technical assistance
CTC Networking and Outreach
Organization:
CTC Net VISTA Name:
Johanna Pabst
Program Start:
6/2001
Program End:
6/2002
Project Description:
The long range goal is to enhance the organizational capacity of community technology center staff. By developing our membership base and supplementing the services provided to those members, by providing on-site technical support and by expanding access to our national conference this AmeriCorps position will have a major impact on the low-income community where they are serving. By providing services to centers that create equitable access, these projects inherently expand access themselves. The by-product of this impact on low-income communities is an increase in the skilled workforce and a heightened sense of personal efficacy.
Goal 1: Expand local ties among member centers and increase organizational capacity to deliver in-person consultation and support.
Goal 2: Assist in creating a system of technology-related technical assistance support for CTCs in the Boston metropolitan area.
Goal 3: Conduct research, WWW design activities and email activities to maintain and expand delivery of services to member centers.
CTC Curriculum Development
Organization:
Community Minority Cultural Center VISTA Name:
Lydia Morris
Program Start:
9/2000
Program End:
9/2001
Project Description:
The Americorps*VISTA member would perform the following activities:
- Develop curricula for adult basic education and youth programs
- Maintain computer and network systems
- Train volunteers to maintain computer and network systems
- Maintain CMCC website
- Provide technical assistance for CMCC television show “Stand Up and Be Counted”
- Provide technical assistance for Matzeliger Fellows Project - an oral history project that leads to exhibits in Jan Ernst Matzeliger Gallery, web pages on the website, programs on television show, and CD-ROM disks
- Assist in the design adn operation of a second computer lab, CD-ROM and video production studio.
Outreach Coordinator
Organization:
Aspiration VISTA Name:
Matt Garcia
Program Start:
7/2008
Program End:
7/2009
Project Description:
Aspiration’s mission is to connect nonprofit organizations with software solutions that help them better carry out their work.
CTC Vista job responsibilities include:
o Provide program support to the Social Source Commons program which maps the NPO/NGO software space and makes sense of the collective expertise related to that software.
o Interviewing Nonprofit Organization users about Case Management, Workforce Development, and Online Organizing tool usage and tool needs;
o Compile lists of Case Management, Workforce Development, and Online Organizing tools; improving nonprofits capacity for software selection;
o Research what Case Management, Workforce Development, and Online Organizing tools need to be developed, to increase nonprofits abilities to perform Case Management, Workforce Development, and Online Organizing functions.
o Write short-papers and reports to help nonprofits demystify Case Management, Workforce Development, and Online Organizing software.
o Provide support for Social Source Commons events
o Bring together software users, developers, intermediaries, and investors to articulate and focus their needs, spark relationships and collaboration, and share skills and knowledge in the nonprofit software realm.
o Help grow and strengthen the social and knowledge networks and conduct organizational outreach.
o Build Nonprofit and NGO collaboration in creating and developing capacity building tools among grassroots nonprofit communities.
Project Outcome:
We have a much more robust SSC community and processes, which will help us to continue growing the platform and making it more valuable to the nonprofit community. We hired Matt as a full-time contractor, and he will continue the work he has begun.
Matt helped set a community tone at the SF Nonprofit Technology Center, serving as a friendly team member and ambassador for the organization. Matt also helped establish our new ANSWR platform, working on platform development and content development. This project is an extension of our SSC project, and builds on the SSC work he did.
Community Technology Coordinator
Organization:
New Orleans Neighborhoods Partnership Network VISTA Name:
Meghan Daniels
Program Start:
7/2008
Program End:
7/2009
Project Description:
Community Technology Coordinator Capacity Development and Training responsibilities:
• Collaborate with neighborhood groups to develop a web presence on our site, focusing on groups that currently have no web presence.
• Manage and update resource content to ensure that neighborhoods have access to up-to-date neighborhood information
• Prepare workshops that enable neighborhoods to use web tools.
• Develop guidebook for website new profile users and train staff and community users to update their own content.
• Provide technical assistance to staff, volunteers, and NPN Members regarding website. Digital Media and Outreach
• Establish relationships with non-profit content writers.
• Improve and expand content partnerships between NPN and partner organizations.
• Edit and publish video vignettes of neighborhood groups for the Adopt-A-Neighborhood program.
• Outreach to university service departments to create profiles.
• Develop unique content in collaboration with Staff and Members * Recruiting volunteers that assist in creating content or new features.
• Serve as technology liaison to the community through public speaking and presentations.
• Develop and implement “The Trumpet magazine online” features.
• Design and Write Community E-Newsletters
• Write Press Releases Technology Improvement * Creating new program or content pages. * Improving or adjusting Website layout/functionality.
Project Outcome:
Meghan Daniels accomplished the initial goals of creating a policy and system for training our members on the NPNnola.com website, a posting policy for the E-Newsletter, as well as guides for our internal Salesforce.com database.
What we were not able to accomplish was to increase the rate of postings by members who were trained to upload information on their profiles. While there was a general trend upward in the number of postings by members that received a web workshop, the frequency was not as high as we desired. Other challenges we were faced with involved programming issues with our developer, who had created the website on a proprietary system, thus making basic but essential adjustments a hassle.
Our organization has been able to leverage the success of Meghan Daniels’s work to secure funding for a part time assistant. Meghan’s guides, systems and policies have streamlined our communications platforms.
At the time of our proposed project, we were not aware that our office systems would make a transition to a Salesforce (CRM) database. Meghan Daniels helped vet the system and create user-friendly guides for incoming staff and volunteers. This has proven to be invaluable as it provides a quick and easy-to-use tutorial of the Salesforce.com database.
Taylor Center Media Program Technical Manager
Organization:
U Mass Boston/College of Public & Community Service VISTA Name:
Shannon McCue
Program Start:
8/2005
Program End:
8/2006
Project Description:
As technical manager of the Taylor Center Media program Shannon will manage the equipment flow, checkout and maintenance process as well as provide technical and production assistance to both faculty and students, conducting one on one and workshop instruction in the use of video, computer and web production and editing.
Project Outcome:
Shannon McCue has served successfully as the technical manager of the Taylor Center Media program. She continues to manage the equipment flow, checkout and maintenance process. She provides technical and production assistance to both faculty and students, conducting one on one and workshop instruction in the use of video, computer and web production and editing. Along with her VISTA partner, she coordinated a digital media mini conference for students, faculty and staff. Shannon also has worked with her VISTA partner, Danielle Martin, to set up and schedule a number of production workshop and learning events in the course of the year [video blogging, video lighting and sound to mention just a few] in addition to working effective in the on-going maintenance of communication flow, production planning and coordination of the Tactical Media project, a project-based learning initiative of the program. Shannon is extremely trustworthy and thoughtful in carrying out her duties. Shannon has made an enormous contribution to the CMT program’s development.
Fundraising and IT Support
Organization:
Carlos Rosario International Career Center VISTA Name:
Mark Betz
Program Start:
8/2005
Program End:
8/2006
Project Description:
The AmeriCorps*VISTA will research and develop prospective sources of funding and new programs and analyzing industry trends. The project will also enlist volunteer support for direct service through teaching a technology program, increasing the use of technology in our ESL program, and providing technical support and tutoring assistance.
Project Outcome:
Mark was able to implement an open computer lab at the school that provides basic to advanced technology to help students. With regular lab hours he is able to make himself available on a consistent basis for the entire student body. Mark also helps teachers with class projects that include working with students on particular software programs or internet research, etc. Responding to staff IT needs, Mark is able to work on a one-on-one basis providing training and helping staff identify ways in which technology can make their work more efficient.
Mark has also been working with the Family Literacy program, an off-site program where we provide literacy classes to parents in partnering elementary schools.
Mark has also been instrumental in integrating the community wide technology workshops offered during our Community Days. Community Days take place on periodic Saturdays and are open to the community at large, especially the immediate neighborhood. They offer a variety of educational workshops and social services. During Community Day, Mark was able to hold an open computer lab with activities designed for children, as many of the Community Day activities were family oriented.