Community Engagement

We forge deep partnerships to develop technology, rooted in community needs, that strengthens connections among neighbors and with the planet.

RC Community Workshop
Workshop Agenda
Community Advisory Board

Reimagining Computing through Justice and Community Empowerment Workshop

Saturday March 30, 2023 | 11:00am-6:00pm
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

This workshop gathered scholars, community organizers, and advocates to reimagine how technology & AI can be responsibly harnessed to promote racial, economic, and social justice that supports healthy and sustainable Philadelphia communities. By prioritizing storytelling, restorative practice, and existing community-driven needs, the workshop aimed to catalyze a shift towards public interest technology that promotes equity justice in the use, design, and governance that are inclusive, equitable, and rooted in the care of both people and the planet. Through collaborative and interactive sessions, the workshop aimed to empower individuals and groups most impacted by the decisions in using public interest technologies and AI. The workshop centered critical reflection on the role of technology in perpetuating or dismantling systems of oppression, encouraging participants to envision and co-create futures that align with values of mutual respect, interdependence, and sustainable stewardship, mutual respect, and love.

References

  • Kania, J., Kramer, M., & Senge, P. (2018). Collaborating for equity and justice: Moving beyond collective impact. Nonprofit Quarterly. Retrieved Online.
  • Lipmanowicz, H., & McCandless, K. (n.d.). The surprising power of liberating structures: Simple rules to unleash a culture of innovation. Retrieved Online.
  • 2. Watson, H. (2022). Who has an interest in public interest technology?. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved Online.
  • 1. Lewis, T., Gangadharan, S. P., Saba, M., Petty, T. (2018). Digital defense
    playbook: Community power tools for reclaiming data. Detroit: Our Data Bodies. Retrieved Online.

Workshop Agenda

Saturday March 30, 2023 | 11:00am-6:00pm
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

  • 11:00am-11:15am - Welcome
    Workshop organizers and participants introduced themselves and the workshop concept.
  • 11:15am-12:00pm - Keynote Conversation
    Claudia Johnson and Miguel Willis shared a critical dialogue on the role of technology in perpetuating or dismantling systems of oppression.

Theme 1:  Dismantling Injustice
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  • 12:00pm-1:00pm - Breakout Discussions
    Participants broke into groups organized by workshop themes: Using various formats, participants reflected on personal experiences around data, technology, and systems through facilitated rounds of conversation.
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm - Synthesize & Share
    Over lunch, breakout groups synthesized what surfaced during the morning and shared it with the whole group, and discussed commonalities in the systems that interplay with data, technology, and injustice.
  • 2:10pm-2:40pm - Rapid Prototyping
    Participants explored the ways in which movements for transformation can affect structural and systemic changes that can support and sustain inclusive and healthy communities.

Theme 2:  Reimagining Radical Possibilities

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  • 2:45pm-4:00pm - Intersectional Design Thinking
    Participants analyzed case-studies from Pennsylvania with a radical lens and then moved into developing prototypes.
    • Participants explored case studies of past tech initiatives across lenses of race, class, gender, etc., ensuring solutions addressed diverse needs and avoided perpetuating marginalization.
    • Participants developed and presented prototypes to the entire group, received feedback, and iterated on designs through further collaboration.
  • 4:45pm-5:00pm - Closing Remarks
    Facilitators and workshop participants shared key themes from the day and identified next steps for collaboration.
  • 5:00pm-6:00pm - Communion Hour
    Workshop participants were provided with an opportunity to build community over food and music.

RC4JustFutures Community Advisory Board (RCCAB)

The Responsible Computing for Just Futures Community Advisory Board (RCCAB) aims to engage stakeholders in West Philadelphia to amplify their perspectives to ensure that the design, use, and development of public interest technologies are aligned with community priorities and can sustain inclusive and healthy communities.

Valuing equity, respect, and systems-level approaches, we aim to center lived experiences to design co-curricular offerings around computing and justice. The RCCAB will involve community partners with equal decision-making power, mutual ownership of the research processes and solutions, and a focus on solving community problems, and responsible civic engagement.

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