(Office of Planning and Development) — On Oct. 29, 2022 the Community Pillars Awards Committee evaluated eight exciting and innovative projects with solutions for internet access, multi-purpose space, and digital equipment gaps in the CNMI. The Community Pillars Presentations event saw the eight finalists present project “pitch” presentations to a judging panel. This panel is expected to deliver their final priority assessments this week, and these final rankings will determine which projects will move forward and be supported through over $10 million in Capital Projects Fund allocations to the CNMI.
The Community Pillars program is a project under the Office of Planning and Development that engaged with dozens of Community Anchor Institutions or CAIs such as schools, libraries, and public facilities and invited these CAIs to play a key role in improving digital equity in the CNMI.
“Just being in the room with all these impressive leaders with dedication for improving life in the Northern Marianas was particularly uplifting,” said Peter Dresslar.
Dresslar serves as senior advisor, broadband and digital equity for the Office of Planning and Development and has led the Community Pillars program from its inception. “When you are surrounded by so many talented folks, it starts to feel like the sky really is the limit for much of this programming.”
On the day of presentations, the Awards Committee selected project teams for special awards, the categories being “Best Presentation,” “Most Innovative Project,” and “Most Sustainable Project.” Along with certificates, the teams chosen for these awards will receive professional awards, such as gift certificates to online project management trainings. These awards are an expression of gratitude from OPD to the institutions for their commitment and hard work throughout the stages of the Community Pillars program.
Winning “Best Presentation” was Northern Marianas College, with NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero’s presentation on the college’s proposed “Proa Tech Café” which will serve as a social hub with high-speed internet and access to the college’s numerous educational, entrepreneurship, and workforce development resources. The café will be available to college students and the community alike.
“It was an honor to join our community partners in exploring how we can use the best digital tools and resources currently available to meet the education, workforce, and health needs of our community. I was especially impressed by how creative everyone was with their ideas, each one of which would do so much to improve the lives of the people of the CNMI,” said Deleon Guerrero.
“We appreciate the Governor’s leadership and the assistance of the Office of Planning and Development in putting this program together, and we look forward to working with them to bring our ideas to life.”
Winning “Most Innovative Project” was the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, with its Executive Director Leo Pangelinan and NMI Museum Director Daniel Aquino presenting on their proposed plans for a Commonwealth Center for the Humanities. This center will provide the community a way to collect, exhibit, and transmit information about everyone’s humanity through both physical and virtual spaces.
“I was thrilled that the Commonwealth Center for the Humanities was recognized as having the most innovative project design. Our project imagines the effective use of technology and broadband services to bridge communities, especially our youth and manamko’ to preserve and promote the cultural heritages of our indigenous and diverse communities. We are grateful for this recognition and all the support of the CNMI Broadband Community Pillars staff to get our project proposal ready and workable,” said Pangelinan.
Winning the “Most Sustainable Project” award was the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, with Federal Program Coordinator Joey Songsong presenting on the “Technology Mobile Express,” which will utilize vans that will serve as a high-scale MiFi on wheels to provide long-range internet access to multiple clients. Furthermore, a computer lab will be located within the vehicle for community members who do not have access to computers in their households.
The Community Pillars Program and other digital equity projects under the OPD Broadband Team are significant pieces in the CNMI’s progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal or SDG #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
One goal for the CNMI as part of SDG #9 is to support planning efforts that include subsidy programs or community connection hubs to ensure that all residents of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota have in-home access to the internet through broadband or wireless connection by 2030.
According to OPD Director Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, “We are excited to engage with our community partners in this innovative program to provide internet access to our people and help us achieve our sustainable development goal target with regards to SDG #9. As part of our Comprehensive Sustainable Development Plan approved by Governor Torres in October 2021, OPD, the Planning and Development Advisory Council, and agency and community stakeholders are working to support work that would help us achieve our sustainable development goals.”
More details on the SDGs and other long-term goals for the CNMI are discussed in the CNMI Comprehensive Sustainable Development Plan linked here: https://opd.gov.mp/assets/2021-2030_cnmi_csdp.pdf
Learn more about OPD Broadband here: opd.gov.mp/internet
Participating institutions were the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs- Division of Youth Services; Joeten-Kiyu Public Library; Office of the Mayor of Rota, Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan; Northern Marianas College; Northern Marianas Housing Corporation; Northern Marianas Humanities Council; Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History and Culture; and the Northern Marianas Technical Institute.
Members of the Awards Committee on Saturday included acting special assistant for the Office of Management and Budget Nadia Benjamin, first lady Diann Torres, grants specialist for the Department of Public Lands Ray Lizama, and Special Assistant to the Governor for Military Affairs Glenna Sakisat Palacios.
Northern Marianas College President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, fifth from left, holds up NMC’s “Best Presentation” award after the Community Pillars Awards Committee Presentations event held on Oct. 29 at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Conference Room. NMC’s proposed digital equity project is the “Proa Tech Café” which will serve as a social hub with high-speed internet and access to the college’s numerous educational, entrepreneurship, and workforce development resources. The café will be available to college students and the community alike. Also included in the photo are Office of Planning and Development Director A. Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, OPD Senior Policy Advisor on Broadband and Digital Equity Peter Dresslar, and Community Pillars Awards Committee members first lady Diann Torres, Glenna Sakisat Palacios, Nadia Benjamin, and Ray Lizama.
Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo Pangelinan and NMI Museum Director Daniel Aquino, third and fourth from left respectively, hold up the “Most Innovative Project” award after the Community Pillars Awards Committee Presentations event held on Oct. 29 at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Conference Room. The Humanities Council’s proposed project, the Commonwealth Center for the Humanities, will provide the community a way to collect, exhibit, and transmit information about everyone’s humanity through both physical and virtual spaces. Also included in the photo are Office of Planning and Development Director A. Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, OPD Senior Policy Advisor on Broadband and Digital Equity Peter Dresslar, and Community Pillars Awards Committee members first lady Diann Torres, Glenna Sakisat Palacios, Nadia Benjamin, and Ray Lizama.
Joeten-Kiyu Public Library federal program coordinator Joey Songsong holds up JKPL’s “Most Sustainable Project” award after the Community Pillars Awards Committee Presentations event held on Oct. 29 at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Conference Room. JKPL’s proposed project, the “Technology Mobile Express,” will utilize vans that will serve as a high-scale MiFi on wheels to provide long-range internet access to multiple clients. Furthermore, a computer lab will be located within the vehicle for community members who do not have access to computers in their households. Also included in the photo are Office of Planning and Development Director A. Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, OPD Senior Policy Advisor on Broadband and Digital Equity Peter Dresslar, and Community Pillars Awards Committee members first lady Diann Torres, Glenna Sakisat Palacios, Nadia Benjamin, and Ray Lizama.
