This webinar discusses strategies for mapping digital inclusion assets in a community. It explains why communities map these assets, such as to centralize information on free resources for residents. The webinar provides tips for data collection, including what information to collect, who to contact, and methods like online surveys and in-person visits. Tools for mapping assets digitally are also presented. The webinar emphasizes sustainability of the mapping effort and partnering with others to maintain updated asset data.

1. Mapping Digital
Inclusion Assets &
Resources
NTEN Webinar | August 9, 2017
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

2. Webinar Agenda:
Introductions
About Digital Inclusion Asset Mapping
Strategies for Data Collection
Tools & Resources
Q&A
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

3. Introductions
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

4. About me:
Hello!
I’ve worn a few hats in the tech policy space: national volunteer,
bureaucrat, consultant, program analyst.
I work for the Smart Chicago Collaborative and I manage tech inclusion &
engagement initiatives like Connect Chicago and the Array of Things Civic
Engagement Project.
I love collaborating across cities, and learning about others’ work. Email me
at dlinn@cct.org!
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

5. Webinar Goals:
We’ll discuss...
1. The importance of local digital inclusion asset mapping
2. Varied cases in digital inclusion mapping
We’ll share...
1. Useful tips and strategies for mapping out local digital inclusion assets
2. Tools and resources to get you started
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

6. Digital Inclusion Asset
Mapping
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

7. Jargon alert!
What do you mean by digital inclusion asset mapping?
When I say “digital inclusion asset mapping”, I mean creating an organized,
centralized inventory of programs, training sessions, free WiFi locations,
hardware resources, and/or public computing centers in your community.
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

8. Examples of cities mapping their assets/resources:
Chicago
http://connectchicago.org
Charlotte
http://digitalcharlotte.org/openwificlt/
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

9. #ConnectChicago | @GreaterSW | @CDMDePaul | @SmartChicago

12. Why take inventory of existing assets?
A community can have one of several primary goals for doing this work.
That goal will be your center of gravity that determines your data collection,
maintenance and sharing efforts.
Goals:
1. To centralize information about free resources for residents
2. To take inventory of local digital inclusion resources for decision
makers
3. To understand where local assets meet local deficits
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

13. Here is a map overlaying 250+
Connect Chicago locations (libraries,
community centers, etc.) with
tract-level data on Chicago’s digital
divide.
Data sources: Digital Divide Index
(2015), Connect Chicago

14. Strategies for Data Collection
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

15. What to collect
Essential
● Address
● Phone number
● Whether an appointment is
required Y/N
● Whether they have free
public computing Y/N
● Whether they have free WiFi
Y/N
Awesome, but not essential
● Whether there is training
Y/N
● Nearest parking Paid/Free
● Hours of operation
● Email point of contact
● PC/computer use
restrictions (ex: time)
● Assistive technology Y/N
● In need of volunteers Y/N
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

16. Who to reach out to...
Depending on your primary goal/focus, you might want to narrow your
outreach to a few categories. Here are some you should consider:
● Public library branches
● Local restaurants
● Workforce development/training centers
● Houses of worship
● Neighborhood political offices
● Community development centers
● Parks and museums
● Public housing
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

17. How to collect it
Methods for digital inclusion asset data collection:
1. Online surveys reinforced by email campaigns & social media
2. Collect information at events convening nonprofit leaders, digital
trainers, and other stakeholders who work at or run the locations you
suspect make up the core of your community’s assets
3. Hire neighborhood organizers or recruit volunteers to visit locations
and collect information in person
4. Hire neighborhood organizers or recruit volunteers to call location and
collect information over the phone
5. Open community meetings/participatory design sessions
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

18. Remember, digital inclusion
asset mapping can also look like
this...
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

20. Tools & resources
See Connect Chicago’s asset map + csv here:
http://connectchicago.org/locator
A presentation from a community participatory design session involving
in-person asset mapping:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10ByQTj7p60QL_z-7kP3G74B6tPq
cDvwKRjda_uR6nEE/edit#slide=id.g2090d39800_1_10
FYI: easy mapping from BatchGeo
https://batchgeo.com/
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

21. Final Thoughts
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

22. Lessons/Recommendations
Prioritize sustainability. Before you even start asset mapping, know
the main purpose behind your data collection and be realistic about
your capacity or your organization’s capacity to maintain updated data.
Don’t collect data you don’t need and don’t collect data that you
know changes quickly. This is especially true if you want to create an
outward facing resource for residents that you want resident to trust.
Partner! Consider integrating with your 311 system or engaging with
your civic hacking community who might be able to help you leverage
the data you collect.
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

23. Lessons/Recommendations (cont.)
If you build it, they won’t necessarily come. Crowdsourcing
information through online forms and social media is powerful, but it
requires awesome outreach and great existing relationships.
Crowdsourced information is only as good as the crowd you attract.
Think open source. During your digital inclusion asset mapping, do
your best to work openly and build in resident feedback loops online &
in person. Make sure there’s a way for people to correct/dispute the
information you collect and that there are ways for them to contribute to
your work.
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago

25. Questions?
dlinn@cct.org
@NTENorg | #ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago