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Open Works Inc. (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Digital Connections
└ Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
└ Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Baltimore's digital divide leaves many older adults without affordable internet, cutting off access to telehealth, banking and social connection. At Stadium Place, home to 450 residents age 50-plus, Open Works installed two solar-powered benches offering free Wi-Fi, device charging and seating. Each station operates off-grid with solar panels and 5G routers, creating a resilient resource during outages. Early data shows steady use despite winter weather, and a digital navigator is being trained for upkeep. Designs are being open-sourced to encourage replication. "We hope the solar stations will help connect folks who do not have access to the internet... and spark social connections as folks sit and charge their phones," the team noted.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Philadelphia, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: Reliable internet was out of reach for many Philadelphia residents, leaving older adults disconnected and unable to manage essential tasks. The project installed free Wi-Fi across senior residences and nearby public spaces, hosted town halls and distributed 100 laptops with digital literacy training. The network now serves hundreds, easing financial strain and improving access to telehealth and communication. One resident shared gratitude, saying older adults are often overlooked when it comes to technology access.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Orlando, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: In the neighborhoods surrounding Prince Hall Park and Willows Park, a large percentage of residents lack reliable access to broadband internet. To help meet this need, the City of Orlando installed wheelchair accessible, solar powered tables and shade structures -- each outfitted with charging stations and Wi-Fi hotspots -- at both neighborhood parks. Rated for 175 mile-per-hour winds, the tables can sustain hurricane-strength gusts, allowing residents to use them to charge phones, call loved ones or access emergency information during disaster scenarios. Local artists painted the concrete pads that anchor the two tables to depict positive images representing the community.
College Place, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public spaces improvements to increase high-speed internet availability
Description: Many residents of College Place lacked access to reliable high-speed internet. To address this, the City of College Place installed hotspots at parks, playgrounds, outdoor movie venues, farmers markets and the local municipal center. Organizers ensured each chosen location had a parking lot, allowing residents to access the internet from their vehicles. To spread the word, the City posted signs advertising the hotspots and City staff attended community events to discuss the free Wi-Fi initiative. Project organizers say public Wi-Fi helps residents access important online resources, such as local job postings. Additionally, the undertaking strengthened the City's relationship with the local school district and affordable housing providers.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Older adults in a Baltimore's North Avenue neighborhood needed an accessible place to gather. The project transformed the Red Shed garden with a concrete ADA walkway, a pergola for shade and lighting and spaces for community mosaics. Volunteers created a welcoming event area that now hosts gatherings and cultural celebrations. One participant said, "It means the world to me to be part of building this. We have helped our neighborhood and made something beautiful!"
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Walkability
Description: Older adults in Baltimore faced isolation and mobility challenges after the pandemic, compounded by unsafe walking conditions near community spaces. To address this, the organization hosted three walk audits and a health expo focused for older adults, reducing transportation barriers and drawing nearly 100 participants. Feedback revealed hazards like uneven curbs and poor drainage, while the project introduced a toolkit that empowered attendees to spot safety issues. These efforts informed proposals for traffic calming and accessibility upgrades and set the stage for ongoing wellness symposiums that keep older adults engaged and connected.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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