Wireless Harlem Initiative: Leaders of A New Renaissance

Harlem is ushering in a new renaissance that continues in the vain of the era (1920-1935) that connected Harlemites culturally, artistically and politically. This renaissance, however, is digital. Wireless Harlem Initiative (WHI), an organization started by Michael Lewis who now serves as executive director, is creating a new model that is closing the digital divide in the historically African American community.

The WHI website states their mission is to “Close the ‘digital divide’  in Harlem by making access to information’ and their objectives are as follow:

• Community based broadband network
• Increase computer and broadband access options
• Become resource for new innovation

In Lewis, Harlem has a necessary advocate who goes to bat for them on broadband and other issues related to wireless access. WHI’s most successful program is Tech Saturdays, which provides Harlem families with free home computers (refurbished Macs and PCs) and instruction ranging from the use of open source applications to Internet safety to online honesty. Children’s Storefront (an independent, free school) is WHI’s primary partner in this venture as well as the provider of the venue for Tech Saturdays.The program is open to families with a child in grade 4 or above, and most recently started providing families of children K-3 with alphasmarts.

Last year, WHI retained Civitium, LLC, the market-leading consulting firm for community broadband initiatives to perform a wireless broadband feasibility study for the community of Harlem, New York. WHI believes this study will provide “the necessary foundation for potential roll-out of a community-wide broadband network.”