Testimonials

"In any business relationship, half the battle is to work with people who are able to quickly grasp an in-depth understanding of your vision. When working with Karen Archer Perry on our digital inclusion strategy, I am always assured not just of her knowledge and understanding of the complex issues surrounding this subject but of her ability to present timely, cost-effective and value-added solutions. She has developed a great network of quality resources both regional and national that have helped us understand what other communities are doing in this space. It is a pleasure to work with her."

"Karen has an uncanny ability to bring diverse groups and organizations together for a common good. Individuals and organizations that might otherwise have been working at cross purposes, duplicating efforts, or even competing against one another, instead, with Karen's guidance, came together in such a way as to complement each other; matching needs in one area with strengths in another, for the ultimate benefit of the community.

Karen took to Olney as if she'd been born and raised here. She was able to discern almost as if by instinct the needs of our neighborhoods, and then to mobilize those organizations best positioned to fill those needs. Karen was an active and energetic one-person liaison between large city agencies and small local organizations, all for the ultimate (and worthy) goal of urban 'digital inclusion.'"

"Karen brings an authentic community-based perspective to Digital Inclusion work, as well as experience and passion. Her keen understanding of the diverse issues facing municipal network stakeholders provides an invaluable resource for communities embarking on any broadband, wireless or municipal network project."

"Karen Archer Perry has made extremely valuable contributions to Wireless Philadelphia and its mission of Digital Inclusion. Her tireless grassroots outreach to community leaders and community members created enthusiasm in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia for our wireless initiative. She has the ability to create and execute a variety of appropriate communications processes and synthesize information in ways that are useful for policy makers, program managers and community leaders alike."

"Karen's support was instrumental in expanding San Francisco's Digital Inclusion Strategy to better reflect the concerns and opportunities of our community. In addition to designing our affordable PC Purchase Plan, she has served as an advisor, a sounding board, and connector. She has deep knowledge about the field and a real passion for issues of digital inclusion and social equity."

"Karen brought the Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) great information about Wireless Philadelphia, but more importantly, she listened to our ideas and our vision of how we could extend opportunities in our community through the creation of a Neighborhood Operations Center. Karen is professional, knowledgeable and an excellent community champion."

"Karen is helping to define practical Digital Inclusion strategies for today‚Äö?Ñ?? municipal Wi-Fi implementations."

"Karen and I worked side-by-side in the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia to launch a pilot network for Wireless Philadelphia, with Karen building the community launch event and my team creating the community portal. From our many calls together and all of our subsequent collaboration, I can attest to her ability to create and communicate a vision for municipal wireless and her passion for ensuring that such networks really support and enhance community."

"Karen's work with Wireless Philadelphia really did 'put the community in community wireless.' She produced a street event that introduced the pilot network and drew over a thousand people from the Olney neighborhood. Her sincerity and enthusiasm for the project helped to convince me that our small organization, Nonprofit Technology Resources, had a role to play in the event. We installed free WiFi cards in people's PCs until after dark. She also reached out to the entire "digital inclusion" community through Philadelphia's regional chapter of the Community Technology Centers Network (CTCNet) using her strong communication skills to ensure that ongoing program design reflected the needs and ideas of those of us with a long-standing commitment to increasing access to Information and Community Technology."