tax assistance
Cyber Cafe Program Building
Organization:
Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. VISTA Name:
Bill Martin
Program Start:
6/2006
Program End:
6/2007
Project Description:
The VISTA member was directed to provide additional resources for our online resource listing, expand the Cyber Cafe Mentor program and coordinate its offshoot, the Gateway Program (for people coming out of homelessness) through recruitment and training of volunteers, continue existing collaborations with internal and external organizations serving our population, and, if possible, expand the list of organizations with which we can collaborate (expand our list of possible collaborations; we would do the followup).
Project Outcome:
The VISTA was active in having the Cyber Café become a full VITA(Volunteer Income Tax Assistant) site, successfully passing an IRS review. The VISTA was helpful in finding and bringing together resources for users of the Cyber Café and developing our educational resources.
CyberY Outreach and Program Building
Organization:
Egleston YMCA CyberY VISTA Name:
Michelle Rogers
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2005
Project Description:
Michelle’s main goals since joining the YMCA have been to work both with the YMCA programs and the wider community to increase the visibility and programming of the CyberY. She has not only created some resources, but has also placed a priority on using resources that already exist, so as to not recreate the wheel.
Project Outcome:
• Michelle helped to increase the time MCA/School aged childcare program (SACC) is doing educational activities in the lab, particularly around a lesson plan for the after school on how to create their own newsletter using the creativity and technology in the Cyber Y.
• Michelle has completed a three-week introduction to computers course that had five participants.
• During her first month, Michelle helped to write a grant to partner with the Ecumenical Social Action Council to do a graphics training project with youth. It is hoped that two out of the 12 youth will take a leadership role to make this project happen next year.
• Michelle has been working closely with other tax sites, staff, and the CyberY Developer to make this a successful project.
• Weight Watchers—met with the program to discuss how they could use the CyberY.
• Timothy Smith Network—working to secure and implement the Kinetic City program.
CTC Program Building
Organization:
Technology for All VISTA Name:
Ken Yu
Program Start:
8/2002
Program End:
8/2004
Project Description:
As an Americorps*Vista with Technology For All, Ken Yu has been involved in capacity building with TFA’s Mission Milby Community Technology Center (MMCTC). Ken’s involvement has centered on the development of a full complement of CTC activities and programs in service to the community. One significant accomplishment that Ken had direct leadership responsibility for was the implementation of the tax assistance program at MMCTC. He also has been instrumental in organizing and starting new class offerings including a basic computer skills class in Spanish. During the month of February, MMCTC had 382 unique individuals participate in CTC programs and activities.
Project Outcome:
A key component of the Americorps*Vista project with TFA has been capacity building. Building good relationships with community members and clients of the CTC is an important part of this. He has developed several strong working relationships with a few clients. Another component of capacity building is the development of community volunteers to support the work of the CTC. Recently, Ken recruited a Spanish speaking community member to lead a new basic computer skills class in Spanish. This was a big accomplishment for the CTC and for Ken.
One of Ken’s capacity building activities has been the development and implementation of CTC data collection and entry. We are now able to compare CTC data for each month regarding class sessions and attendance within the CTC. Ken’s responsibility for this activity will help us with funders as we seek additional support for our work in the community.