project updates, surveillance technology and digital equity

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November 2, 2023

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suma friends, today we have some updates on our projects- the holiday meal special, farmer's market wrap-up and a mobility feature we're working to bring to the app. There's some important news regarding surveillance technology in Portland and how you can voice your thoughts on it. The state's digital equity plan has been released and we share some information as we develop our thoughts around it. Thanks for being here!

-Jacqueline

• Turkey Hacking: Things are picking up speed for suma’s 2023 holiday special, including our internal kickoff, confirming delivery locations and getting the word out to partners like you. Last bit of great news - Sheridan’s Market is on board this year to provide 100 prepared family meals via the suma app!

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• Farmers Market Wrap Up: Shout out to our friends at St Johns Farmers Market for a successful 2023 market season and for inviting suma to be a part of it! Saturdays from July 15 to October 21, suma app users spent more than $3600 at the Market.

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• Volunteer Opportunities: Stay tuned for opportunities to support suma’s 2023 holiday special, including volunteering at our meal delivery locations and at Sheridan’s Market to help suma app users when they pick up their meals.
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Updates on digital justice news

• Last February, Portland City Council passed a Surveillance Technologies policy directing the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s Smart City PDX program and the Office of Equity and Human Rights to develop strategies for effective public participation in surveillance technologies.

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• On November 15 at 6 pm the city will explore frameworks other cities use for the community participation in surveillance technologies, along with a Q&A and discussion. On December 6 at 6 pm join to contribute ideas on how Portland residents can participate in decision making around use and implementation of surveillance technologies.

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• For more resources or to register for these two coming community events visit this link or send an email to smartcitypdx@portlandoregon.gov.

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Funding updates regarding digital justice

• The Oregon Broadband Office has released the draft State of Oregon Digital Equity Plan which outlines how Oregon will use federal funds to provide reliable, affordable, high-speed internet, computing devices, and digital skills training to people who need it most.
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• Suma has been tuned into the ongoing broadband planning, and this Digital Equity Plan is the one we’ve been waiting for folks. This is the bucket of funding that our urban communities may use to fund projects pertaining to digital equity. The draft State of Oregon Digital Equity Plan is now open for a 45-day public comment period until 5:00 p.m. PST on December 16, 2023. ​
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• The suma team will be reviewing and producing public comment on this digital equity plan. We will be sure to share our public comments and any action items via the next newsletter. If you want to take matters into your own hands ASAP, submit comments via the public comment portal.

• Suma is working with Hacienda CDC, Forth and Mobility Development Partners to bring shared electric vehicles onto the suma app for residents of Hacienda CDC’s Las Adelitas affordable housing community. This is the culmination of years of work in NE Portland’s Cully Neighborhood – and part of suma’s origin story – including 2018’s Living Cully Community Mobility Assessment. In the Assessment, participants identified clean mobility solutions to their transportation needs, but also identified multiple barriers that prevent them from using their technology to access shared electric vehicles and other clean mobility options. We built the suma app to respond to those barriers.