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Are you a neighborhood or community group seeking ways in which to increase awareness of community issues? Are you interested in engaging other community members in problem solving? The Online Boost Project was developed in response to what we learned from the Seattle Communities Online assessment and presentations at Neighborhood District Council and community group meetings, of the current capacity of neighborhood groups to do effective outreach online, maintain their content, foster online engagement and use City widgets and tools.

We are looking for approximately 15 projects that will receive up to $1,000 in matching funds and will also participate in workshops with experts in using social media. Our goal is to “boost” their capacity through a project that takes them three months or less to complete.

The deadline for the grant is Tuesday July 12 at midnight. Interested applicants need to register in the City’s webgrants system at webgrants.seattle.gov. You can also find additional resources and the full application guidelines at www.seattle.gov/boostgrants.

Community Broadband Adoption Impact & Sustainability Conference (CBAIS)
More than 200 national Broadband Technology Opportunity Project (BTOP) Sustainable Broadband Adoption and Public Computing Center project staff and other digital inclusion practitioners came together to learn from each other, share best practices and brainstorm solutions at the CBAIS in Cleveland, OH. This interactive event focused on participant training, outreach and collaboration, broadband connectivity, program management, evaluation, sustainability and policy.

Visit Connect Your Community, where all conference content was tracked in real time by participants in a wiki environment. To continue the momentum, you can share ideas and resources in the following ways: Join the Community of Practice: Community Technology focused on operational day to day issues in community technology; New America Foundation Open Technology Initiative BTOP Listserv and Monthly Calls focused on BTOP program managers and researchers; or if you are interested in public policy, Benton Foundation will convene a working group to create a realistic plan for creating a funding stream for community technology. For more information on how to become involved, go here.

Read City of Seattle's Chief Technology Officer Bill Schrier's blog. Entitled The Chief Seattle Geek Blog, it covers "the intersection of technology and government, and specifically how technology influences Seattle’s government, but also how governments use technology on behalf of their residents, citizens, and visitors."

The National Broadband Plan recommended that the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) develop a Digital Inclusion Framework, guidelines for public access technology to encourage use of broadband technologies. To help community leaders make strategic decisions about investments to create and sustain access to broadband technologies, the IMLS has released Building Digitally Inclusive Communities: A guide to the proposed framework. The release is an initial step in IMLS's response. There is a short guide, full report, and a guide to the framework. There is also a discussion of this which members of the national Digital Inclusion Network listserv have started. Other partners in this effort include the University of Washington, The Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA), and the ICMA, International City/County Management Association. David Keyes of the City of Seattle was a member of the project working group. See the Framework Press Release and links here.

Second Library Public Access Impact Report "Opportunity for All: How Library Policies and Practices Impact Public Internet Access," offers an analysis of the service in four public library systems and makes recommendations for strategies that help to sustain and improve public access service. The report was funded through a partnership between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services and was produced by the University of Washington Information School.

The new Seattle City Council Connection blog has been launched. The new blog aggregates all Councilmember blog posts and news releases in one location.

There are some amazingly clever kids in Tacoma, Washington. Yeah, you’re right – there are great kids everywhere. But that’s part of what makes the Tacoma youth so amazing…and today there is more. These young people are techie survivors on their way to being thrivers. Right now, they’re in the process of surviving the loss of Luversa Sullivan, the inspiring leader of the Intel Computer Clubhouse’s Clever Program. Over ten years ago, Luversa and her Seattle students wired Yesler Community Center’s RecTech computer learning center. Read more here.

q&a

Have a question for Mayor Mike McGinn? Join the conversation with Seattle Channel guest host Barry Mitzman as he sits down with the Mayor on Wednesday, July 27, at 7 p.m. for Ask the Mayor. Call (206) 681-8821 between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. or email your questions. Also, follow their conversation on Twitter or Facebook with the Seattle Channel’s accounts. You can also submit questions through Twitter and Facebook as well.

Follow the Seattle Channel on Twitter.com/SeattleChannel and become a fan of the Seattle Channel on Facebook! Friends and followers get up to the minute info on new programs, behind the scene pictures of shoots and interviews and more!

To subscribe or unsubscribe to Brainstorm, please email us, and we'll add you to our email notification list, or subtract you per your request. If you have ideas for future stories, please let us know and we'll try to accommodate them. We encourage you to visit the City of Seattle's Community Tech pages, seattle.gov/tech.

Digital Connectors Grads

Digital Connectors Awards

Congratulations to graduates across the country, including the teens at Neighborhood House Rainier Vista in Seattle. They've just completed their Digital Connectors training. Youth in the program learned leadership, digital media skills and how to train others to use One Economy’s Beehive self sufficiency site. Mark Okazaki, executive director of Neighborhood House, awarded the certificates to students. Elliot Day from Mayor McGinn's office awarded students with seattle.gov flash drives, which they can now use with the laptops and flipcams they get for completing the program. The City of Seattle Department of Information Technology has provided Technology Matching Fund grants and Internet service to the computer center. One Economy and Comcast are also sponsors of the lab. Well done to Kat McGhee, program coordinator, and all the students!

Mayor Mike McGinn blogged about Neighborhood House:

Last Thursday, fourteen Seattle high school students celebrated their completion of the Digital Connectors program at Neighborhood House in Rainier Vista. The program is a partnership between the City of Seattle, Comcast and OneEconomy, a nonprofit focused on bringing technology training and facilities to lower income neighborhoods across the country. In addition to several hours a week of community service involving their developing technology skills, students also learned about career opportunities and the relevance of those skills in the job market.

Part of the City’s contribution to the program comes from our Technology Matching Fund, which supports community-driven efforts to close the digital divide and encourage a technology-healthy city. The program provides grants where the community’s contribution of volunteer labor, materials, professional services, or cash is “matched” by the Technology Matching Fund. This program is administered by the Community Technology Program of the City’s Department of Information Technology and is funded with cable franchise fees. In 2004, the Fund was named in memory of Bill Wright, a Central District community leader who worked towards the expansion of digital opportunity for all Seattle residents and promoted technology as a tool for building strong neighborhoods.

Each of the students worked on a video public service announcement, several of which were screened for the graduating class and other audience members. The impressively shot and well-edited videos covered topics from littering to the effects of racism in a community. Technology can be a powerful tool to drive the conversations we have as a city about the many difficult challenges we face, and the students demonstrated the skills and insight that we’ll need from the next generation of community leaders.

Following the video presentations, Neighborhood House’s Rainier Vista Computer Lab Coordinator Kathryn McGhee thanked the class for their hard work. Mark Okazaki, the executive director of Neighborhood House, handed out certificates and took pictures with each graduate. After receiving their certificates, the graduates received laptops and Flip video cameras. With their new skills and these tools, these fourteen Digital Connectors are well-equipped to use technology to make a difference in the world around them.

Seattle’s Office of Cable Communications recently held a special educational seminar for apartment and condominium owners on your rights when negotiating contracts with cable and telecommunication companies. The seminar was led by Ken Fellman, a nationally recognized expert in cable television franchising, transfers, renewals, and enforcement actions. The event was designed to help building owners learn answers to questions such as:

• Who really owns the wiring in your building?
• Do you have to sign a long-term cable service agreement?
• Can you negotiate with the cable operator?

A video of the seminar and materials are available on the Office of Cable Communications website.

Did you know...the City of Seattle has an Office of Cable Communications to serve you?

According to a survey of Seattle cable customers, only about 29 percent are aware that the City has an office to assist them with cable-related issues. Many are also not aware that Seattle has established standards for cable companies operating in the City, and procedures and penalties when those standards are not met.

To introduce more Seattleites to their rights with cable service providers, and to services of the Office of Cable Communications, the office created three short public service announcements (PSA):

• What is Seattle’s Office of Cable Communications?
• What Rights do Seattle Cable Customers Have?
• What about Cable-Related Internet and Phone Services?

The PSAs are playing on the Seattle Channel (Channel 21) and are also available for viewing on the web here. Check them out and get acquainted with the mission of Seattle’s Office of Cable Communications – and your right to competent, responsive service from your cable company.

As I was traveling to a conference this week, I looked around on the planes and in the airports at what people were using to communicate. Overwhelmingly, smart phones took the lead as people were talking on them, playing games, reading and checking email. Many were surfing the net. So, this made me think, “How secure are these mobile devices, anyway?”

Computerworld released an article about just this by Kenneth van Wyk, cybersecurity expert over the past 20 years. Following is an excerpt of the article. For the full article, go here.

“With all the reports of mobile malware, vulnerabilities and attacks, things must seem pretty confusing to the consumer. Is the sky really falling? Let's explore some of the practical aspects of mobile security a bit from the consumer's point of view. So, rather than focus on the bad, let's take a look at the sorts of actionable things a consumer can do to use these fabulous devices more securely. There isn't likely to be a shortage of new problem announcements anytime soon, after all.”

Here is what van Wyk suggests:

• Avoid storing anything truly sensitive on your device.
• Get your apps from reputable sources.
• If you do want to store some sensitive data in an app, consider doing a bit of cursory analysis of the app.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi.

When purchasing your new Windows 7 computer, there is a high chance your computer did not come with any system repair CDs. Most manufactures are trying to save money by not sending you CDs with your new computer and this is also a way that they can charge you down the road to get a copy of those CDs in your time of need. Windows 7 lets you create a system repair disc if you can’t restart windows. To create this disc, you need to have a blank writable CD or DVD. Click on Start; type “system repair” and click on it. Then you follow the instructions on “Create a system repair disc.” It is important to do this within the first 30 days of purchasing your computer, as this may be the maximum time you have to work directly with the retailer to resolve any software issues. It is also important to note that most warranties you can get do not cover software issues like this.

Agree or disagree with me? Drop me a note: Derrick Hall.

Online Boost Grant
Awards up to $1000 in matching funds to help community groups gain skills and proficiency using online resources and tools. In coordination with the Seattle Communities Online initiative, we are seeking opportunities to enhance: increased awareness of community issues; increased community participation in problem solving; and increased interaction with government.
Deadline: July 12, midnight

National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts' new Arts in Media funding category is designed to help make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through the national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts and media projects that can be considered works of art. In order to reach the widest possible audience, priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including the use of social media. Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project.
Deadline: September 1

City of Seattle launches web portal for funding programs
Visit the City of Seattle’s Grants portal for grants in the Arts/Culture, Community Building/Organizing, Environment, Physical Improvements, Technology, and Youth. Each grant opportunity includes deadlines and program information.
Deadline: Various

Here are some good videos from the Seattle Channel.

American Podium: Eli Pariser - What is the Internet Hiding? Former MoveOn.org executive director Eli Pariser reveals how hidden algorithms have personalized the Internet to an extent that it threatens the democratic exchange of ideas and he reveals what he believes is the new vision of the web.

American Podium: The Dark Side of Digital Technology Robert Vamosi, an award-winning journalist and analyst who has been covering digital security issues for more than a decade, shows us the dark side of all our digital capability and convenience.

Broadband Battles - City Inside/Out Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn wants to create an ambitious high speed broadband network that will reach all homes, saying it`s for the City`s future. But how will we pay the $800 million price tag? And who should build it? We hear from Bill Schrier, the city`s Chief Technology Officer; Len Rozek, Senior V.P. of Comcast (WA); Sue Anderson, VP and GM for Qwest/CenturyLink in Seattle; and Bill Baron, a citizen broadband advocate. We also hear from a Pioneer Square gaming company that needs more speed, and travel to Tacoma to profile the city-owned Click! Network.

Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion: thought starters for individuals.

Back issues of Brainstorm including techtips and linkage are now available in our online archives. Previous TechTips and Linkage are also available. Click to revisit all previous issues.

Free cable broadband Internet service is available for organizations providing technology training to community members. The free service is offered within the Seattle city limits, based on the City's cable franchise agreements with Comcast and Broadstripe (Millennium). For more information and to download a short form to make application, go to our tech web. If you have questions, email Derrick Hall or call (206) 233-5061.