Innovation that serves humanity
At the LARVA Center for Innovation, we believe technology should close gaps, not widen them. We bring together communities, government, educational institutions, and innovators to research, pilot, and deploy solutions that make communities safer, more connected, and more accessible.Our work is centered on the people too often left out of technological progress: underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, students, seniors, and veterans. Like the larva that becomes something greater, we exist to help ideas, and the people behind them, grow into their full potential.
The LARVA Center for Innovation advances public safety, accessibility, education, and civic engagement through technology that is ethical, inclusive, and built for the people who need it most.
Where technology meets the public good.
Public Safety Pilot Programs
We fund and manage real-world pilots of communication and safety technologies with law enforcement agencies and municipalities. The goal is to reduce misunderstanding during traffic stops and roadside encounters and to build trust between residents and the officers who serve them.
Accessibility Research
We support research on how technology can make public safety interactions accessible for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, people with disabilities, and speakers of other languages. Inclusion is designed in from the start, not added later.
Ethical Technology Evaluation
Using the Lewis Framework™, we help communities and public agencies assess whether a technology deserves public trust before it is adopted, and whether it delivers on its promise afterward.
Education and Digital Equity
Through scholarships, fellowships, and digital literacy initiatives, we prepare the next generation of innovators and public servants.
Civic Engagement
We host forums, conferences, and community conversations that give residents a real voice in how technology shapes their lives.
Cities, schools, and public safety agencies adopt new technologies every year, often with little guidance on whether those tools are fair, accessible, or effective.
The Lewis Framework™ for Public Technology Evaluation gives decision-makers and communities a shared standard for answering those questions. Developed by Dr. Leah C. Lewis, J.D., the Framework evaluates public technologies on six principles:
Trust
Accountability
Accessibility
Constitutional Principles
Evidence-Based Decision-Making
Measurable Public Outcomes
How we use it:
Evaluations: independent assessments for municipalities, agencies, and school systems considering new technology
Training: workshops for procurement officers, public safety leaders, and community advocates
Policy guidance: practical recommendations for responsible adoption and oversight
Research: studies on how public technologies affect trust and outcomes in real communities
Technology should earn the public's trust
Become a Founding Supporter
Your gift puts ethical, accessible technology to work in real communities through pilot programs, research, and education.
âś“ Fund public-safety pilots that build trust between residents and officers
âś“ Advance accessibility research and scholarships for future innovators
Help build a future where technology works for everyone.
Our Leadership
Dr. Leah Lewis J.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Dennis Smith
Chair of the Board
Martina Hinton
Treasurer
Marcus Casswell
Secretary