IBX Game Changers Challenge
Link back to the Information Advocates Notebook
Link to the iStart IBX Web site
Business Name
Philadelphia Information Advocates
Business Abstract
A network of dedicated, trusted, community-based listeners intelligently connecting resources to requests.
An Information Advocate is a person who helps their neighbors, community members, or any other group of people learn about the resources, skills and needs of other members of the community and the world. They provide access to social supports and help the community to build social capital by listening to their constituents and converting what they learn into information that can be shared in ways that are appropriate to each person's needs. They help people to conduct research and teach people how to use information and communication tools. Their importance lies in the fact that they are a person who is available to be helpful in using modern technology and knowing who does what in the community. Information Advocates help their community with COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION and TRUST.
1. Read and agree to the official rules and conditions
Yes
2. Team leader name and email address:
Stanley Pokras <pokras@ntronline.org>
3. Team names and email addresses:
4 Advisor names and email addresses:
Application and Organizational Information
5. Team or Company name:
The startup of this project is being sponsored by Nonprofit Technology Resources (NTR), a charitable 501 (c) 3 organization.
NTR's Mission:
NTR is committed to helping the people of Philadelphia, and the organizations that serve them, have access to and use of information and communication technology.
NTR's Vision:
NTR envisions Philadelphia as a city where all people, regardless of financial resources, have the skills, knowledge, and access to the informaiton and communication technology they need to achieve their goals.
6. List all founders/board members/advisors:
Board of Directors, Nonprofit Technology Resources
Ken Kramer, President (2012) - Trainer, Comcast Corporation
Ed Cummings, Vice-President (2014) - President, Electronic Design Systems
William M. Finn, Treasurer (2014) - Certified Public Accountant
Patricia G. Coyne, Secretary (2012) - Human Relations Rep, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
Stanley R. Pokras, Executive Director (2012) - Nonprofit Technology Resources
Virginia Booker (2014) - Director, W.E. Martin Production Company
Vanja Buvac (2014) - CEO, The Cadence Watch Company
Nathan Cottrell (2012) - Account Manager, SHI International
Myra Cousins (2013) - Retired university professor
Ronald E. Cropper, Jr. (2012) - Network Administrator, DOT/DHS, City of Philadelphia
David Rifkin (2014)
Simmone R. Roberts (2013) - Retired business administrator
Jonathan R. Verlin (2012) - Teacher, South Philadelphia High School
Narissa Wallace (2012) - President, Multi-Media Concepts, Inc.
Tim Wisniewski (2014) - Assistant Managing Director for the City of Philadelphia
7. Organization website:
Nonprofit Technology Resources: http://NTRweb.org
Philadelphia Information Advocacy: http://ntrweb.org/information-advocacy/
8. Organization address (if not located in Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, or Bucks counties, what are your plans to establish a location in the region?
Nonprofit Technology Resources, 1524 Brandywine Street, Philadelphia PA 19130
9. Business model:
Non-profit
The founding organization is Nonprofit Technology Resources, a charitable 501 (c) 3 organization. The project may grow into a coalition of organizations with a new corporate name and a new IRS filing.
10. Date established/years in business:
Nonprofit Technology Resources was founded as "Public Interest Media Project" in 1974. We took the current name in 1993.
Information Advocacy became a project concept in the Spring of 2011 and is an extension of work done as "Everything for Everybody" in 1970.
11. How will you measure your impact on health and wellness? What metrics will you use?
There will be two levels of evaluation for this project. The first will evaluate the development of the project and will be measured, in part, by the number of organizations and individuals who have agreed to participate and by the numbers of people taking advantage of the training and technology resources offered as they become available.
The second level of evaluation will compare Philadelphia today with Philadelphia's health statistics as they change going forward.
Our associates at Temple University have agreed to conduct the evaluation process. A letter of support from Michele Masucci is expected to affirm the commitment of the University. Stan
Your Solution, Innovation and Social Impact
12. Describe your proposed solution, product, or service and how it will help improve health and wellness in the region.
Information Advocacy is an extension of an idea developed by John Scully in the late 1960's. Scully had a store front shop from which he ran an organization he called Everything for Everybody.
13. What root health issues will be impacted by your solution?
14. Why do you consider your solution innovative? Discuss how it is different from existing solutions.
At this time in history there are very few, if any places where a person can speak with another person and have their needs, skills, ideas, resources and interests noted, recorded and disseminated. The idea that we should have a network of dedicated listeners in every community adds to the powers that the Internet offers to tech savvy individuals. With such a network in place, people who do not have Internet access, or the skills to communicate their needs effectively will be able to take advantage of the full power of the Internet to make information about them accessible to the people who meet their needs.
All existing solutions leave out the listener. This project makes available real, caring people who can help a client prioritize their needs and find the best solution(s) while maintaining the client's privacy and security.
15. What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months towards implementing your solution? What major tasks do you need to complete to achieve these milestones?
Scalability and Practicality
16. What communities or constituencies are you targeting/will you target initially? Why? How have or do you propose to impact health among these groups?
17. What are your plans for scaling your solution throughout the region and beyond? What resources will you need to accomplish this?
The web communication tools will allow for regional and linguistic variety. The listing tools will offer geographical and conceptual focus. For example a listing may be directed at a particular zip code. Alternatively, a listing may specify a particular focus such as HIV or spinal cord injury. Once the Philadelphia Information Advocacy Network is functioning, we expect that there will be a need for the translation of listings into multiple languages.
18. How will your venture create a lasting impact on health and wellness?
19. What is your business model? For a for-profit venture, how will you make money? For a non-profit, what revenue streams will you develop to sustain your venture?
Non-profit
Charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, training fees, network membership fees, web marketing and ad revenues
20. Financial model: describe your revenues and projected costs for the next several years. At what point do you reach break-even? Describe resources (investment and other) that you will need to reach break-even and sustainability.
21. What research, analysis, or testing have you done to validate the impact of your proposed solution and the viability of your business model?
22. Feasibility Please provide a brief history of your venture, including obstacles overcome and milestones reached.
23. Please provide a brief background for each of the founders or principals who will be working on your solution, emphasizing experience relevant to implementing your proposed solution.
24. Who are/will be your competitors and what will make you competitive with them?
25. What potential obstacles to your long-term success do you foresee? How do you plan on overcoming these obstacles?
26. What resources or expertise are you currently lacking?
27. How do you believe Independence Blue Cross or the other challenge supporters could be helpful to you as you implement your solution?
Other
28. Feel free to attach additional materials that help describe your product, service, or solution; its impact on health and wellness; or your team. The maximum attachment size is five (5) pages.
29. Where did you hear about the Challenge?
A: Jeff Friedman posted a message in the Open Access Philly email list: IBX Game Changers Challenge