One Economy Project Unveils New Bilingual Website Aimed At Low-Income Families
(Philadelphia, PA) — On Monday, March 17, 2003, The One Economy Project will unveil the Philadelphia regional component of a new interactive website aimed at the issues and interests of low-income families. The website sets the stage for wireless Internet networks to be launched in two West Philadelphia communities in the spring.

The Beehive website (www.thebeehive.org/philly), with content available in English and Spanish, will connect low-income households to information and resources around the things that matter most to them: health, jobs, money, education, and family. The unveiling takes place at Philadelphians Concerned About Housing, 338 N. 55th Street at 4:00 p.m. A group of area residents will gather for an introduction to the new site and the opportunity to try out some of its innovative features.

The One Economy Project, scheduled to get underway in early May 2003, is the first of its kind in the City of Philadelphia and one of a handful of similar projects being launched in other cities around the country.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania’s Teaming for Technology (T4T) Initiative, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Development Corporation (PNDC), People’s Emergency Center (PEC), Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (PCAH), One Economy Corporation, and corporate partners: IBM, Unisys, and Cisco Systems, Inc. have joined forces to spearhead, The One Economy Project, a ground-breaking pilot project aimed at bridging the digital divide among low-income families in the Southeastern Pennsylvania.

In many respects, the Internet does not currently provide the content that low-income people need in a format they can readily access and understand. Studies show that there are four significant deficiencies in the current Internet content's relevance for low-income people: literacy barriers, language barriers, lack of cultural diversity, and lack of local information.

The Beehive addresses all of these areas by providing useful, culturally diverse content at a literacy level and in a language that a low-income audience can understand. An exciting feature of the Beehive is that it can be personalized and localized. Visitors can customize the site to reflect their own interests and needs.

The ultimate goal of the Beehive is to be a low-income family's primary online connection to the resources they need on a local level so they can make more informed choices, improve their standard of living, and build assets.

The Beehive's content, which includes interactive tools and tutorials, features sections devoted to Money, Health Care, Education, Jobs, and Family. Additional topics that are Philadelphia-specific include Legal/Immigration, Government, Transportation, and Housing/Utilities.

The Money section shows low-income people how to become familiar with such mainstream financial services as checking accounts, investing, and money management. This section sports interactive tools like a simulated ATM machine to help users learn how to use an ATM machine.

In the Health section visitors can connect with a doctor online or offline, learn about available government and private insurance options, and how to obtain them. Users can also find out if their child qualifies for free health insurance through CHIP (Child Health Insurance Program) or other federal and state programs using the site’s interactive technology and then connect to their state office to sign up.

These features are just a sampling of the many locally specific resources that are available. In the first year of operation, The One Economy Project involves constructing two model wireless Internet Networks (WLAN) and providing computers to clients and residents serviced by People’s Emergency Center and Philadelphians Concerned About Housing — connecting 100 families (between 200 and 300 individuals) living in the West Powelton and Haddington sections of West Philadelphia to high speed digital opportunities. Future plans call for expanding the project to other low-income neighborhoods throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Up until now, there has been little technological development directed to the needs and interests of low-income communities. For digital opportunities to be embraced, there is a need for both relevant content and a technologically literate public.

To help advance technological literacy among the disadvantaged, United Way is at the forefront of this movement to build a community technological infrastructure in low-income communities supported by high quality content, programs, and training — a strategic and comprehensive use of technology that will ultimately lead to action-oriented steps towards economic independence for low-income clients and the improvement of services for community agencies.

To donate a computer call: (215) 227-0600. For more information about digital opportunities for low-income families visit www.one-economy.com, or www.thebeehive.org

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania (UWSEPA), established in 1921, is one of Greater Philadelphia’s largest non-profit organizations and one of approximately 1,400 affiliated United Ways nationwide. Each United Way is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers. United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania leads, inspires and mobilizes donors and volunteers to help provide solutions to essential health and human service issues and improve the quality of people’s lives in the community.