CODE Communication and Meetings
CODE Meetings: Every other month; Will email a Zoom link to the group. Link is available to add to your calendar
Monthly Newsletter: 3rd Monday of every month
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| Community CONNECTED: AfroVillage PDX Kicks-Off Old Town Community WiFi Project
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Old Town Community WiFI Node #1 Initiation
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Meet Laquida Landford, the heart and soul of Afrovillage PDX. AfroVillage’s story begins on the very same streets that Q now works tirelessly to serve. Moving here in 2014, Q found herself struggling to find her footing in Portland. From finding housing to finding community here, none of it was easy. Her story is like that of many, a great example of how our communities suffer from lack of support and resources. Moving here to reconnect with family, and focus on her health after being diagnosed with MS, Q never expected to experience homelessness. This part of Q’s story is, sadly, very common among our communities. Nobody expects this outcome, but all too often, life circumstances leave community members no options. Q’s diagnosis altered her ability to live her life, and the resources necessary for her to adapt were just not accessible to her. Q’s story isn’t unique because of the obstacles she overcame, but because of how she utilized these experiences to activate and inspire her community.
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Q displays the original project boards for the original AfroVillage PDX project
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| Recognizing the historical impact of displacement and disenfranchisement on BIPOC communities, the AfroVillage PDX Movement was created to restore community connection through communal living and wellness. This project is focused on creating equitable, dignified and sustainable “villages” for Portland’s Black and Brown communities, especially those who need it most. This project prioritizes women, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
AfroVillage aims to reinvest in historically black and brown neighborhoods, reclaiming the space for community members to rebuild and restore. The movement was born out of the understanding that just surviving is not enough, in order for our communities to thrive, they need much more than basic necessities. Afrovillage PDX’s methodology recognizes these needs as critical components to the success of the whole community. Beyond housing, the AfroVillage vision integrates food access, hygiene, education, healthcare and digital access WITHIN the built environment, helping to provide all the necessary resources for folks to recharge and recover. As the saying goes, though, it takes a village to do this work, and Q is working hard to build hers in Old Town. It’s been a big year for AfroVillage, as they tackle their biggest project yet, WIFI 6!
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Old Town Community WiFI Node: Street Roots
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For Q, the work doesn’t end with her, it takes collaboration, big dreams and hard work. The Wifi 6 project is an incredible example of that. In a world governed by digital connection, understanding the necessity for digital skills and access is crucial to this work. Afrovillage, acknowledging the importance of these resources, solidified their commitment to Digital Equity as a foundational piece of their mission.
This commitment, coupled with strong relationships to organizations like Free Geek, Street Roots and PSU’s Homeless Research and Action Collaborative, culminated in this bold new Digital Equity Access Project, The Old Town Community WiFi Project! Thanks to the Wireless Network Building Grant awarded to them in 2023, AfroVillage has been able to begin setting up infrastructure to support this community led broadband network.
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Old Town Community WiFI Node #2: Planning Team
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| AfroVillage PDX is proud to introduce the Old Town Community Wi-Fi Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing free, secure, and reliable internet access to the most vulnerable populations in our community. This project is designed to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that everyone—regardless of their housing situation or income level—can connect to essential online resources, communicate with loved ones, and access opportunities for personal and professional growth.In today’s digital age, access to the internet is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity. For many in Old Town, especially those experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, the lack of reliable internet can be a significant barrier to finding jobs, accessing healthcare, or even staying informed. The AfroVillage Old Town Community Wi-Fi network directly addresses this gap by providing free internet access to Old Town.
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Old Town Community WiFi: Node #2 Planning Meeting
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| While an incredible opportunity, the WiFi 6 project also came with a collection of challenges. From issues with technology, to changing partnerships, this project has seen many obstacles, already. Since there are few examples of this work, and even fewer resources for it, it has been quite an undertaking. Despite these difficulties though, Afrovillage has made incredible strides towards establishing this network.
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| The amazing community connections made through this project, continue to evolve, creating a strong network dedicated to the success of this project. Thanks to these partnerships and Afrovillage’s tireless work, we are extremely excited to announce that the first WiFi 6 Node is LIVE! CODE had the pleasure of being one of the first users to ever connect on this network. What a moment! The first node, located at the Street Roots building downtown will not be the only one for long, as the plan to kick off Node #2 is already in action! Afro Village is on a roll and they have no plans to slow down!
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Old Town Community WiFi: WiFi Landing Page
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| Spending our day at AfroVillage was a wonderful opportunity to see community capital at work. While broadband access is not Q’s expertise, community building is, and the community she has built to support this work is unmatched. The partners, community members and supporters of this project, are present because they believe in this project and in Q’s leadership. Witnessing Q’s connection to the community and the people who live and work there, was such a rewarding experience. Q KNOWS her community, and that has proven to be an incredible asset, time and time again. CODE is extremely excited to continue working alongside AfroVillage to support this amazing investment into Old Town. We hope you consider doing the same for our WiFi 6 Community kick off event!
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AfroVillage PDX: Community Connections at Work
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For more information on AfroVillagePDX and to get involved in their incredible work, check out the links below!
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