Reflections from a year in Puerto Rico

This week marks the two year anniversary of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, and the one-year anniversary of ribbon-cutting ceremonies for our social impact project, Innovative Resilience.  In the last year, we have seen technology, connectivity, and skills training enable economic development in Arroyo and Utuado, Puerto Rico. These two small and often overlooked communities have a 50% poverty rate (Data USA) and 73% of the people do not have reliable access to connectivity (Innovative Resilience).

We are often asked why we went to Puerto Rico since we had no previous connection to the island. Well, it was simple. We were disappointed. We couldn’t stand by and watch people being left without power or connectivity as their already ingrained inequality continued to grow. Surely we could do something to make a difference - and fortunately, we could. With the support of Viasat and the Asociacion de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico (ASPPR), who believed as passionately as we did, we launched a program in community empowerment and long-term resilience; Innovative Resilience.

In Arroyo, a small community on the “Forgotten Coast” of Puerto Rico that does not even have a library, we opened the Innovative Resilience hub on September 14, 2018.  Viasat satellite connectivity has served over 3,000 people this year through our community-designed co-working space that we set up inside the public health medical clinic, Centro de Salud Familiar. Due to the unique combination of technology and space, the center serves as an emergency response command center in a disaster and was successfully tested when an earthquake hit Arroyo on March 12, 2019. When the threat of Hurricane Dorian came, Arroyo was ready. 

When we look back at the year, we are humbled every day by the community members who utilize the innovation space and connectivity. Technology, connectivity, and training enable:

• Small business development.  Meralys runs a small jewelry business which she is expanding into a new makeup line. With the support of the hub, she has been able to scale her business to support the new product with online marketing and new local hires.
• Community Action: Nick, local high school student, came to the hub to use our design and marketing tools to create messages encouraging locals to VOTE.
• Education in digital skills: Through the Viasat connectivity, we provide the Girls’ Voices virtual program teaching teenage girls the power of storytelling through digital media.  
• Access to Livelihood: Ramon came to our hub wanting to learn how to navigate the internet to buy an electric panel to fix his car, which is the source of his livelihood. He learned how to utilize the google search tool and found online pages such as Amazon and Ebay where he could find the parts to fix his car.
• Entrepreneurs to launch: Joel and Militza attended an ecommerce workshop at our hub and were able to start an online business selling handcrafted baby swings and clothes. 

The Innovative Resilience hub is open to the public 6 days a week and we welcome business mentorship, workshop partners and technology resources. More information can be found at: www.innovativeresilience.org