grant writing
Volunteer Coordinator
Organization:
The EDGE Community Technology Center VISTA Name:
Kimberly Rainey
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2005
Project Description:
Goal 1: Continue to develop volunteer training program for instructors and classroom assistants plus expand volunteer recruitment to include interns, work-study and other community service organizations in order to develop a support mechanism for all essential functions of the EDGE project. Emphasize recruitment of bilingual volunteers to assist with our increasing number of non-English-speaking participants.
Goal 2: Insure future availability of basic computer and Internet training plus increase offsite access to EDGE training by helping to create online versions of handouts, interactive tutorials and instructional video.
Goal 3: Increase local awareness of The EDGE program plus work toward ensuring future
support by researching, identifying or contacting potential community partners, local and national corporations, local and national foundations and other possible grant sources. Present grant-writing opportunities to the Project Director and assist in the grant writing process and implementation of grant award projects as needed.
Project Outcome:
During Kimberly’s year with the EDGE the attendance number rose to over 3800. Kim was very successful in building good rapport with the EDGE clients and encouraged increased participation in both instructor-led and self-paced tutorial sessions, especially with our older population and our teens.
Kim worked on a volunteer recruitment plan and helped in the development of a new Volunteer application form. Volunteer hours increased to an average of 25 hours per month in her last six months, up from just 6 hours per month during her first 6 months.
In the spring of 2005, The EDGE saw the return of work-study students from one of the local universities. Kim worked well with these students and guided them in duties to help sustain the EDGE after her term ended.
Kim’s rapport with Hispanic participants helped The EDGE increase its number of Hipanic clients. As the University of Missouri Extension office announced that they would be discontinuing their bilingual technology workshops at the EDGE in September 2005, the library system began addressing the issue of bilingual volunteers through its newly created Diversity committee. Bilingual library staff are now working on a plan to offer established EDGE courses in Spanish some time in the future.
Over 50 class handouts and two interactive tutorials are now posted on the EDGE website. Kim assisted EDGE staff in making these handouts available in a variety of formats.
Kim has researched and presented several suggestions for both community and national partnerships and grant opportunities to the project director.
Kim helped obtain the required materials to support the Library’s application for a “Make a Difference” Scholarship grant. The application focused on The EDGE program. This grant was awarded by the University of Missouri to the Springfield Greene County Library as the library in Missouri applying the best use of technology to help its community.
Impact Quote:
Kim’s help has made it possible for The EDGE program to continue to serve the members of the community by helping them improve and expand their technology and information seeking skills. With a decrease in grant funding and the library’s budgetary constraints, the help received from VISTA is essential for the continuation and growth of the EDGE project.
Outreach Coordinator
Organization:
Grand Rapids Community Media Center VISTA Name:
Tom Schwallie
Program Start:
8/2003
Program End:
8/2005
Project Description:
In building the capacity of the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy, Tom took on the following responsibilities:
Media Monitoring – this includes daily logging of local news coverage for the studies that GRIID produces yearly on election coverage, race & gender representation, and any other issue that we may be monitoring. This may also include occasional monitoring of entertainment media; commercials, movies, ads, etc.
Grant Funded Projects – this includes assisting GRIID on grant funded projects that involve working with students and community groups on issues such as tobacco, gender issues and the West Michigan Progressive Directory. This work gives us an opportunity to apply the resources developed in the media monitoring process.
Web Site Maintenance and Design – Tom has learned some of the basics of web design and has helped update and create new content for the GRIID website (www.griid.org). In particular, he updated the GRIID media directory and the GRIID lending library pages. Tom also designed and created his AmeriCorps VISTA web page (www.grcmc.org/americorps/tom/).
Community Outreach Projects – working on various community-based projects that GRIID is involved in through the Progressive Directory. This involves attending meetings, conducting media trainings, producing media with community groups, and promoting the coalition building through the Progressive Directory. In many ways this is the main outcome goal of GRIID – getting community groups to develop their own media strategies.
Project Outcome:
Tom played an essential role in completing the Youth Anti-Tobacco Advocacy Project (http://www.griid.org/antitobacco/) He collected and correlated all the data for this study and created the online report. He also worked with the student volunteers in creating the study and accompanied them when they presented the study to the Grand Rapids City commission. Tom also helped in the creation of several grant-funded video productions that GRIID produced, assisting in both the editing and the filming process.
Tom does about half of the actual news watching that GRIID undertakes, and is responsible for documenting and tabulating all of the news watching data collected. He also has taken an active part in writing GRIID studies examining local media coverage on various issues. Over the last six months, Tom played a significant role in creating the content in GRIID’s Election Watch 2004 feature.
Tom worked on the grant funded Video Voter Project. This project tied into GRIID’s election monitoring and education efforts. Tom’s work monitoring and documenting news coverage were important components of the Video Voter Project.
Tom has been involved in several projects designed to reach out and empower community groups. Tom has been one of the producers of Catalyst Radio, a weekly radio program on the CMC’s radio station WYCE FM. Catalyst Radio provides news analysis and interviews featuring local community groups and organizations. Tom writes half of the news analysis pieces as well as being one of the shows on-air voices. He also is responsible for setting up and conducting the interviews on occasion as well as updating the Catalyst Radio website every week.
Another community outreach effort that Tom has been involved with is GRIID’s work on FCC license renewals procedure education. This is an effort to build an awareness in the community on the FCC license renewal process which was designed to hold the local TV media accountable to community needs. As part of this project, Tom has given presentations, created mailing literature, and helped create online resources.
GRIID maintains a large collection of documentaries pertaining to issues of media literacy and media and democracy. Tom has helped organize and promote public showings of these documentary films. Tom also helped facilitate public discussions following the films.
Website Development
VISTA Name:
Adam Howell
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
9/2002
Project Description:
a. Increase the number of recycled computers available to low-income families and individuals with an emphasis on kids and adults with disabilities.
b. Provide full time, on-call computer technology support to non-profit CBPIN (Columbia Basin Public Information Network) members.
c. Develop hardware and software programs that directly support the RECA Foundation’s mission.
Project Outcome:
• Only a few computers were recycled to low-income families and individuals because that effort was given a low priority until early 2003.
• Adam assisted in the detailed technology assessment of the ARC of the Tri-Cities facility. This involved assessment of a network of about 20 computers and subsequent repair/upgrades. He also helped sort and refurbish about 30 donated computers, making them ready for eventual home placement.
• Adam wrote, edited and revised a grant request to Verizon for a portable teaching computer lab. Verizon responded with $9,000 in funding. The portable lab (4 laptop computers, network, and SVGA projector) is now operational. Additionally, the RECA Foundation is now a Verizon e-partner and has started providing technology classes to non-profit agencies in the area.
• Adam wrote, edited and revised a $20,000 “Progressive Technology” grant application to America Connects Consortium. This project will provide for the development of a standard Linux based computer that can be replicated by other CTCNet members all over the U.S.
• Adam’s major focus was on completely redesigning the CBPIN.ORG web site (http://www.cbpin.org/). Most of the development work was completed. The work needs to be finalized and a new CBPIN server put in place.
Impact Quote:
Adam came to us proclaiming himself as “low-maintenance”. He was. He was independent, self-starting, and worked well with everyone involved with our projects and programs.
CTC assistance
Organization:
MAAC Project VISTA Name:
Ming Louie
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Goal 1: Resident use of computer labs will increase substantially among both adults and youth.
Goal 2: Resident use of technology for community building and communication will increase substantially.
Goal 3: Public and private sector resources will enable the project to continue after Members leave.
Project Outcome:
• Completed a prototype of the new website for MAAC
• Started the implementation of the production version of the new web site.
• Presented a preview of the web site to MAAC’s management team
• Worked with Community Development staff on various GIS projects, including the Barrio Logan and single family & affordable housing research
• Help the new CTC Coordinator at Laurel Tree in a transitional capacity
• Submitted a grant application to Las Patronas for a digital storytelling project for MACC. If the project proposal is accepted, the funding valued at $14,8000 will be used to purchase multimedia workstations and video camcorders for the CTC.
• Started the implementation of the new website.
• Initiated the contact with the Waitt Foundation regarding future co-operative GIS projects.
• Worked with the Single Family Housing Initiative at MAAC Project to insure accuracy of data on Barrio Logan/ Logan Heights
• Geocoding of property locations in National City and Barrio Logan/ Logan Heights.
• Assisted with an application to NeighborWorks for MAAC Project to become an affiliate
• Researched data on sale and price of properties for a affordable homeownership plan
• Assisted Revitalization Director with survey design.
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 Program Building
Organization:
Parents, Let's Unite for Kids VISTA Name:
Brenda Jackson
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Brenda Jackson began her work as a VISTA volunteer with PLUK in June of 2002. Her principal goal has been to further develop the technology center programs, outreach to other community organizations and sustainability. We’ve come a long way and then some with Brenda’s assistance. The centerpiece has been funding for a state-wide tutoring program for at-risk children which is headquartered within the technology center. Brenda was a participant in an eight-month program for training collaborative teams around the state to evaluate technology needs for individuals with disabilities. We continue to benefit from her efforts by being awarded a Beaumont Foundation Grant she had written for a mobile lab to be used for training.
Project Outcome:
Brenda made great steps in developing the programs of the technology center. These steps include: increasing the number of support volunteers for all programs, reaching out to other organizations that are trying to develop technology centers within their communities, researching funding options, applying for funding to ensure sustainability, developing a marketing plan for public awareness, presenting to groups, organizing training events in the center, and slowly increasing the quantity and quality of the programs in the center along with developing the infrastructure.
Project Accomplishments:
• 2 presentations on Web accessibility
• sent out electronic info to 100 people;
• 1 presentation on educational technology;
• organized a tutor program for 20 kids;
• organized ScienceQuest program for 10 kids (created collaboration with four organizations and designed a Web page about the program (http://www.pluk.org/sciencequest.htm);
• made contact with two other organizations, lining up space, computers, and program materials for satellite CTCs if funded, and wrote the grant for funding;
• currently working on establishing an education program for educators, paraprofessionals, and parents on assistive technology tools that are available.
• developing a catalogue of in-house resource materials;
• designing a flier for the assistive technology lab, revamping existing materials,
• designing a Web site for the assistive technology lab as part of the VISTA project.
• participated in the Montana Collaborative Empowerment Project
• participated in a Digital Media Workshop.
• designed web page for VISTA project (http://www.pluk.org/ctc-americorpvista.htm)
CTC assistance
Organization:
Black Child & Family Institute VISTA Name:
Victoria Jackson
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
To Provide training and support in helping members of the target population increase their computer knowledge and skills. VISTA workers will assist in the implementation of the Port of Entry/Closing the Gap program by scheduling workshops, recruiting volunteers, acquiring and refurbishing computers. Vista Workers will assist the Project Director in the publication and distribution of the newsletter, maintaining mailing lists for the newsletter, responding to telephone inquiries about the program, and assisting in grant applications. Lastly the VISTA workers will submit grant applications and attempt to fund raise from faith based organizations and individuals to provide financial stability to the organization.
Project Outcome:
In May of 2003, we opened the new Magic Johnson Computer Lab (MJCL). David and Victoria assisted in:
- the development of a marketing plan to promote the lab and its new programs;
- the grand opening activities surrounding the Magic Johnson Lab;
- the recruitment of volunteer instructors for the MJCL;
- responding to telephone inquiries about the MJCL program; and
- the development of resources that the MJCL program needs to increase its capacity.
Victoria provided support for the HOPE Scholars program. She assisted in working out a schedule to train 1,000 students in a five week period. Victoria is now the new director of our Edgewood Village satellite office. She is responsible for all computer-related programs for the residents of the 144 unit complex including our computer access/literacy training workshops.
CTC Program Building
Organization:
Black Child & Family Institute VISTA Name:
David Quashen
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
8/2003
Project Description:
To Provide training and support in helping members of the target population increase their computer knowledge and skills. VISTA workers will assist in the implementation of the Port of Entry/Closing the Gap program by scheduling workshops, recruiting volunteers, acquiring and refurbishing computers. Vista Workers will assist the Project Director in the publication and distribution of the newsletter, maintaining mailing lists for the newsletter, responding to telephone inquiries about the program, and assisting in grant applications. Lastly the VISTA workers will submit grant applications and attempt to fund raise from faith based organizations and individuals to provide financial stability to the organization.
Project Outcome:
In May of 2003, we opened the new Magic Johnson Computer Lab (MJCL). David assisted in:
- the development of a marketing plan to promote the lab and its new programs;
- the grand opening activities surrounding the Magic Johnson Lab;
- the recruitment of volunteer instructors for the MJCL;
- responding to telephone inquiries about the MJCL program; and
- the development of resources that the MJCL program needs to increase its capacity.
David also assisted in preparing 72 PCs.