youth
Mobile Learning Lab Trainer/Technician
Organization:
Grand Rapids Community Media Center VISTA Name:
Abby Balazs
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2005
Project Description:
Abby’s year with the Mobile Learning Lab for Information Education (MoLLIE) was characterized by a transition of the project from a previous role of working in traditional classrooms to a new service area involving after-school programming for at risk children. Over half of the jobs MoLLIE took in the 2004-05 school year were at after school centers run by the School district in conjunction with the city Parks and Recreation Department.
MoLLIE taught participating children how to write, shoot, and edit, for cablecast, their own curriculum-linked skits, PSAs, and mini documentaries. As a MoLLIE trainer/technician, Abby was essential to the success of those programs.
Project Outcome:
Other ongoing projects that Abby was crucial to the success of included:
- “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (U.S. Department of Justice) in which Abby facilitated the efforts of local youths at neighborhood associations and community centers in writing, shooting, performing, and editing their own Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on the subject of gun violence prevention.
- Wedgwood Christian Services of West Michigan. Similar to PSN, the Wedgwood project involved providing at-risk teens with the tools, training, and means of transmission to create their own mini documentaries and PSAs focusing on substance abuse prevention.
Both of these long term projects have been very successful due in large part to Abby’s commitment, diligence, professionalism, expertise, and willingness to work with at risk teens.
Abby’s final, and perhaps most lasting project, done in conjunction with previous VISTA/Americorps volunteers Laura Craig-Bennett, Amy McKenzie, and Jennifer Harris, has been the editing of a four-episode series of documentaries entitled “Girls to Governors” which commemorates the role of Michigan women in politics. Funded locally by the Nokomis foundation of Grand Rapids, the VISTA/Americorps producers of “Girls to Governors” seized upon the election in 2001 of Michigan’s first female governor, to examine the emerging role of women in local, state, and national politics and public service.
The editing of this series was the capstone event in and outstanding year of service provided by VISTA volunteer Abby Balazs. The VISTA program should be very proud to have Abby as an alumnae just as we are proud to have had her as an employee and team mate.
Impact Quote:
Abby brings with her a high degree of expertise in her field which she is eager to share with students and colleagues alike. She is enthusiastic and very effective as a teacher, especially in a one-on-one setting. She has a warmth and a focus that children are very responsive to. Abby is setting a very high standard of performance in all aspects of her job with MoLLIE, and I am happy to have her as a member of the team.
'Computers in the Home' Program Building
Organization:
Council for World Class Communities VISTA Name:
Becky Shuler
Program Start:
9/2004
Program End:
9/2007
Project Description:
Goal 1: Take over general operations of the Computers in the Home Phase of the BDE program.
Goal 2: Design a process to identify remaining students who qualify for the BDE Computers in the Home phase.
Goal 3: Development of volunteer training program. Recruit and coordinate volunteers for the BDE program.
Goal 4: Develop follow up procedures with the BDE families.
Goal 5: Develop procedures to identify potential candidates to become involved in Phases III, IV & V of the BDE program, CWCC literacy initiative and the Home Ownership Institute (HOI).
Goal 6: Implement an after-school computer assistance program.
Project Outcome:
Our project to date has had good results, we finished last years with the Bridges to Digital Excellence (BDE) program donating 742 total computers and training to students in grades three through eight. As of today we are at 793 Families that have completed our program. Becky has done a good job of running operations for the Computers in the Home part of BDE.
As of the beginning of this year’s program which started the last week of February Becky has managed all aspects of the program except purchasing of computers. As I did when we first started the BDE program there were some bumps in the road but things came together. The same has happed with Becky leading the Computers In the Home program now. I have full confidence in her abilities to continue the excellence and maintain standards that we strive for. Our one outlying goal is to have the program we put on compete with the best programs in the world. To my knowledge there is not another program in the country that is striving to bridge the digital divide as quickly and efficiently as this program is. We are estimating that by the end of next year every child across Berrien County in grades three through eight will have a computer in their home. We know that with the 793 families that have completed the program we have had 1586 people in the program and that more than 3000 individuals have been indirectly affected by the BDE program providing technology to so many homes. We want to see Becky continue to take advantage of the wealth of passion for the work we do. At our monthly steering committee meetings she gets to sit with the upper level IT management from almost every major employer in our community. She has been exposed to a brainstorming technique that was developed by Whirlpool Corp. called an “Ideation Session” and how it can be used to expel ideas from a group that are there but people just don’t realize. Becky also worked on a project for a development company; she wrote a proposal for a local art house to integrate technology into storytelling.
In her second year, Becky has effectively taken on all operations of the computers in the home program and is doing a good job running the program. We are looking forward to reaching our 1000th family by the end of 2005.
CTC Support and Program Building
Organization:
South End Tech Center @ Tent City VISTA Name:
Jason Floyd
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Set up multiple youth education programs, maintain our CTC, and provide network security.
Project Outcome:
Jason Worked with MIT Graduate Students for a summer learning program with youth and provided network support and administration of 25+ machines at our CTC. Jason aldo maintained network support for employees and instructors on a daily basis; including lab setup and supervision; equipment maintenance and administration; in house and phone technical support; file/print/terminal server and workstation performance monitoring, repair, and configuration; troubleshooting connectivity issues for local area network. Jason also administered and instructed web design, A+ Certification, MS Office; and youth technology programs.
Jason led our Network Security Enhancement including installation of Security Software on the Network and Client Machines (Fortres 101) which has led to an 75% increase in system performance along with anti-virus and firewall software on all machines not including two which are designated for other purposes
Beginning April 8th 2003 youth will be given the opportunity to learn skills in video production including the Final Cut Software, Film and Television Studio Technologies and Techniques, Web Design using HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver via classes set up by Jason.
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.
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.
Development Specialist and Teaching Assistant
Organization:
Street Level Youth Media VISTA Name:
Kristen Wernicke
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Major responsibilities:
• Assisting in maintaining two media lab facilities, computer equipment, and software.
• Instructing youth in computer and media arts literacy.
• Assisting in the preliminary creation and maintenance of a searchable youth video database.
• Creating, updating and maintaining a festival and screening database.
• Developing relationships with the local community: youth, parents, neighbors, and other community and youth organizations.
• Meeting regularly with direct supervisor for assignments and review.
• Attending monthly all-staff meetings, and weekly Drop-In Program staff meetings.
• Assisting in maintaining records for on-going internal and external program assessment.
Kristin has been instrumental in stabilizing Street-Level’s staff support of summer and after school program activities, as well as conducting research on resource opportunities (both human and monetary) and possible venues for exhibition of youth work. Kristin has greatly assisted with program activities, including youth supervision, record keeping, community public relations, and volunteer recruitment and management. Her daily duties have consisted of, but have not been limited to, computer literacy and media arts instruction, resource database creation, and assisting with the development and support of programming for young women and teens.
Kristin has also served as a liaison for Street-Level in the local technology community and neighborhood, representing the organization and promoting its philosophy by attending local CTCNet Chicago events and forums, participating in a six-week Media Activism Institute sponsored by a local media arts organization, and staffing youth outreach events at local festivals and universities.
Project Outcome:
In August 2002, Kristin assisted the organization and youth in preparation for its Street-to-Street block party/media installation event by co-designing an installation with Street-Level’s Girls Group participants, and co-producing two video pieces for Street-Level’s outdoor public broadcast/performance of youth media work in September 2002.
During the fall of 2002, Kristin accompanied staff and youth representatives to the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture conference in Seattle, WA, and worked with staff to develop a searchable database for our collection of youth videos, as well as create a system for the management and tracking of videos distributed to film festivals and screenings.
Impact Quote:
We are quite happy that we selected Kristin as our VISTA, because she is a well-rounded worker with multiple abilities and interests, and because of this, the organization has been able to maintain some semblance of a productive and meaningful media lab program.
Kids Computer Workshop
Website:
http://www.kcw.org/ Location:
Washington, DC
Teaching inner-city kids computer skills in DC is the goal of the Kids Computer Workshop. The program is designed to build computer literacy while developing basic reading, writing and math skills.
Youth Digital Media Training
Organization:
Boston Neighborhood Network VISTA Name:
Derek Hixon
Program Start:
4/2002
Program End:
4/2003
Project Description:
During his year-long VISTA assignment, Derek Hixon devoted most of his time to working on multimedia training for youth, media production and nonlinear editing assistance for producers, which has helped the Center move forward with the mission to provide Boston area residents of all ages with quality training and access to digital communications.
Project Outcome:
Derek has played a principal role in the planning and facilitation of the DigitalArt Youth Program, particularly in regard to working with youth ages 10-18. He developed and implemented multimedia activities for participants, including extra-curricular activities such as field trips and showcases around the city. At the same time he has produced several multimedia projects that have been used to educate people about the benefits of joining BNN. Also, he assists in helping BNN members produce digital video programs for the channels.
He created a web site for the BNN DigitalArt Youth Program and played a major role in updating and maintaining it: http://www.bnntv.org/day/index.htm. He also takes the lead in regard to developing content for programs at the BNN Multimedia Center, including digital video production for PSAs and multimedia presentations that are seen by BNN members and Boston public access TV viewers.
In addition to his major project activities, Derek has been more than willing to attend and participate in several center-related training sessions for community media and technology centers in the northeast region as well presenting at youth fairs and conferences. Near the end of his assignment, Derek contributed to the monthly First Tuesday TV/Web program produced by the Commonwealth Broadband Collaborative and he continued to work with CBC and BNN for several months after his assignment ended.
CTC Youth Engagement
Organization:
Newland Media Ed Center VISTA Name:
Russell Klein
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Goal 1: Reduce the alienation of teens/youth, aged 13-20, living in the developments and engage them in Center activities.
Goal 2: Public and private support.
Project Outcome:
Russell has worked directly with two technology workshops; one for younger children and one for the targeted youth aged 13-20 (7 participants). In the latter, he was directly involved in the recruitment effort and in both programs worked closely with the instructors to enhance their effectiveness.
Russell set up a digital video workstation (donated via MATV) and taught himself the iMovie software, working directly with the youth on the video they produced. He has taught himself a web design program (TrellixWeb) and has been teaching youth in the Center on an ongoing basis. We plan to continue the video course with the first group as well as offer the program to other youth.
Impact Quote:
Russell has engaged with youth in the target population to determine their goals, desires, issues, etc. to aid in planning for future programs. His approachability makes him very accessible to any age group, which has enhanced his ability to engage and retain the interest of a small core in the target age group (youth aged 13-20). While that core remains small (7-15), it is a large step for this organization. We also have a number of youth who are just approaching the target age group, and they are already engaged in activities at the Center, including those that Russell has initiated. We are confident that, rather than lose them as has happened in the past, we will retain them in our programs.
Youth Digital Literacy Training Development
Organization:
RTPNet VISTA Name:
Douglas Dumont
Program Start:
6/2002
Program End:
6/2003
Project Description:
Douglas worked with Duke University faculty and students to develop CLICK (Creating Literacy in Computer Knowledge), a computer literacy training program for 6th graders. CLICK develops computer skills for at-risk middle school students, engaging them in an after-school setting that is interactive and fun. CLICK lessons include Internet research, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and multimedia presentations. The website (http://www.duke.edu/web/isis/click/about.html) contains downloadable lesson plans and teaching modules, as well as tips and hints for starting up a technology training class.
Project Outcome:
Douglas worked very well with Duke’s faculty and students. He recruited and trained students to teach CLICK, and he worked with the faculty and staff of the ISIS (Information Science and Information Studies) certificate program, primarily Edward A. Shanken, Executive Director, and Katie Watchman, Program Coordinator.
Douglas is now a graduate student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke.
Impact Quote:
I am especially pleased with Douglas’ work. He completed all his tasks exceptionally well.