Fairhill community organization Village Arts and Humanities has teamed up with the Free Library of Philadelphia to provide residents with a free internet hot spot.
The seven-seat computer lab is located at Village Arts’ headquarters at 2544 Germantown Ave.
“The library rents out space in various areas and different community centers where they provide computer internet service for people who are not as fortunate enough to have that service available,” said Odell Foster, community intern at the Free Library.
Leon Sanford has been involved with Village Arts since he was a senior in high school and is now the key spot manager at the organization.
“I believe this community here, they’re a very close knit community, a lot don’t have access to Internet, Wi-Fi or just a place to come and surf the web,” said Sanford. “So having the hot spot is definitely a very, very big help for us.”
The program, which received funding from Broadband USA, Verizon and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, has also helped ease some of the workload off of Village Arts.
“There’s times where we’re filled to capacity,” said Sanford. “They’re able to assist us with being able to take some that volume from us.”
Village Arts is also involved in many other projects, like its publication, Cred Magazine.
The magazine, brainstormed in a graphic design class at the Village, is published quarterly and is comprised of works from Philadelphia residents under the age of 25.
“It’s definitely a great tool for the young voices of Philly,” said Sanford. “To get their work out there, definitely let them have a voice.”
The magazine is available on newsstands around the city, and the hot spot is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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