One of the best unintended consequences of our successful BTOP project has been the people we’ve met – and keep meeting. Yesterday we participated in a conference call with “Wave 6” BTOP projects. The phone call was convened by the NTIA folks with two goals in mind – to help us cross our federal t’s and dot our federal i’s and to help us connect with each other.
I wanted to share just a little bit about the folks we met. Their programs are innovative and may be helpful in other communities and/or worth replicating in some areas:
MEDA – Mission Economic Development Agency works out of San Francisco but their project spans several states, included Minnesota. They focus on building personal assets in low income neighborhoods and plan to run a network of 17 computer centers. They’ll provide computer access, broadband and training to Latino populations. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
The Latino Microentrepreneur Tech Net is a collaborative project led by the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) of San Francisco and the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) of San Antonio, Texas. LMTN will establish Public Computer Centers and a standardized bilingual training curriculum for Latino entrepreneurs at 17 locations nationwide and create 2,100 jobs. http://tinyurl.com/y56f4np
Computers for Youth – Based in NY with offices in other places – they want to improve home learning environment for low income children. They are working with middle schools to bring in families for Saturday training where families can walk away with a broadband-ready computer. They also work with teachers. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
Provide efficient adoption of an open Wi-Fi mesh network into the low-rent housing areas of Mar Vista, Del Rey and a newly formed open Wi-Fi mesh network in the low-rent housing areas of Venice/Lincoln. Working with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Computers for Youth and the City of Los Angeles Community Computer Centers, we’ll provide last-mile solutions to the under served community. http://tinyurl.com/y2jsaul
Fayetteville State University will partner with their local Metropolitan Housing to operate a computer center near the campus for technology education as well as training to help people get into the workforce. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
The purpose of this activity is to educate vulnerable populations about broadband, provide training access and equipment, and support FMHA and FSU in providing these services. Services provided will address economic growth and job creation in Fayetteville, North Carolina. http://tinyurl.com/yyv359t
City of Chicago is working on Smart Communities to drive broadband adoption through comprehensive training, where attendees get a computer and business training on tools such as web conferencing. They will create family-net centers and working on You-Media will be connecting kids with media skills. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
One of three SmartChicago projects, Sustainable Broadband Adoption will drive broadband use through street-level outreach and user-friendly trainings including -Enhanced access at FamilyNet and Business Centers -Grassroots promotion by tech-savvy organizers -Everday Digital and Civic 2.0 workshops -Digital Youth Networks -Neighborhood portals -Hardware incentives -Business assistance http://tinyurl.com/y3qjske
Vermont Council on Rural Development – E-Vermont is a statewide effort to reach underserved communities that are just getting online. They will build digital literacy and cultures of use. As the only other rural project in the mix, we are especially interested in learning more from and about them. Of special interest to me is the fact that one of their project partners is “Front Porch Forum.” FPF has a vision and mission similar to Steve Clift’s e-democracy.org, with whom Blandin has successfully partnered in the past, including ongoing support for a very lively and substantive Issues Forum in Cass Lake, among others. The goal is ubiquitous use in specific towns. Here’s their official summary for e-Vermont and a link for more info:
e-Vermont: The Community Broadband Project will help rural communities and businesses realize the opportunities of the Internet for civic engagement, community betterment, school modernization, job creation and e-commerce. Working with 24 “e-Vermont Communities” over two years, it will systematically stimulate digital culture in schools and homes, community groups and businesses. http://tinyurl.com/y34j4tj
Las Vegas Urban League will empower communities and ensure equal opportunities. They will be enhancing existing public access computer centers and developing new centers (a total of 30) with bi-lingual study tools for digital literacy and job application skills. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
Vulnerable families will have Access to Computer Technology and Instruction in Online Networking. The ACTION program develops community technology centers and provides training to vulnerable populations in utilizing broadband to access educational and employment opportunities. ACTION is a collaboration of the Las Vegas-Clark County Urban League, Cox Communications, local government and partners. http://tinyurl.com/y78j3re
NY City Department of Information Technology is giving students a home computer with broadband, training and family training. Also providing training for teachers and administrators. Here’s their official summary and a link for more info:
Broadbandexpress@yourlibrary is an innovative project with a strategic mix of 30 library-based public computer centers and 5 mobile training labs targeting unemployed, underemployed and vulnerable populations in 41 economically distressed upstate New York Counties. The State Library and its partners will also establish interactive video teleconferencing services and 24/7 job resources. http://tinyurl.com/yybjsqp
