Partnership with the Helium Foundation, G3ict & Smart Cities For All
Pathway OZ is excited to announce the 2022 HBCU Smart Cities Challenge, a first of its kind program inviting Historically Black Colleges & University (HBCU) student talent to build IoT, ICT, and Web3 applications that address cities’ most pressing problems. The Challenge launches its inaugural 5-month cycle this October 2022.
Students from 15 different HBCUs are expected to compete, participants will develop minimal viable products (MVPs) and proof-of-concept (POC) solutions to support Tier 2 to Tier 4 cities in the Southeastern and Southern regions.
To complement the student competition, HBCU Smart Cities Challenge will host smart city town halls and education events on topics like Transportation, Public Health, Agriculture, and Energy & Power. The events will feature city and state elected officials, HBCU presidents and professors, EDAs, and subject matter experts, allowing students and other invested parties the opportunity to network and learn best practices for implementing smart technology in their communities.
We’re especially excited to collaborate with G3ict to host educational workshops for both student teams and city officials. As one of the leading international advocates for digital inclusion, their expertise in smart cities viewed through a policy framework will support Challenge participants in implementing inclusive tech solutions.
Our work with cities worldwide confirms that the technologies and smart solutions they deploy do not work for everyone, especially persons with disabilities and older persons. We are pleased to partner with the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge to promote more inclusive innovation and cities that are both smarter and more accessible.” – James Thurston, G3ict Vice President for Global Strategy and Development, Smart Cities for All Managing Director
Over 10 cities, educational entities and technology partners like the Helium Foundation, an arm of the world’s leading decentralized wireless network, have committed to support the Challenge, recognizing that the infrastructure and human capital that resides within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are well positioned to meet the urgent needs of the nation’s cities. These partners and more are participating in a Challenge that leverages future entrepreneurs, community leaders, and innovators to build smart applications for their communities.
"As the world's largest contiguous LoRa network, we've seen how decentralization development can empower communities to build critical infrastructure like wireless connectivity. The Helium Foundation is excited to see the Smart City IoT innovation and applications that come out of this challenge." - Clarissa Redwine - Grant Manager for the Helium Foundation
For more information or to participate and support the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge, visit Pathwayoz.com or contact Kevin Fomengia, Kevin@pathwayoz.com
About Pathway OZ
Pathway OZ is an Opportunity Zone management company that builds tech and economic ecosystems in HBCU communities. We work to utilize Opportunity Zones that empower entrepreneurs, businesses, and start-ups in and around HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). Our mission is to stimulate economic opportunities in HBCU communities by leveraging the academic infrastructure, assets, and human talent. (www.pathwayoz.com)
About Helium Foundation
The People’s Network is the world's first peer-to-peer wireless network that provides a secure and cost-effective way for low-power Internet of Things devices to send data to and from the Internet.
About G3ICT
G3ict – the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies – is an advocacy initiative launched in December 2006, in cooperation with the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN DESA. Its mission is to facilitate and support the implementation of the dispositions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) promoting digital accessibility and Assistive Technologies. Participating organizations include industry, academia, the public sector, and organizations representing persons with disabilities. G3ict promotes good practices in digital accessibility policies and programs and provides tools for advocates around the world, including its Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index (DARE Index) designed to benchmark countries' progress. Through its division IAAP, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, G3ict offers professional development resources and certification to more than 2,000 members in 46 countries. For more information, please visit the G3ict website.
About Smart Cities for All
In 2016, G3ict partnered with leading civil society and industry organizations to launch the Smart Cities for All global initiative. Since then, Smart Cities for All has defined the state of ICT accessibility in cities worldwide and created tools and a path forward to improve the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and older persons. The goal of Smart Cities for All is to eliminate the digital divide for persons with disabilities and older persons in urban environments around the world. The global initiative partners with leading organizations and companies to create and deploy the tools and strategies needed to build more inclusive Smart Cities. For more information, please visit the Smart Cities for All website.
