Computer and Digital Literacy Program Building
Organization:
Black Child & Family Institute VISTA Name:
Victoria Jackson
Program Start:
6/2001
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
Closing the Digital Gap Program
Objective 1: The Program Director, BCFI staff and volunteers will provide orientation and introduction to the project and the Lansing community
Objective 2: New Horizon Computer Learning Center staff will provide four days of training in Beginning, Intermediate and Advance Windows and Beginning Internet.
Objective 3: Provide training and support in helping members of the target population increase their computer knowledge and skills.
Objective 4: : VISTA workers will assist in the implementation of the Port of Entry/Closing the Gap program
Objective 5: Public and private sector resources will enable the project to continue after the Members leave.
Project Outcome:
Objective 1: Objective completed at the beginning of the program-February 2001.
Objective 2: All Vistas Have had over 10 days of training.
Objective 3: Victoria has provided support services to all 516 graduates
Objective 4: Victoria has scheduled Workshops for 414 graduates since she started. She has assisted in the recruitment of 24 volunteers. Victoria is part of the new and old equipment teams. These teams are responsible for the dispensing and acquiring of all computers and component parts.Victoria has assisted in the scheduling of 24 volunteers,
Objective 5: We have received funding from foundations for over $90,000. We fell short of our objective to raise $8,000 from faith based organizations and $14,000 in individual donations. We received $7,100 from faith based organizations and $10,000 from individuals. We have received a continuation from the City of Lansing Economic Development Initiative and increased the funding to $40,000.
One of the major problems our program has encountered in the past is the overwhelming popularity our program; we have reduced our waiting list to the point that that a new applicant is able to attend class in 6-8 months. We have a new internet service provider ACD.NET who has generously agreed to provide all of the Closing the Digital Gap’s graduates with free 1 year internet service. We have come along way in a short period of time, but we still have a long way to go.