openaccessphilly

Philadelphians working at the intersection of technology, civic innovation/participation that launched in August 2010. Participation is diverse, with people coming from large and small companies, non-profits, grant making foundations, city government and from outside Philadelphia.

what is

OURVISIONISTOMAKELOCAL GOVERNANCEMOREOPEN, TRANSPARENT,AND PARTICIPATORY.

Free Information Flow

ProvidingPhiladelphianswiththedata,informationandapplicationstheyneedto advancemeaningfulchangeintheircommunities TheFreeInformationFlowvisionforOpenAccessPhillyseekstoconnectallinitiatives thatcombinethepassionandcreativityofPhiladelphianswithmoderntechnological toolsandopenaccesstoinformation. SuchFreeInformationFlowwillimproveservicesto,betweenandbyPhiladelphia communities,whethertheyarephysicalneighborhoodsorgroupsofcommon interest.Massivethingsdonotcomesolelyfromdataorvideo;theycomefromthe actionsofgroups&individualsthatseektoinformandengagetobenefittheir neighbors.

OpenAccessPhilly has four main areas of focus

FreeInformationFlow CivicParticipation&Innovation DigitalInclusion InfotecBizGrowth

Civic Participation & Innovation

LeveragingpowerfulandsophisticatedInternetbasedtoolssothatPhiladelphianscan organizearoundandadvancemeaningfulchangeintheirneighborhoodsand elsewhere AsAmerica'sHometown,Philadelphiahasandalwayswillbeahothouseofcivic participationandinnovation.WiththeadventofpowerfulandsophisticatedInternet basedtools,wehavetheopportunitytounleashthefullpotentialofpositive, constructive,collectiveaction.AdvancingprojectssuchasChangebyUsPhilly,and partneringwithorganizationslikeCodeforAmerica,weareprototypingnewcivic organizingstructuresandprocessesthatleveragemoreeffectivelyexistingnetworks andresourcestoachievemorefocusedandsustainableoutcomes.

Digital Inclusion
ProvidingPhiladelphianswiththedata, informationandapplicationstheyneed toadvancemeaningfulchangeintheir communities Identifyingandfulfillinginfrastructure,connectivity,andcontentneedssothatall Philadelphianshavetheopportunitytoconnecttoourdigitalfuture TheCity'sapproachtoDigitalInclusionconsidersbothaccessandadoptionascritical elements.OurlargestDigitalInclusioninitiative,TheFreedomRingsPartnership,isa collaborativeconsortiumofnonprofits,universities,andCityagenciesworkingto providephysicalinfrastructuresothatcitizenscanaccesstechnology,butalsodevelop contentandtrainingprogramssothatcitizenscanadopttechnologyaspartoftheir dailylives. Inacitywhereanestimated41%ofresidentslackInternetaccess,thedigitaldivide impactsfamiliesandcommunitiesbylimitingaccesstoeducational,economicandcivic resources.Onlythroughthiscomprehensive,stakeholderdriveneffortcanweconnect Philadelphianstoadigitalfuture. TheCityofPhiladelphiaandtheUrbanAffairsCoalitionleadtheFreedomRings Partnership.ThroughitsPublicComputingCenterandSustainableBroadbandAdoption grantinitiatives,theFreedomRingsPartnershipwill: Reachover100,000Philadelphianswithinformationabouttheimportanceof broadbandtotheirdailylives. ProvidefreeInternetaccessat77PublicComputerCentersthroughouttheCity Deliverhandsontrainingtoover15,000people FreedomRingsPartnershipAccess SixtyeightoftheseventysevenplannedPublicComputerCentersitesarenow operatingthroughoutthecity.SofartheFreedomRingsPartnershiphasoffered 153,985hoursoftrainingandopenaccesslabhoursattheselocations.Intotal,the FreedomRingsPartnershiphasserved24,620Philadelphians. FreedomRingsPartnershipAdoption InordertohelpallPhiladelphianscompeteinthisdigitalinformationage,theFreedom RingsPartnershipisalsocommittedtoaffordableinhomeInternetaccess.Inaneffort tofulfillthisvision,theFreedomRingsPartnershiphas"graduated"580students throughaPHAtrainingprogram.ThesegraduatesearnedaNetbookaftercompleting an8hourtrainingprogram.Intotal,5,000PHAresidentswillbeeligibleforaNetbook.

Leveragingpowerfulandsophisticated Internetbasedtoolssothat Philadelphianscanorganizearound andadvancemeaningfulchangein theirneighborhoodsandelsewhere

Identifyingandfulfillinginfrastructure, connectivity,andcontentneedssothat allPhiladelphianshavetheopportunity toconnecttoourdigitalfuture

EconomicDevelopmentintheInfotec space:Removingroadblocks,providing incentives,andsupportingtheIT producing/usingsectorstoincrease employment,revenue,productivity, prominence,andinnovation

For more information:

OpenAccessPhillysFacebook: www.facebook.com/OpenAccessPhilly weWorkInPhilly: weworkinphilly.com/groups/openaccessphilly OpenAccessPhilly: www.openaccessphilly.com/ OpenAccessPhillysTwitter: @OpenAccessPHL

Infotec Biz Growth

EconomicDevelopmentintheInfotecspace:Removingroadblocks,providingincentives, andsupportingtheITproducing/usingsectorstoincreaseemployment,revenue, productivity,prominence,andinnovation A2008ChamberofCommercestudyfoundInfotectobe8.5%ofthelocaleconomy. TherearetwoflavorsofITcompanies:ITproducers&ITusers.Thereisapowerful multipliereffectforeveryjobcreatedintheITsector,2.5userpositionsarecreated. Asaregion,wewillelevateoursuccessesbyconnectingITprofessionalsandbusinesses toresourcesandtooneothertoensurethatinnovativecompaniesandindividualsfind Philadelphiatobetheirlocationofchoicetostart,growandinnovateintheinfotec economy.