a walk through homewood with carlos thomas
As an Internet Service Provider, our team of installers spends a lot of time on rooftops, basements, and crawl spaces, connecting our customers to the Internet with radios, wires, and the latest software. Although technology is central to our work at Community Internet Solutions, we recognize that people in the communities we serve are the most essential part of our network. Recently, we had the opportunity to join one of our partners, Carlos Thomas, Director at Feed The Hood, for a walk through the streets to assess needs and identify opportunities. Mr. Thomas is a lifelong resident of the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Together, we discussed the requirements and challenges of the community as we plan to launch our next point of presence on 7800 Susquehanna.
We met Mr. Thomas at the Everyday Cafe on Homewood Ave and walked down the business corridor to Dana’s Bakery. On the way, Mr. Thomas pointed out some new construction in an old building that is being revitalized to offer affordable housing. Several people recognized our host and stopped us to chat before we moved on. We passed beautiful murals on historic buildings and finally made it to Dana’s Bakery, a staple in the community for nearly 40 years. With a special on donuts (six for five dollars!), we picked up some treats and continued on the journey.
We set out to see several community gardens that Mr. Thomas works with that could benefit from having Internet access. On the way, we saw massive brick houses on tree-lined streets. More people waved or hollered at our guide, and at this point, I was sure he knew every person in Homewood! We were surprised to learn our host was such a well-known personality. Despite his local celebrity, we appreciated how Mr. Thomas took the time to point out details, like which houses had just been fixed up and what organizations owned buildings, and where we might host wireless infrastructure. He took care to identify groups who might also need Internet access.
Eventually, our tour arrived at the first official stop: the BUGS (Black Urban Growers) garden at the Homewood Historic Farm. We learned about the history and mission of its founder, Raqueeb Bey. I was elated to see several Pawpaw trees planted in a new garden section at a vacant lot across from their greenhouse. From there, we walked down the neighborhood’s other main corridor, Frankstown Avenue. Along the way, it became clear that the community is facing significant challenges. Many buildings and houses are abandoned. Some were not even boarded up, with broken windows and doors hanging open. One business property, Mr. Thomas told us, had sat empty for more than twenty years after a small child had been killed there by gunfire. We also spoke to several people along the street who could not find work. Blight has fallen on parts of the community and is causing obvious pain and trauma for some residents.
On Frankstown, we passed the Homewood Coliseum, once a vibrant community center that has sat idle for too many years and is starting to show wear. Built in 1890 as a warehouse for more than 100 street cars, it was converted to a community resource in the 1960s and has since been used for music, arts, and entertainment. I visited only a handful of years ago when performer KRS-One headlined a concert. Unfortunately, it closed shortly after because the owners could not maintain the space. Today, it encapsulates many community challenges, and vigorous debate is ongoing regarding what its subsequent use should be. In the meantime, it sits vacant, deteriorating, and not generating community benefits or business revenue. Across the street is the Operation Better Block community garden with several hoop houses for warm-weather plants. The garden is overflowing with colorful flowers that match the murals on the Homewood Coliseum.
Near the end of our tour, we walked up the steep Brushton Avenue at the north end of the community to see the Homewood North Parklet. On a map, this area looks like an official green space. However, we were amazed to see that the park was utterly abandoned and overgrown. Trees six inches wide grow straight through the cracked asphalt of what was once a basketball court and playground area. Mr. Thomas explained that the City was afraid to let people gather to play basketball, so they removed the equipment. A single water fountain remained, non-functioning in the thicket of weeds and small trees. Walking back down the hill, we saw a beautiful view of Downtown Pittsburgh. We even spotted a few Community Internet Solutions radio antennas on rooftops dotting the hillside, providing residents with no- or low-cost Internet service.
When we plan to expand our digital infrastructure in a neighborhood, we follow the lead of trusted community partners, like Mr. Thomas, who help us understand the history and future of a region. It’s not just antennas and routers that many of our customers need. As pointed out by our Executive Director, Colby Hollabaugh, “broadband might be the least problematic challenge some of the residents face in the communities where we work.” Our mission doesn’t start with connecting cables and doesn’t end with a strong Internet connection.
We found Homewood to be a beautiful neighborhood full of warm and welcoming residents, long-lasting, locally-owned small businesses, and outstanding century-old housing stock brimming with potential. We cannot wait to see what the residents do next as the community works to address the issues at hand.
As we expand service across that neighborhood and the surrounding areas, we try to empower residents with access to the riches and promises of the digital world. High-speed Internet is essential for full participation in our society. Our mission to close the digital divide and promote digital equity is a critical step in resolving many of the complex challenges our partners and customers face. We thank Mr. Thomas for graciously providing us with glimpses of the work ahead and sharing his infectious enthusiasm. We welcome the opportunity to join him in the effort!