web portal will offer information about community events and job openings and will host a community forum. Youth will create digital arts and media, refurbish computers for home use and train their elders in technology. Small business owners will use electronic bookkeeping and inventory management, and adults will have greater opportunities to learn technology skills and apply them as they build their careers.

As important, the grassroots, personalized information will be combined with survey results Strategy 1 connection of the campaign will provide the of the attitudes about and usage of technology local and citywide agencies working on this plan in our communities by residents. With detailed, Build Awareness of on the Southwest Side with information and accurate information, tech providers will have a perspective on the needs, strengths and better market model to make decisions about the Power of Digital challenges of local residents and institutions investment in technology, and SSCP projects will Technologies around adoption of digital technology. be crafted to match local conditions.

In order for digital technology to help revitalize This assessment, which has already begun by our communities, we need to change local 1.1 Community Technology Assessment SSCP staff, will result in the final project baseline. mindsets and expectations that stem in part To build upon outreach conducted during our Additional mapping will be completed around from racial, cultural and socio-economic barriers. planning process and refine the projects proposed, technology in specific program areas, as a way to We will reach the vast majority of community SSCP will determine the digital assets and needs determine any additional and/or refined details residents with simple and clear messages that of our three communities with an in-depth IT that will impact the other strategies in this plan. digital tools can improve their lives, make everyday assessment of existing computer centers, For example, more details are needed to develop tasks easier and provide new forms of recreation. businesses, nonprofits and public facilities. The a collaborative program around health and Southwest Smart Communities Plan

9 wellness options and an understanding of nology tools just provide another way to neighborhood. In Chicago Lawn, where Spanish technology resources necessary to promote communicate. The process of tech outreach will is spoken by many residents, Spanish-language health and vitality in the Southwest communities. provide another avenue to fulfill the community media and local radio stations will be targeted. development plans of our neighborhoods.

1.2 Outreach Campaign As interested individuals become proficient, they Because technology has not been a part of daily will bring along their peers, family members, Strategy 2 life for many residents of the communities, SSCP grandparents and others who would be much must go beyond simply “announcing” the new harder to reach through a traditional advertising programs and projects outlined below. We will or promotion campaign. These activities will Expand Digital Education conduct door-to-door campaigns focused on have the added benefit of providing organizing and Training for targeted populations and areas with linkages in and community engagement as a team-building places that can be brought into the fold, such as community structure, and, as is the case with all Individuals, Families block clubs, and hold forums to educate the organizing projects, also provide input from the community and create workshops that are community to SSCP and its partners. and Businesses relevant to targeted communities. This outreach campaign will communicate how “going digital” We will work to educate our neighbors about can change cultural expectations and show the 1.3 Local Adoption Marketing existing hardware and software in comprehensive, benefits of technology in personal life and the Campaign intergenerational and age-appropriate ways, relevance of technology to targeted populations To supplement outreach, a broad-based marketing growing our community technology centers and communities. campaign will reach people both online and from primary access points into training sites that through traditional means to encourage draw learners with quality programming and Unlike conventional top-down advertising participation in the trainings, workshops, portals top-of-the-line hardware and software, including campaigns, our campaign will be led by local and other program elements. The goal is to items that may be out of reach for most house organizations that have strong experience in connect with everyone in the community, holds (scanners, high-quality printers, etc.). We each of our communities. Residents will be especially those populations that are hard-to- will find and support affordable, locally-based familiar with the sponsoring organizations and reach. A community-focused marketing firm will technical support providers and develop may have benefited from their programs or provide ongoing services to expand awareness strategies to ensure our community can sustain services in the past. The campaign will also of the campaign through local media including its use of technology. We will create a coordinated provide job opportunities. A new tech organizer community newspapers, radio stations, television, suite of software consisting of existing and new will target hard-to-reach populations and use tech newsletters, websites and, for major events, educational training for adults and teens. tools to engage a new generation comfortable larger newspapers. with blogging, social networks and similar tools. This marketing will be tailored specifically to 2.1 FamilyNet Centers The goal is not just to let our residents know reach our residents. For example, the Greater We will create new FamilyNet Centers, where all about new tech programs, but to listen to Auburn-Gresham Development Corp. has been residents — regardless of age or experience — community members, determine their challenges, very successful in raising awareness of its annual are able to learn about technology in an and provide that feedback back to local providers, Renaissance Festival by purchasing advertise atmosphere that is family friendly and prepared City agencies, and external resources. Our form ments on the sides and backs of Chicago Transit to provide assistance to a wide range of needs. of organizing has always been two-way; tech Authority buses that drive routes in the Based on the framework of existing Centers for Southwest Smart Communities Plan

Working Families (CWF), which offer a variety of if provided with state-of-the-art equipment, Everyday Digital — Based on assessment of employment, financial education, and other curriculum and outreach support. To site a few workshops, courses, and other technology services, the sites will provide the opportunity to examples, IMAN center (Chicago Lawn) during programs for adults and teens currently learn about technology for a wide range of users: 2009 served over five hundred individuals in available, we will expand and enhance digital a parent who wants to take adult-education 11 computer literacy courses, including ICDI education courses to help residents become workshops but needs child care, a senior who is Computer Fundamentals taught in English and comfortable with and proficient in using just learning about computers, a teen who needs Spanish. Without additional support, plans are to technology in their everyday lives. to type out a term paper. The FamilyNet Centers reduce computer courses to eight. With support will offer access to programs listed below such as to increase its current capacity, A Knock at General computer education should include Everyday Digital and Civic 2.0 (see Strategy 2.3), Midnight (Englewood) estimates it could recognition of the importance of changing but also provide hands-on training sessions in immediately double the three hundred plus attitudes, including addressing a lack of specific skills and certifications. students participating each year in their confidence about use and the perception that computer and workforce courses. technology is too expensive. This need was Equipped with 10 or more modern computer especially noted within the Spanish-speaking workstations for adults and children (plus two Based on findings of the community assessment, focus groups in the public workshops. Specific kid-friendly workstations) and high-speed we will provide support to leverage existing topics might include: Internet connections, new FamilyNet Centers will programs and create others where a need is • internet security that reduces risk on bank become central points of digital access and being unmet. A longer-term goal is to create a transactions, anti-virus and e-mailing learning in our communities. By adding new sustainable Southwest Community Technology • Secure online bill payment computer capacity, higher broadband speeds, Center that is conveniently located for all three • Computer productivity in the household trained staff, and expanded weekday and neighborhoods. In conjunction with the FamilyNet • Supervision of Internet use by children weekend hours, to the Centers for Working Centers, a more robust selection of CTCs will • use of Skype for long-distance calls Families, FamilyNet Centers will be able to serve provide our communities with a strong infra • training that reduces fear of technology more than 5,000 additional individuals per year structure of public locations for youth, teen and across the five neighborhoods. adult training programs. Civic 2.0 — Technology today offers many opportunities for our residents to increase their In the Southwest Partners area, sites to locate civic engagement. To connect our residents to FamilyNet Centers are St. Sabina’s Employment 2.3 Training Designed for Our these digital tools, we will offer “Civic 2.0” Resource Center in Auburn Gresham, Southwest Communities courses designed for community leaders, taught REACH in Chicago Lawn, and Kennedy-King The Southwest Smart Communities Partners by experienced community organizers with web College in Englewood. views learning about the possibilities and and social-networking skills. These courses will capacities of information technology as a process cover how to use web tools to access public that cannot be limited to one age group or services information and how to use such 2.2 Support Program for Community population. Our goals for digital excellence information to advocate for community Technology Centers include education of our youth and adult improvements. The leaders in turn will pass on Our communities are currently served by a residents; training that meets the needs of the skills at the block club and community collection of community technology centers employees, jobseekers, and employers, and organization levels. Topics will include use of: (CTCs) operated by nonprofit community-based technical support to ensure computers remain transit maps and BusTracker (including mobile organizations. Many of these sites are currently operational and well-used. applications); CLEAR path, the Chicago Police underfunded but able to handle more capacity Department’s safety information database; City Southwest Smart Communities Plan Southwest Planning Area: Partnership Organizations 0 700 1400 Feet ° Greater Southwest Dev. Corp. Strategies Talman 1 Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation 1 1 Teamwork Englewood Southwest Smart Communities Initiative /SouthwestSherman Organizing Park Project Library School 1 A.F.O.R.C.E Technical Training Center !8 15 Lots of Love Day Care Map 1 A Knock at Midnight ! 2 Black Youth in Action City of Chicago LISC/Chicago New Communities Program 16 Mather LifeWays Café 2 Alpha Learning Center 3 Blud Center (Boulevard Arts)? 11 17 Nation of Islam 1 Great SW Reach Center Gage Park Library 3 The Ark of St. Sabina 4 Clara House Academic Center 18 Neighborhood Housing Services 2 GSDC & SWOP 4 Auburn Gresham Senior Satellite Center 5 Double L Community Center 19 New Birth COGIC 3 IMAN 5 The Beloved Community 6 Englewood Black Political Task Force 20 Off the Alley 4 Metropolitan Family Services 6 Building Blocks Learning Academy 7 Englewood United Methodist Church 21 Pleasant Green MB Church 5 Salvation Army 7 By The Hand 8 Imagine Englewood Gage Park High School 22 Providence MB Church 6 Southwest Youth Collaborative 8 C.Y.C.C 9 Mt Olive MB Church 23 S&C Financial Credit Resolutions Group 9 Curves of Auburn Gresham 10 Peace Community Center 24 St. Leo Veterans Campus 10 Emerging Business Solutions 11 Salvation Army 25 St. Sabina Elder's Village 11 Eyas Developmental Institute 12 Teamwork Englewood 26 St. Sabina Employment Resource Center 12 GADC 13 Totally Positive Productions 27 St. Sabina Social Services 13 GRANDFamilies 14 West Englewood United Methodist Church 14 KidTek 28 T.W.O (The Woodlawn Organization) 59th St. Green Line Fire Station E88 Nicholson Teamwork Englewood Fire Station E116 FamilyNet Center Greater Southwest !3 Elementary School FamilyNet Center Morrill Elementary School Park Lindblom Copernicus Police Station Eslup Rapid Elementary School District 7 Chicago Lawn Library Southwest Senior Center Lindblom Kennedy-King Learning Center Goodlow High School College !1 Elementary Kelly Library Solace Fairfield Academy School Police Station Arab American Academy WYCC Englewood Goodwill !4 63rd St. District 8 Action Network !3 IMAN Center !4 High School Industries !5 !2 West !12 63rd West Lawn Library Lawn Terrace Churchview Anderson !9 Englewood itage/63rd Senior Building Independent Living GSDC Business Community Arm Teamwork Englewood Halsted / 63rd Reed Library !6 Outreach Academy FamilyNet Center School!7

Washburne Kershaw Englewood Neighborhood Eberhart Ogden Culinary Institute Elementary Health Center Harper School Marquette Elementary School Park School High School Bass Elementary School Englewood Marquette Rd. Senior Center Western Western Ave. !7 MLK Kiosks Englewood

Fire Station E101 Damen Ave. !19 !6 Community Marquette Park Service Center Hurley Chicago Urban League 69th

School Racine Ave.

71st St. Civic 2.0 and Fire Station E54 Everyday Digital

foster civic engagement . !13 e through technology v FIBER TO THE A s Pulaski Rd. Halsted St. e

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Simeon © Fire Station Commercial Corridor Career Academy Business Outreach !23 !16 !l Police Station ! Jackson Southwest Digital Park p~ Library Planning District Boundary Morgan !2 !22 Elementary School School

Family NetCenter !9 Gresham

Neighborhood Resource Source: City of Chicago; LISC; Teska Associates, Inc. Elementary School 21 Ward Yard October 1, 2009 Fire Station E73 Southwest Smart Communities Plan

of Chicago web services; locating your city, state Employee Trainings — Employment-focused and federal representatives online, and local training for residents will include coursework portals and organization websites. both for those looking to advance within their Returning to company and for job-seekers who could be the Community Digital Business Support — To support economic connected with a job opportunity at the end of growth in our communities, SSCP will emphasize the training. Programs will reach out to under The Southwest Smart Communities Partners will the return on investment of going digital to served populations who need training, including offer orientation for soon-to-be released offenders improve competitiveness and profitability to those aged 26-30 who missed computer about the location and content of technical and local small businesses, particularly along the education in high schools (see Section E, below). education training programs in their neighbor main commercial thoroughfares, 63rd, 79th and hoods, linked to employment options at graduation. Halsted streets. Existing planning and support Based on the needs of local residents and market One program site at Kennedy-King College in from the City of Chicago Department of demand of specific skill-sets, specialized Englewood can house a digital re-entry program Community Development in its Special Service certifications such as CompTIA CTT+, Certified that will serve our communities. The program may Area (SSA) program can be leveraged in this work Microsoft Application Specialist Instructor and be built from existing programming for people with for 63rd Street (SSA #3) and 79th Street (SSA #32). Internet and Computing Core Certification I( C3) criminal records in our communities, including Outreach will be localized by neighborhood should be offered in the community at FamilyNet IMAN and Ceasefire in Chicago Lawn and Side for best results. Centers and added or expanded at local City Hustle in Englewood. Colleges such as Kennedy-King College. With trainings and tools tailored to the needs of local firms, the Digital Business Support Program Targeted Trainings for Disconnected will provide a technological edge to the drivers Populations — Residents who have a criminal of our local economies — small firms that are record, have a disability, are seniors, have limited Surfing Seniors often unaware of or unable to adopt technological or no English, are undocumented, are Section 8 advances to improve their bottom line, and voucher holders, or are otherwise disconnected Surfing Seniors program is another example of how larger firms that increasingly require high-speed from the wider society are prime candidates for many aspects of this plan can work in conjunction connections for online communication and the communication and integration benefits of to target a specific population. To help seniors software. Business trainers will teach courses in technology. Unfortunately, these groups can connect to social, recreational, and employment business software, accounting software, databases, also be the most likely to be unfamiliar with opportunities through the Internet, Surfing Seniors video conferencing, servers, networks, secure digital technology. will provide multi-faceted programming. Options Wi-Fi routers and broadband-based telephone include adding computers and Wi-Fi in senior services. Training will take place at enhanced We will create programs to provide disconnected buildings, bringing mobile computer labs to senior Business Resource Centers, on site at a small populations with digital education that both housing, targeting seniors for affordable computers business, or by using technology to provide meets their specific needs and recognizes the in their own residences, creating senior-specific “webinars.” This program could also support larger gap in their knowledge. For example, the content and developing relationships through cross- business entrepreneurship opportunities for Civic 2.0 and Everyday Digital classes (referenced generational youth/seniors engagement and senior/ youth through a teen digital network. above) will make sure all teaching materials are senior collaborative mentoring. available in Spanish and that bilingual instructors are available as needed in our communities. Southwest Smart Communities Plan

2.4 Youth Programs Out-of-School Time and Summer hours and locations, limited software applications, The future of education for youth includes both Employment — Opportunities for tech education time limits, and lack of childcare. The best roll-out learning about using software and digital starting in elementary school will be augmented of new broadband access in our communities will resources, and learning with software and digital with educational opportunities and resources address these needs. resources. Tech education for youth in our in new and existing after-school programs, communities must be incorporated into the community technology centers, public libraries, curriculum at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and etc. to give students the broadest possible range 3.1 Expanded broadband at public our children’s schools must have the resources to of opportunities to learn about and use digital computing sites and key local firms support a digital education. technology. As broadband is added to our homes, schools, libraries and businesses, we need to ensure that Digital Youth Network — Our communities For example, building on the after-school program local residents and organizations have a say in have many strong local programs that already model, and our communities’ experience providing where and how new access opportunities are work with youth using digital media. Our goal is summer youth employment, we will work with added. to strengthen and expand these programs, local youth-serving organizations, the City of including the innovative digital media work done Chicago and business partners to develop an Backbone Fiber Network — Our Smart through Gage Park and Curie High Schools in eight-week paid summer job that exposes youth Communities encourage and support the Chicago Lawn, while connecting youth to new from the Digital Youth Network to employment City of Chicago’s efforts to increase very opportunities as well. We will work with CPS to opportunities in the technology industry and high-speed fiber-optic connectivity with public ensure that there is coursework available for builds their resume and skill set. institutions serving as hubs, including firehouses, youth to be trained in the creation and integration police stations, libraries, park field houses, of the digital arts as part of their education. community colleges and public schools. While most of these facilities (including all schools and We will develop a Digital Youth Network and tap Strategy 3 libraries) have some access to the Internet now, into the University of Chicago’s Urban Education new programs and services require much faster Institute, which works with local youth on spoken and more-reliable offerings. Examples of word, written, video, multimedia and social Expand Access to locations that could make a particularly high- networking content, and how to use the latest Technology and the impact with advanced broadband include: software or techniques to showcase student • Kennedy-King College in Englewood work in a variety of online venues. Primary Internet at Home and • Chicago Public Schools, such as Marquette locations to add or expand these efforts include: Elementary School and Gage Park High School • Perspectives Charter High School and Middle in the Community in Chicago Lawn, TEAM Englewood School, Calumet Campus, and Olgesby Community Academy and Urban Prep Charter Elementary in Auburn Gresham Plans to increase use of digital technology in our Academy for Young Men in Englewood, and • Gage Park High School and Marquette communities start but do not end with access to Perspectives Charter School in Auburn Gresham Elementary School in Chicago Lawn high-speed broadband. Each of our communities • Chicago Public Library branches, such as • lindbloom High School, Miles Davis and has an array of public access points through local Chicago Lawn, Coleman, Gage Park, West Nicholson Elementary schools in Englewood libraries, community technology centers, and Lawn and Woodson Regional in Chicago Lawn, Centers for Working Families. During our West Englewood in Englewood, and Thurgood community meetings, however, residents shared Marshall in Auburn Gresham. In addition to challenges to public access such as inconvenient supporting the expansion of the YouMedia Southwest Smart Communities Plan

program (see Strategy 4.3), our communities also support seeing additional investment of hardware, software, and staffing to expand the information resources of our public libraries.

Commercial Corridors — Affordable, high- speed broadband access is particularly needed for small- to mid-size businesses and multi-family housing along commercial corridors. The density of businesses and housing makes a business case for new, fiber-level or point-to-point wireless services (in addition to Wi-Fi for public access) to be provided along major commercial corridors, including: • halsted Street and 79th Street in Auburn Gresham • 63rd Street in Englewood and Chicago Lawn

Wi-Fi for Public Access — We envision a network of high-speed wireless transmitters that tap into the public-sector hubs to allow free or low-cost Internet access in public places and cooperating private partners. Current Wi-Fi transmitters can serve a 250-foot radius, potentially reaching hundreds of homes and businesses with free or affordable access. A pilot project is being Possible sites for kiosks include organizations or development corporations (CDCs), with two established in Chicago Lawn, where a commercial institutions along the 63rd, Halsted, and 79th corridor along 63rd Street (from Oakley to Central more senior buildings and several affordable Park avenues) will be served by a series of Wi-Fi Street commercial corridors. A grant-funded two-flats in the development pipeline.I n Chicago access points connected to fiber. project, originating from Gage Park High School, Lawn, the Greater Southwest Development Corp. would celebrate the march of Dr. Martin Luther manages three senior buildings with a total of King Jr. in the community in 1966 through an more than 250 units. In Englewood, local CDCs 3.2 Tech Kiosks interactive, permanent and outdoor kiosk or manage a dozen senior buildings with more than With tech kiosks in public places, businesses can kiosks to be placed in the Marquette Park area. 800 units, with another senior building and an draw more customers and residents can use affordable three-flat currently in development. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices outside of home or a CTC. Kiosks will potentially provide general 3.3 Smart Buildings Working with lead agencies and partners, we Internet access and will be hardwired to online The Smart Communities lead agencies and close have an excellent opportunity to bring broadband resources and applications, such as the Southwest partners in our neighborhoods own and manage access and information technology into the lives community portal, which will offer community affordable housing across the three communities. of those living in affordable housing. While some information, employment resources and other In Auburn Gresham, approximately 300 units in existing developments offer affordable Internet information (see Strategy 4.2). senior housing are run by local community connections to rental households, we will work Southwest Smart Communities Plan

15 to provide faster and more affordable services Business Use — Graduates of rigorous business who connect thousands of residents daily to through negotiation of package deals with training programs should receive a mid- to education, jobs, services and businesses. vendors and development of a Smart Building high-end refurbished laptop or desktop capable Fund that supports retrofit of existing units and of core business functions with a goal of 300 high-speed access in all new developments. computers in the Southwest neighborhoods. 3.6 Hardware, Software and Training to Local Organizations An innovative pilot incentive program could The Smart Communities program will help local 3.4 Affordable Computer Campaign provide 150 new netbook computers (50 per lead agencies and partners install needed To reboot our communities as high-technology community) to be earned by community leaders equipment to take full advantage of broadband zones, we will create an affordable computer and program graduates. This may include technologies to better serve residents and campaign that provides hardware to residents organized block clubs implementing Civic 2.0 manage their organizations. Computers will be at prices that allow for deep saturation of usage. trainings that include research actions requiring needed at the new FamilyNet Centers for use We will pilot programs that explore the best use of online data, web-based mapping and by participants in classes and workshops and practice for refurbishment of used computers civic-oriented social networking. Incentives could for drop-in users during open-computer times, from businesses and other donors. This model is also support outreach to residents in affordable and to support heavier use of the Internet and notable for its social benefit, as it can provide rental buildings and senior buildings; classes high-bandwidth tools, additional equipment training and job opportunities for people with could be offered on site for Everyday Digital and and laptops and appropriate software should criminal records and for youth. We will also Civic 2.0, with residents receiving a computer be deployed at lead agencies, other partner investigate relationships with vendors to buy upon completion. organizations and existing community affordable computers in bulk orders. technology centers.

Various price points to buy a discounted computer 3.5 Affordable Software Campaign can be determined by a sliding scale and by Our families and computer centers need access 3.7 Community Tech Support and targeting high-priority populations (e.g. families to software that meets multiple ways of learning, Local Business Development using a Section 8 voucher for housing, seniors, is interactive and self-paced. We will research and New computers cannot be a transformative force families with an incarcerated parent). We will also purchase software that is up-do-date, ready-to- in our communities when they are not operational. create an incentive program that provides use and appropriate for community needs. One We will build or find suitable locations for local refurbished or new equipment to individuals option is to develop programs to support retailers Community Tech Support with a sustainable who complete training programs at the to sell software wholesale to our residents. We will business model that will answer technology FamilyNet Centers or Business Resource Centers. also explore unused, underutilized software licenses questions and diagnose and repair computers at and community-wide open source software. an affordable price for residents, local firms, and Personal Use — Free distribution of refurbished community-based organizations. Community desktop and notebook computers will be used as Microsoft has been an early leader by providing Tech Support will also provide house calls when incentives by community groups to encourage software grants to dozens of community-based necessary (e.g. to disconnected populations who youth and adults to participate in and graduate organizations across the five Smart Communities cannot easily leave their homes). By having the from multiple-session training programs. They in 2009, valued at approximately $1.1 million software and hardware on hand, necessary will be distributed only after participants have across the Smart Communities. We are confident computer repairs could be completed on site, completed a series of trainings and shown a that other foundation and private sector partners keeping the money in the community. sustainable interest in use of technology tools will see the value in providing new equipment, or services. software and training to our nonprofit partners Southwest Smart Communities Plan

Providing tech support within the community 4.2 Community Web Portal A portion of the Southwest community site will will be a source of local jobs, both as employment Based on needs and interest of the community be dedicated space where all community residents within the resource itself and as a training assessment, we will create an interactive, dynamic can lean about local health/wellness options, program in IT. Southwest Digital Community Portal as a website such as low cost treatment opportunities, locally that will become the place to go for local scheduled health fairs/events, and both preventa information, creating an “electronic billboard” of tive and health resources around health issues in what is happening in the community and support our communities. While a large amount of Strategy 4 local economic transactions. This site will include general health information already resides on the website hosting for local businesses and CBOs, as Internet, a trusted, accurate, local and culturally well as links to community social networking sensitive resource on our community portal will Generate Local Content throughout the Web. bolster the relevance to our Southwest residents. and Improve Access to Having our available health services and preventa The Community Web Portal will create robust tive programs mapped and available on the Neighborhood News content that is targeted to the needs and interests portal will increase the likelihood of our residents of local residents. Content may be created by taking advantage of the available resources in and Resources local residents, businesses, agencies, schools, their own community. The portal then becomes etc. with a minimum or more direction from yet another valuable tool in the community Technology has the ability to reinforce place- webmasters. health arsenal as we work to overcome documented based strategies, overcome barriers and bring health disparities throughout, Auburn Gresham, people together. Community portals can be a Ideas for content include: Chicago Lawn and Englewood. bridge across the population, while use of • local news of the day/week, blogs, entertainment technology can engage youth that previously • information about local events, classes, and were disconnected from traditional teaching meetings 4.3 YouMedia methods and formal education programs. • notices for youth about scholarship Based on groundbreaking research that found opportunities and summer jobs, mentors, that youth tend to use computers to hang out and wage information with friends, tinker with digital media, and “geek 4.1 Leveraged Social Networks • local social networking designed for seniors, out” in online groups, the Chicago Public Library Existing social network sites are resources that, as well as information of interest, such as founded YouMedia to help youth further explore with organization and outreach, can be utilized health care leads on low-cost prescriptions these core interests. Funded in part by the to be targeted within our communities to and local provider information that is MacArthur Foundation, the program is now connect people within neighborhoods and build generated by residents themselves available only downtown at the Harold Washington bridges across neighborhoods. We will use the • For students or those without much work Library Center, but should be expanded to community assessment to expand and enhance experience: access to templates or a worksheet neighborhood libraries such as Thurgood usage of these sites to create networks for the on how to represent work/life experience on a Marshall in Auburn Gresham. Southwest Side based on sports and other resume. interests to connect youth and adults across • economic opportunities, including an “Angie’s geographic barriers. Building upon current List” for local businesses usage, we will connect family members in other • marketing for businesses and other institutions households and friends with text messaging, in the communities; this would be tied to the microblogs, and other technologies. Local Affinity Marketing Card Southwest Smart Communities Plan

Strategy 5 handled by Business Resource Centers. The stores, for example, and a resident who regularly following organizations will serve as Business purchases dinner at a local restaurant could be Resource Centers in our Smart Communities: offered a discount on the lunch special via email. Help Existing • Special Service Area #32 in Auburn Gresham Together, the elements of the Local Affinity • 63rd Street Growth Commission and Special campaign would drive economic growth both by Businesses Grow and Service Areas #2 and #3 in Chicago Lawn making shopping locally more attractive for • a Business Resource Center will be created at consumers and by helping local firms understand Attract New Businesses the Teamwork Englewood site in Englewood their markets more completely.

Access to technology by small businesses may be Mobile training and “webinar” capabilities will the most overlooked barrier to technology also allow business owners unable to come to adoption. We will help local firms use digital the resource centers to be served. By adding tools to support economic growth and create digital technology to existing business support, jobs, particularly within the commercial corridors the Business Resource Centers will reach out to that are slated for broadband fiber. Greater local businesses, assess their technology capacity education skills and higher levels of broadband and help local businesses build technology plans availability in our commercial and industrial into their small business plans. corridors will be significant points of attraction for existing businesses to expand and to attract new “high bandwidth” industries such as 5.2 Local Affinity Marketing advertising, planning firms, biotech firms and A Local Affinity Marketing program will provide digital media companies. residents in our communities with affinity cards similar to those available through the major We will work with LISC/MetroEdge, an urban supermarkets, which can be used by consumers market research firm affiliated with LISC, to to access special offers and sales.L ocal merchants identify the potential business growth areas in would be able to opt into this type of a program our communities that could benefit from an as a way to better understand their customers increasingly technology connected and trained and show a commitment to the community. Our workforce and market the potential of our program will create a platform that allows a communities for future business investment. number of local businesses to share the system, thereby lowering cost of entry and also widening the database of information (with individual 5.1 Business Resource Centers records kept private). Each of our communities should have a fully- equipped computer resource center with new A concurrent program will create site advertising hardware, software and presentation equipment and special discounts specifically aimed at local to meet the needs of small businesses. The residents to promote local businesses to the services outlined for Digital Business Connection community. A local shoe store could send a (see Strategy 2.3.B) — group trainings, assess mailer for a back-to-school sale to a list of anyone ments and one-on-one coaching — will be who bought children’s clothing or toys at local Southwest Smart Communities Plan

18 Conclusion

The participants in the planning process for the Southwest Smart Communities Partners are excited by the possibilities that 21st century information technology holds for everything from education and employment to reductions in violence, and are aware of the dire consequences of falling further behind as technology irrevocably changes the traditional infrastructure of communication, community and commerce.

The possibilities and plans outlined above are a was announced in March that the program Opportunity, Microsoft, the City of Chicago and 5blueprint to achieve digital excellence in our would receive $7.07 million in federal Recovery LISC/Chicago for the resources and technical specific neighborhoods — to bring to a close any Act funds. The grant will provide computers and assistance to develop this plan. digital divide that exists between our residents training to more than 11,000 Chicago residents and the rest of Chicago and to provide a new set and 500 small businesses and nonprofits in of tools to improve the quality of life on the Humboldt Park, Pilsen, Auburn Gresham, Chicago Southwest Side. This plan is ambitious, but it also Lawn and Englewood, with the hope of helping very much designed to be implemented. All of thousands of Chicago residents and businesses the projects in this plan are consistent with the emerge from the recession stronger than before. years of planning and implementation that has taken place in our community through the New Although securing BTO P funding is a huge step Communities Program. forward in executing this plan, the full breadth of our vision includes projects that will not be Planning for the Southwest Smart Communities supported by the federal program. In addition to Partners was well underway in mid-2009 when the BTO P funding, the Southwest Smart the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Communities Partners will seek support from that it would distribute substantial funding other foundations and corporations for this plan. nationwide through a new Broadband Technology We believe that we will be successful in raising Opportunities Program (BTO P) funded by the the necessary funds because the plan is based American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. on strong community input, sound approaches and realistic goals. Through the digital excellence partnership between the City of Chicago and LISC/Chicago, We appreciate the support from The Chicago SSCP and the other Smart Communities were the Community Trust, the John D. and Catherine T. focus of the City’s BTO P application under the MacArthur Foundation, the State of Illinois category of Sustainable Broadband Adoption. It Department of Commerce and Economic Southwest Smart Communities Plan

19 Southwest Smart Communities Plan

20 Leadership

Southwest Smart Communities Partners Steering Scribes and Planners Committee • Patrick Barry, Chief Scribe • Piotr Korzynski, Greater Southwest Development Corp. • Scott Goldstein, Teska Associates, Inc. • David McDowell, Southwest Organizing Project • Carl Vogel, Scribe • Johnnie Muhammad, Teamwork Englewood • Carlos Nelson, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp. Program and Planning Support • marvin Parks, Southwest Smart Communities Partners • City of Chicago • norma Sanders, Southwest Smart Communities Partners • John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 6• ernest Sanders, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp. • liSC/Chicago • Donna Stites, Greater Southwest Development Corp. • microsoft Corporation • rodney Walker, Teamwork Englewood • State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity • Veronica Zapata, Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)

LISC/Chicago • Susana Vasquez, Director, New Communities Program • Gordon Walek, Communications Manager

City of Chicago • hardik Bhatt, Chief Information Officer, Department of Innovation and Technology • Danielle DuMerer, Project Manager, Department of Innovation and Technology • matthew Guilford, Program Manager, Digital Excellence and Innovation, Department of Innovation & Technology • mayor’s Office Southwest Smart Communities Plan

About the New Communities Program The New Communities Program (NCP) is a long-term initiative by LISC/Chicago to support comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods.

The nation’s largest demonstration of comprehensive community development, NCP has delivered substantial and visible neighborhood improvements across the city thanks to a 10-year funding commitment from the MacArthur Foundation. LISC/Chicago has invested more than $50 million in grants and loans in the NCP neighborhoods, supporting more than 500 different projects ranging from healthy-lifestyle initiatives and youth sports leagues to retail and affordable housing development. Thousands of residents and hundreds of community organizations have been involved through NCP.

The NCP model is that each effort be led by a neighborhood-based lead agency that coordinates programs among other local organizations and citywide support groups. Lead agencies are encouraged to forge partnerships with other non-profit groups, businesses, government and residents to address issues such as affordable housing, prisoner re-entry, cultural programming, education reform, community marketing and open space.

Smart Communities builds upon the NCP platform and on the quality-of-life plans prepared by each community. The plans have been steered by local lead agencies that have a resume of “getting it done” and grassroots connections to the communities they serve. It incorporates project ideas from those plans and identifies new tools and techniques to implement long- standing community development goals.

About the Digital Excellence Initiative The Digital Excellence Initiative aims to make Chicago a global leader in the application of technology to increasing economic competitiveness, strengthening communities and improving lives. Guided by the work of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Closing the Digital Divide, the initiative fosters deployment of broadband infrastructure, public access to technology and new insights into digital participation and needs. The initiative is managed by the City of Chicago Department of Innovation and Technology and is supported by a range of private sector, nonprofit and governmental partners.

The 2007 City That Networks report and the 2009 Digital Excellence in Chicago study are available at www.cityofchicago.org/digitalexcellence

Southwest Smart Communities Plan Credits Copy: Carl Vogel, Scott Goldstein Photos: Front cover (Eric Young Smith, Gordon Walek, Alex Fledderjohn; Inside front cover, Page 3 and Page 14 (LISC archives); Page 1 (Norma Sanders); Page 6 (Gordon Walek); Page 19 (Eric Young Smith). Design: Tuan Do Graphic Design Chicago Digital Excellence Logo: Adelheid Mers, Associate Professor, The Art Institute of Chicago 1 N. LaSalle St., 12th Floor City of Chicago Chicago, Illinois 60602 50 W. Washington St., Suite 2700 312.360.0800 Chicago, IL 60602 www.lisc-chicago.org www.cityofchicago.org/digitalexcellence www.newcommunities.org