CTC outreach
CTC Support and Assistance
Organization:
netCorps VISTA Name:
Aliya Abbasi
Program Start:
9/2005
Program End:
9/2007
Project Description:
The VISTA will provide assistance in the form of technology assessments, planning and budgeting, computer repair and refurbishing, securing new and used technology hardware and software through donation and/or purchase, assessing the computer skills of each organization’s staff and providing training to fill in the knowledge gaps, establishing computer networks, both wired and wireless, and enabling the sharing of network resources such as printers and files, setting up email accounts for staff, writing best practice computer/network/security policies and procedures for each organization, identifying funding sources for each nonprofit that will enable them to afford their top-priority technology needs, creating and updating websites, and creating new databases and improving on the data collection and reporting of existing ones. The non-technical services that the VISTAs will provide will be equally important: helping techno-phobes and technology novices ease into the daily use of technology by using a non-intimidating vocabulary and non-judgmental computer-side manner.
Project Outcome:
To date, this project has accomplished much. Aliya has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations in Greensboro and the surrounding community, offering direct assistance with technology training, implementation and support. She has coordinated a number of trainings and outreach events, exposing a significant population of nonprofits to this project. She has made connections with other community organizations and foundations, helping to lay the groundwork for making this project a more permanent part of the nonprofit landscape in Greensboro.
Impact Quote:
Our VISTA experience, a very positive one to date, is helping our organization in a number of ways. Aliya’s placement in Greensboro is allowing us to work with organizations we would not be able to serve otherwise. She is exploring and implementing new strategies that others in our organization can now also use in their own work. She is helping to identify other community resources to take the project beyond its original scope, making sure that the organizations served will continue to benefit long after this project ends.
CTC Evaluation and Networking
VISTA Name:
Rodrigo Pacheco-McEvoy
Program Start:
9/2005
Program End:
9/2006
Project Description:
The AmeriCorps*Vista will lead a commissioned survey of 150 CTCs in San Diego and take an active role in the centralization of the SDCTC as the regional organization for community technology in San Diego. The AmeriCorps*Vista also will revise and expand current bi-quarterly evaluation methods. The AmeriCorps*Vista will use the CTC survey data results to develop more opportunities for programming and resources sharing among San Diego area CTCs. The AmeriCorps*Vista’s crucial role will also be that of helping to faciliate more workshops and trainings focused on curriculum and resource sharing in collaboration with organizations and agencies involoved with community technology. The outcome will produce tranings and events that network San Diego area community technology centers, thus allowing more program development directed towards CTC staff and end-users.
Project Outcome:
Rodrigo has done an outstanding job with providing statistical data in our FLOCs. He provided demographics by charting the number of children, racial breakdown, income levels, languages spoken, and interest in all OTS’ core program areas.
Our AmeriCorp*VISTA at OTS has conducted Art workshops in low-income apartment communities for disadvanted youth. If our Americorp*VISTA did not think beyond his workplan, these youth would not have been exposed to art in such a way that opened their minds. As a result the youth who have developed an appreciation for art. Our AmeriCorp*VISTA was also able to learn from our youth that everyone comes from various education and socio economic levels but we can work together.
Outreach and Trainer
Organization:
Pangea Foundation VISTA Name:
Daniel Richardson
Program Start:
9/2005
Program End:
8/2006
Project Description:
Daniel will build the capactiy of CTCs, community organizations and schools by training them in Pangea’s information systems, particularly our Abilities-4-Mentoring system. Daniel will also evaluate and recommend new ways to improve upon Pangea’s systems. Lastly, Daniel will schedule and host on-site training workshops and presentations.
Project Outcome:
Daniel and Sandra (the other VISTA member) helped Pangea reach over 700 affordable housing facilities. They provided 100% of the technical traning and support for this project. Additionally, with their direct interaction with our clients, they help us to design new features for using technology to serve low income residents. Sandra and Daniel also virtually lead all aspects of our training and technical support program.
CTC Assistance
Organization:
Downtown Jackson CDC VISTA Name:
Angela Carson
Program Start:
8/2003
Program End:
6/2004
Project Description:
The property which provided space for our lab was sold to another owner. The new owner wasn’t interested in keeping the programs. We move all equipment which was held in storage for more than 7 months. We partnered with another local property and we moved twice to new property. Finally, in April we move to the final location for the computer lab.
These moves hindered Angela’s work with the lab. However she was quite helpful in other areas. She wrote the first MLK grant which was funded. She provided research for many of the grants that have been developed during the 8 months of her stay. She developed the system for reporting and documenting for a new program brought on this year. She also developed the accounting and financial system documenting agency resources.
Project Outcome:
The computer lab is presently up and running. The Web sight was not developed, as no one at the agency has the skills to help Angela to develop the Web. She networked the computers to one laser printer and set up the eight new computers. She developed a training curriculum for use with the summer and after-school children.
The positive results of the MLK grant provide an environmental program to teach youth about the value of our planet. The youth also enjoyed a conference on “Discovering How Amazing you really are” and learning how to find the greatness within themselves.
CTC Program Building
Organization:
Technology for All VISTA Name:
Hilda Puente
Program Start:
8/2003
Program End:
8/2004
Project Description:
Hilda Puente has been involved in capacity building with TFA’s Mission Milby Community Technology Center (MMCTC) and with our work with Houston area CTCs. Hilda’s involvement with MMCTC has centered around the development of the Learn and Earn a computer program with students from Milby High School. Students from Milby High School participating in MMCTC programs are able to “learn and earn” a computer. The program has allowed 40 students to receive computers for use in their homes.
Three classes of students (10-15 in each class) have participated in this program that was created in collaboration with Pete Rodriguez, another CTCVista with TFA. In addition, Hilda has been significantly involved in developing supportive relationships with the 180 plus community organizations with CTCs across Houston that we work with. This has been a significant capacity building activity.
Hilda’s major objective was to help strengthen relationships with TFA CTCs in the Houston area. Hilda is a person who identifies a task and works at that task until it is accomplished.
Her work always proved to be more than adequate, and she was always conscious of the need to complete her tasks in a timely manner. Near the end of the summer when she began taking a preparatory course for graduate school, Hilda seemed to lose focus on her TFA responsibilities. She enrolled in the class without her supervisor’s knowledge. A scheduling conflict with the class caused Hilda to miss the CTCNet conference.
Project Outcome:
Hilda Puente’s year of service with Technology For All was a positive and growing experience for both Hilda and TFA. She helped build and strengthen relationships with many of our CTCs, which accomplished her goals.
CTC Support and Program Building
Organization:
RTPNet VISTA Name:
Vahid Nourani
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2006
Project Outcome:
Vahid evaluated the Tech Link Up project, www.techlinkup.org. Vahid Visited ten non-profit organizations to evaluate and assess their IT needs (on going). He volunteered at four organizations, with tasks such as teaching, computer networking, computer lab setup, and data management. He helped computer recipient organizations/families through the Teaming for Technology program of Triangle United Way and IBM programs to install hardware, software, and troubleshooting. He helped with the Teaming for Technology program of Triangle United Way in receiving, transporting, refurbishing, repairing, troubleshooting, and hardware/software installation of used computers and related devices. And Vahid compiled several mailing lists.
CTC Implementation and Program Building
Organization:
Pangea Foundation VISTA Name:
Sue Songkum
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2005
Project Description:
Goal 1: Develop an implementation plan for 50 CTCs, nonprofit, in senior affordable housing communities in southern California.
Goal 2: Help implement Abilities Networks and Abilities for RSC and train CTCs and nonprofits in San Diego and Los Angeles
Goal 3: Help develop an implementation plan for Abilities for RSC in multifamily properties and out-of-state expansion, which includes 5 workshops and a pilot with 20 housing communities
Project Outcome:
Sue has helped us launch our project nationally, and we know have over 350 affordable and public housing facilities using “Abilities for Resident Service Coordinators” to link low income frail elderly and disabled residents to community services. “Abilities for Resident Service Coordinators” has been endorsed by the American Association of Service Coordinators and is acknowledged by industry professionals as a vital tool in keeping elderly residents in independent living. With the infusion of technology in elderly and disabled resident service coordination, properties are able to keep residents independent, and avoid unnecessary and costly institutionalization. This project is a prime example of using community technology to meet pressing needs, and impact important policy areas.
Sue helped us attend a national conference in San Antonio, Texas, in which we brought 20 laptops and set up a training lab. We taught Resident Service Coordinators how to use technology to link their residents to community services, manage their residmonitor resident and program outcomes with technology.
Sue has been a vital player in helping us develop an implementation plan for CTCs in affordable housing communities in Southern California, as she is at our office early every day to assist with implementation. Her involvement helped us determine that we could expand beyond 50 to now over 200 CTCs.
Sue led the effort at Pangea Foundation to develop the training manual for our users. She has helped develop the 100+ page training manual that is available to users when they log into the system. This is an ongoing effort. She also helps with phone training, and attended our training conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Sue has helped run the show at Pangea with the Resident Service Coordinators. She is the first to receive their calls when they need technical help. She continuously tests the systems. She helped create the training manuals and system forms for printed materials. Sue’s involvement as an AmeriCorp*VISTA member enables our organization to provide these services to the community. To date, this system has over 200 properties using it, which represents service delivered and managed to 20,000 low income elderly and disabled residents across the country.
CTC Outreach and Support
Organization:
Human Services Coalition of Dade County VISTA Name:
Chaneqa Wooten
Program Start:
8/2002
Program End:
5/2003
Project Description:
Develop infrastructure, policy and planning, program development and service
delivery capacity with regards to digital divide initiatives in Miami-Dade County,
Florida.
Project Outcome:
The mission of e-Equality, Inc. is to develop and promote initiatives and programs which bridge the digital divide and reduce the technological inequities experienced by low-income and disadvantaged citizens and small business in economically distressed neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County. By working hand-in-hand with our current Americorps*VISTA member(s), e-Equality has made significant strides toward the fulfillment of addressing the evident digital divide in South Florida. By assisting in the development and evolution of the Technology Access Coalition (TAC) and conducting a needs assessment of existing CTCs in Miami-Dade County as well as researching and evaluating CTC training materials, Americorps*VISTA member Chaneqa Wooten has been exposed to a variety of research practices.
Working with TAC, a target list of CTCs has been established for the initial needs assessment survey. A finalized version of this survey has also been completed. The targeted list of CTCs will be broken up amongst TAC members and survey results will be compiled in an Excel or Access database by Ms. Wooten. Following the completion of such said deliverables, Ms. Wooten [will] work with e-Equality’s web-development team toward the integration of this data into the CTCNet and TAC websites in addition to all other set-out goals.
Impact Quote:
Ms. Wooten has done a phenomenal job in successfully accomplishing many of the initial goals that were established and gone on to expand upon her current role. By compiling a comprehensive listing of organizations and companies which offer free software and services for non-profit organizations, preliminary expectations were surpassed. Although nearly 50% complete with this research, the accumulated data has already proved to be beneficial to the Technology Access Coalition.
CTC Outreach and Database Management
Organization:
RTPNet VISTA Name:
Shirlene Rogers
Program Start:
11/2001
Program End:
1/2003
Project Outcome:
Shirl completed her year of service in November 2002 and extended service through January 2003.
Shirl assisted the president of the CTCNet board of directors (Erroll Reese, Durham, NC) with CTCNet program development and capacity building. She helped coordinate activities with national conference and meetings and followup with local leaders.
In addition, Shirl developed a PC Access database for RTPnet. The database consists of information gathered from an online form, http://www.rtpnet.org/rtpnet/vol.html The database allows us to find volunteers with skills that meet current needs and it allows us to keep information about volunteers current. The database contains about 50 entries.
CTC Program Building
Organization:
San Diego Cyber-Y VISTA Name:
Sharon al Hourani
Program Start:
8/2002
Project Description:
Goal 1: To help create and find sustainable solution for a new technology based afterschool program targeting youth in the community.
Goal 2: To help design and find funding for technology skills workshops aimed at adult community members
Goal 3: Help design a program evaluation system that accurately monitors the Cyber Y’s programs
Goal 4: Design a program to manage and recruit 10 new Cyber Y volunteers
Goal 5: Work with other San Diego Community Technology Coalition (SDCTC) members to help find collaborative solutions to region wide community technology challenges.
Project Outcome:
Sharon has shown only the utmost dedication to the Cyber Y and has helped nurture our afterschool programming into a highly successful and sought after community afterschool option for our neighborhood. The first class was an overwhelming success with high retention and participation from our local 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This semester we added one day of programming and now offer Cyber Y afterschool for 3rd and 4th together and a separate class for the 5th graders.
In addition, Sharon has also worked closely with the Cyber Seniors class that meets once a week and provides ongoing instruction support and recruitment for the class. She also developed an open access time one morning a week in order to provide additional out of class time to participants to have more computer usage time. Starting with only a couple of attendees, word of mouth has quickly filled up this morning time.
Impact Quote:
As the Project Director for YMCA Youth and Family Services’ Community Collaborations Project Area I can say that it has been a tremendous asset to our programs to have Sharon onboard as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. Sharon has shown only the utmost dedication to the Cyber Y and has helped nurture our afterschool programming into a highly successful and sought after community afterschool option for our neighborhood.