About Matt Dame
I am an American Studies major at Georgetown in the class of 2027. I am from Baltimore which is where my research project is based. This summer, I am working with Georgetown Law Professor Monica Sanders on the "Ten States Project." We are working in conjunction with community leaders in neighborhoods in West Baltimore that have been systemically excluded from broadband internet access and face disproportionate climate related threats. West Baltimore is home to historic Black neighborhoods like Park Heights and Sandtown that have their own unique and dedicated community organizations and organizers. One component of my project is to highlight and asset map the many mutual aid networks and community resources in these neighborhoods. Often asset maps frame communities in terms of which public or private resources they consume, but our work is focused on highlighting the resources that people and organizations offer each other. The other primary goal of the project is to identify and support solutions to the stark digital inequity that simultaneously contributes to systemic poverty and prevents adequate risk reduction around climate issues in Baltimore. Maryland is not one of the 19 states that prohibit the development of public broadband and there are local organizations such as Rowdy Orbit that focus on building networks of community wifi. These networks offer internet with higher capacities at fractions of the costs of national internet providers which has become vital in order for neighborhoods to thrive. I am working with Rowdy Orbit and community leaders to research and pursue effective methods of building community broadband that is designed to meet the specific needs of each neighborhood. The expansion of internet access is closely related to improving environmental conditions in these neighborhoods especially as it plays a crucial role in their ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts and disasters.