Acorn Active Media Foundation

The Acorn Active Media Foundation engages in software, website and technical development in support of the global justice movement. Acorn's commitment to its work stems from a foundational philosophy that its projects should align with the Foundation's goals to support social and economic justice. Acorn is proud of the projects it undertakes because it knows that by supporting these initiatives, Acorn is helping to create the society and culture we all want to live in. Over the past half-decade, the Acorn Active Media Foundation (Acorn) has grown to become a leading community technology provider for the East Central Illinois region, organizations throughout the United States, and numerous international initiatives. Acorn provides low-cost community and non-profit web and email hosting for scores of organizations, hundreds of e-mail lists, and tens of thousands of users (both local and regional, as well as nationally and internationally). Acorn oversees the Chambana.net server infrastructure, which provides low-cost web hosting services to non-profit organizations, small businesses, and individuals, both locally and internationally, by collectivizing the use of uplink bandwidth on a shared internet connection. Acorn has also been fundamental in supporting the growth of the CUWiN wireless network (see www.CUWiN.net), developing the network’s server infrastructure, and improving the stability and robustness of CUWiN's core open source software. The Chambana.net server infrastructure now includes a file repository and voice over IP (VoIP) services, and has been integrated into the existing infrastructure of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation (which is also run by Acorn staff). CUWiN's wireless network now covers downtown Urbana and includes nodes purchased by the City of Urbana, Illinois. The City's wireless nodes will be utilized to provide wireless hotspots using new dual-radio functionality that has been built into CUWiN's software. The expansion of the network and development of our server infrastructure has enabled the Acorn Active Media Foundation to create and strengthen ties with numerous local organizations and businesses that have asked for technological services that Acorn can now provide. Based on the enormous successes of Acorn's main projects, Acorn is expanding its staff to better meet the demand for its community networking and digital media initiatives.