Listen to a history of university-community partnerships, projects, and place-based community development strategies that have defined the operations of UICNI- East Campus, the section of UICNI focused on community and economic development. Current projects, including Illinois ResourceNet: A Funding Access Initiative and the ChiWest project.

Atanacio”Nacho” Gonzalez, UICNI associate director and IRN director, and Thea Crum, UICNI program coordinator and IRN assistant director will be presenting at this seminar.

Established in 1993, GCI’s Neighborhoods Initiative (UICNI) represents a diverse network of partnerships between the Universityof Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and organizations in the neighborhoods adjacent to UIC or near university-sponsored, neighborhood-based facilities. The Initiative works with community members to create programs that encourage engagement, partnership, and mutual development.

The GCI Hello! seminar series are given by leaders of Great Cities Institute programs to share their history and discuss current projects.

For more details about the Great Cities Institute log onto UICNI’s webpage.

Getting Illinois Low Income Seniors and People with Disabilities Online

Valerie Leonard, Illinois ResourceNet technical assistance provider worked with MyWay Village on a $4.7 grant in ARRA funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Andrew Lowenstein, the Chief Strategy Officer for MyWay Village Inc. says the grant will help fund:

• New computer equipment
• Internet access
• Connected Living training programs for over 4,500 trainees

“Low income seniors and affordable housing communities deserve equal access to technologies that can deliver better health and economic opportunity,” said Sarah Hoit, CEO and Co-Founder of MyWay Village.

Listen to Charles Benton, Chairman of the Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) and Drew Clark, Executive Director of PCI talk to Illinois ResourceNet about the goals of the Broadband Partnership in Illinois

What is the Goal of Broadband in Illinois?

How did Illinois ResourceNet help MyWay Village apply for federal funding?

Background

MyWay Village, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Low Income Senior Internet Coalition, plans to transform its Connected Living Adoption and Sustainability Program, a longstanding program that ties technology, training, and technical support together in a way uniquely tailored for the senior community.

The project plans to engage its 23 targeted senior housing communities to teach the basics of e-mail, Web access, and other practical broadband applications. The project also intends to collaborate with local Workforce Investment Act organizations to help seniors who develop their digital literacy skills to find part time work.

Listen to Don S. Samuelson of DSSA Strategies who has more than 30 years of experience in government-assisted housing and real estate development. He collaborated on the development of the MyWay Village Inc. proposal and worked with Illinois ResourceNet to submit the winning proposal.