Just three of the great ideas to come out of our first workshop about using technology to build resilient communities in Chicago's south side; along with thoughtful feedback about how to further develop a placemaking app that won a competition run by the Metropolitan Planning Council.
These ideas are all rooted in the need to bridge Chicago's digital divide: increasing both access to and usage of technology to increase opportunities and improve local quality of life for people living in the south side. Much of the day's conversation was about how technology could bring people together to tackle problems - from violent crime to reducing isolation, and bringing empty spaces back into use. And the ideas covered everything from broadband infrastructure to using community cable television to reach isolated residents; text-based alerts to new online currencies.
Tomorrow we will be taking these ideas to another workshop where we can build on the ideas and think about putting some into practice.
A very big thank you to the Office of Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago for hosting our workshops and to Broadband Illinois, Network of Woodlawn, LISC Chicago, Metropolitan Planning Council, CEOs for Cities, SECC, SOM Chicago, City of Chicago, and University of Chicago Hospitals.
Read more on the Social Life of Cities Collaborative, our new partnership with Cisco, here.
Posted by Saffron Woodcraft 18 July, 2012.
