CTC outreach
CTC Outreach
Organization:
Community Computer Access Network (C-CAN) VISTA Name:
Jeff Streier
Program Start:
6/2001
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
C-CAN is a network of partner CTCs that was designed to provide resources and assistance to each other: Jeff’s job has been to organize these CTCs and provide start-up resources to seed the development of this collaborative. The success of Jeff’s work has resulted in increased activity and the development of formal collaborations between partners, and Jeff will report on this activity in the coming months.
Goal 1: Help local CTCs build capacity and increase usership through increased volunteer recruitment and better staff management of volunteers.
Goal 2: Increase community participation at CTC networking activities and at workshops.
Goal 3: : Ensure that the work of the C-CAN will continue after the AmeriCorps*VISTA members leave.
Project Outcome:
Goal 1: The project has accomplished its major goals for 2002 already, in the recruitment of over 170 local volunteers for CTCs in our network and setting up CompuMentor volunteer management training for CTC staff.
Goal 2: Increased attendance at Quarterly meetings and annual conference from last years’ numbers, signed up 20+ attendees for CompuMentor training.
Goal 3: Working with members from local CTCs to encourage committee work and leadership within the C-CAN.
C-CAN’s AmeriCorps/ VISTA members have finished work on development of our main project: The Volunteer Hub. This project required finalizing the database of local CTCs, contracting them to review their data, and training them in use of the online volunteer database and volunteer opportunities directory
Jeff Streier has concentrated on working with organizations to prepare them for using the Hub, Heidi Marshall has focused on recruitment of volunteers. Both Members staffed a booth at the MN State Fair in late August of 2002 for 10 days.
In addition to work on the volunteer management and recruitment projects, both Members helped to organize the second annual Twin Cities Community Technology Conference, which attracted over 75 participants. The Mayor of Minneapolis, R.T. Ryback, was on hand to deliver the keynote speech, and was so impressed by what the community is doing in terms of CTC activity that C-CAN was invited to a series of meetings at the Mayors’ Office.
These meetings have resulted in the development of a new Community Technology Task Force, featuring participation by local government, industry, and non-profit technology providers. The focus of this task force is to develop a City agenda for improving “Digital Opportunity” for residents of the City of Minneapolis. Another outcome of this partnership is that C-CAN and the City of Minneapolis have just submitted a proposal for a cluster of 25 new AmeriCorps members to serve in local CTC projects.
CTC Outreach and Implementation
Organization:
Byte Back VISTA Name:
Murel Carmichael
Program Start:
8/2001
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
Byte Back needs VISTA assistance to meet the following goals:
1) Better community service through better information and outreach: VISTA workers will assist us with Community Mapping and community Outreach to determine modifications to services at existing CTC’s and the location of additional CTC’s
2) Definition and documentation of the methods, the curriculum, and the effectiveness of the Byte Back model, the Technology Expert Organization (TEO), so that others may benefit from this success.
3) Establishing a sustainability program so that Byte Back is not reliant on grants for continued existence and service.”
Project Outcome:
While actual canvassing of the local neighborhood was fruitful for relationships in our home neighborhood, networking with other organizations was more effective when we were exploring territory that was new to us. We have provided assistance to many new organizations and this assistance ranges from extensive and on-going to brief and by request.
VISTAs helped shape Byte Back’s future through the information gathered in community mapping and other outreach activities. Although we initially thought computer sales and fees for specific tasks might provide sustainability for Byte Back, our understanding the needs of the non-profit community changed through community mapping and attending or leading events and focus groups. We found that many local non-profits had little idea how to meet their technical needs economically, and also needed assistance integrating program and technical planning. Often they relied on irregular volunteers or expensive consultants. Because of these needs revealed through our outreach programs, we have developed a Tech Gap Working Group which is redirecting our efforts towards the providing of planning and services.
Regional Coordinator
Organization:
CTC Net New England VISTA Name:
Adam Cohen
Program Start:
8/2002
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
• Assist NE affiliates in the process to apply as an official chapter of CTCNet
• Design and implement a membership structure for the Chapter
• Work with chapter affiliates to design and implement a fundraising and development strategy for the region
• Organize and coordinate chapter meetings and training events
• Create a peer assistance program
• Map tech resources and programs within the Chapter’s geographical scope and create distribution outlets for this information
• Conduct outreach activities to bring new organizations to the chapter and CTCNet national
• Network and provide linkages between affiliates and other affiliates, private sector, government, and other organizations
• Work with CTCNet national office to assist in any activities that will benefit Chapter affiliates
Project Outcome:
Has met with various CTCs, has created an online newsletter to keep folks informed. Has contributed to regional / national endeavors such as CBC, ComTech Review, etc. This work continued to be outstanding in its contribution.
Program Development
Organization:
Bruce Wall Ministries/Prep Community Computer Center VISTA Name:
Matthew Frank
Program Start:
8/2002
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
Matt has been working on development both for the PREP Program of Bruce Wall Ministries and for TechMission, Inc.
Project Outcome:
Matt has developed a database of hundreds of potential funding sources for BWM and TechMission. He has narrowed down that database to a list of the top 20 prospects. We have used that database and research to provide information on grant opportunities to hundreds of other CTC’s through our E-mail list. Matthew has developed template grants for both PREP and TechMission that follow the Associated Grantmakers format and other standard formats. We have made available some of these templates to hundreds of other CTC’s through our E-mail list and on our website to assist them in developing resources and grantwriting.
Matthew has also been working with us in our partnerships with organizations to help provide resources to CTC’s. Matthew has provided feedback to other CTC’s on their grant applications for free computers to the Beaumont Foundation. In addition, he has assisted in the review process with the Beaumont Foundation and the Connections for Tomorrow consortium.
Matt has also been involved in many of the strategy discussions for sustainability for TechMission Inc. He has assisted us in applying for an AmeriCorps state application and an AmeriCorps national application. In addition, he has worked with us to secure resources from the Boston Foundation and is assisting us in developing other resources. He has also assisted us in applying for the Department of Education CTC grant, which we were awarded.
We plan to hire Matthew to work for TechMission after completion of his VISTA year.
CTC Outreach and Support
Organization:
CTC Net New England VISTA Name:
Dan Schackman
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
8/2005
Project Description:
Goal 1: Expand local ties among member centers and increase organizational capacity to collaborate with local consortia of CTCs around the country.
Goal 2: Assist in creating a system of technology-related technical assistance support for CTCs in the Boston metropolitan area.
Goal 3: Conduct research, web design activities and email activities to maintain and expand delivery of services to member centers.
Project Outcome:
As can be seen above, Dan has continued to take on an extraordinarily broad range of projects that require talents ranging from research to multi-media production, to writing, community organizing and Web design.
In these past six months he has played an especially important role in increasing the organization’s communication capacity through everything from enhancing our Web site to managing email lists systems for well over 1000 subscribers to communicating with and assisting individuals seeking to create community technology centers.
A summary of accomplishments includes:
Assisting Evaluation for Grants
• Participated in applicant evaluation committee; reviewed approx. 25 proposals for the subawards we’re making through our CNS-funded Learn & Serve America/Youth Visions for Stronger Neighborhoods program
Communication:
• Edited 2004 CTCNet Annual Report
• Edited Fall 2003 CTCNet Newsletter
CTC VISTA Project:
• Served on CTC VISTA Project Advisory Board; participate in monthly conference calls
• Attended part of CTCNet VISTA Pre-Service Orientation (08/03)
• Participated in CTCNet presentation to new VISTAs at PSO
• Updated his VISTA web page
• Sent informational emails about regional CTCNet-associated groups to each non MetroBoston CTC VISTA and their supervisor as a potential resource
• Attended monthly MetroBoston CTC VISTA meetings
• MA InterCorps Council: Serves on this state-wide National Service council
• Leads Communications team, managing MICC web site, edited and co-wrote Fall/Winter 2003 newsletter
• Developed and helped plan MICC Service Enrichment Roundtable event (12/05/03) attended by over forty National Service members; did time/stress management presentation.
Other:
• Produced “Digital Empowerment” PSA Video
• Attended all-day CTCNet Staff Meeting (Oct. 1); did “What Matters Most” personal/time management presentation
• Participated in CTCNet Strategic Planning Meeting in DC (Oct. 24-26)
• Met with Lisa Austin of Pasadena, CA, in town to research setting up a CTC
• Completed supervisor evaluations of Executive Director and Managing Director
• Completed CTCNet Tech survey for current and future needs
• Served as reviewer for Salesforce.com Foundation on-line Community Youth Media Festival
Impact Quote:
“Throughout the years that he worked with CTCNet, Dan was always glad to take on new and challenging tasks and worked with talent and diligence to get them accomplished successfully. In addition to his own work, he maintained a consistent focus on the overall success of the organization and was supportive of fellow workers and projects in addition to the ones where he played a principal role. We were very fortunate to have his assistance thanks to the AmeriCorps*VISTA program!”
— Steve Ronan