CTCNetwork News June 2007

In this Issue

_____________________________________________________________________

Dear CTCNet Members,

CTCNet has had an exciting year that’s included many changes and transitions within the organization.  Through everything, staff has been busy implementing our Connections for All program, disseminating the products of our Youth Visions work, and developing new and innovative programs to serve our membership.  Planning has already started for our 2008 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, which will be one of our best yet.  Announcements and details will be coming soon from staff regarding updates on programs, member services, and Conference 2008.  

The Board of Directors has been working diligently to recruit and hire an Executive Director who will build on the work that CTCNet has accomplished over the years.  In January, I stepped in as Interim Executive Director and will serve in this position until the Executive Director position is filled.  The Board has also been focusing on increasing the depth and breadth of its expertise by examining the specific skills set needed to build a board that will lead CTCNet in clarifying and reaching its goals.  Stay tuned for the Board appointment and nomination announcements later this month.  In addition, the Board is exploring how best to cultivate and grow our Advisory Board by tapping into leaders in the community technology field and beyond.  

In August, CTCNet members will have a great chance to interact with the Board through CTCNet’s Annual Meeting. Because we are not hosting a conference in 2007, this will be a virtual Annual Membership Meeting that will include a variety of online and teleconference activities designed to engage members in discussion, collaboration, and decision-making. 

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all of you for your continued contributions and commitment to the Network and invite you to continue to share your ideas and feedback with Board and staff members!  

Stay Connected, 

Shireen Mitchell, CTCNet Board President

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

Important Announcements

CTCNet Awards $280,000 in C4All Accessibility Grants

In the summer of 2006, CTCNet received a grant from the AT&T Foundation to support community technology centers and programs in increasing their capacity to serve people with disabilities.  Since last summer, CTCNet has partnered with the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) through our Connections for All (C4All) program, and we have been busy doing just that.

Some C4All program highlights:

If you missed out on the C4All Institutes and grants, don’t despair – there are more opportunities for our members to contribute to and benefit from the C4All program:

CTCNet would like to thank the AT&T Foundation for their generous support of the C4All program.  The grant to CTCNet is part of AT&T’s AccessAll program, a three-year $100 million philanthropic initiative to provide technology access to underserved communities.  Thanks also to ATA for their partnership and to all other C4All supporters and participants for your dedication to this important work.  For more information about the C4All program, visit www.ctcnet.org/what/initiatives/C4All, or contact Amy Beckrich directly at abeckrich@ctcnet.org.

 

Toni Stone Innovative Initiative Award – Call for Nominations

CTCNet is now accepting nominations for the 2007 Toni Stone Innovative Initiative Award! For more than 10 years, this annual award has recognized leaders who have made exceptional contributions to their communities and to the community technology field.  Established in 1996 as the Innovative Initiative Award, the award was renamed in honor of CTCNet founder Antonia "Toni" Stone when she passed away in 2002. For more information regarding the award and past winners, visit www.ctcnet.org/what/initiatives/tonistoneaward.htm  

The Toni Stone Award honors an individual from a CTCNet Member organization whose innovative efforts have made a positive impact on the lives of people in the community in which they work.   

This year's winner will receive:

 

DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting a nomination is June 27, 2007


[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

Out and About with CTCNet

CTCNet Presents at NSBE Annual Convention

The National Society of Black Engineers invited CTCNet to present at their 2007 National Convention in Columbus, Ohio March 26 – 29.  NSBE’s Technical Outreach & Community Help (TORCH) program enables NSBE members to volunteer with community technology programs in their communities, and TORCH invited CTCNet to give a presentation to current and prospective TORCH volunteers.  CTCNet’s Member Services Manager Stephen Quinn spoke about the inspiring work that CTCs are doing to empower communities around the country, and provided examples of common volunteer opportunities at CTCs. 

For more information about NSBE’s TORCH program, visit http://www.nsbe.org/torch/default.asp.

CTCNet at the NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference

CTCNet’s Hanh Le and Stephen Quinn joined about 1200 other individuals on April 4 - 6 in Washington, DC for NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC).  This year’s NTC theme was Reinventing Politics: Creating Social Change From the Ground Up.  The conference provided participants with the opportunity to connect, learn, share, and have fun through provocative keynote speakers, more than 100 breakout sessions, and a variety of affinity group meetings.   

We certainly did our fair share of learning at the conference on topics such as municipal wireless, low-income individuals’ use of technology, social entrepreneurship, data integration, and mission-driven technology investments.  However, we benefited most from the opportunity that NTC allowed us connect with others, particularly our members.  We were also pleased to attend the CTC VISTA Project’s Affinity Group meeting and learn about the exciting projects that CTC VISTAs are working with nonprofits around the country.   

Hanh and Stephen were joined by Shireen Mitchell and Taylore Casbarian-Wilson for CTCNet’s Affinity Group meeting on Friday, April 6th.  We convened the Affinity Group Meeting to provide a forum for community technology centers and programs to talk about issues they are currently addressing, explore the opportunities and challenges impacting their work, and learn about current happenings at CTCNet. 

A group brainstorming activity during the Affinity Group Meeting brought up both challenges and opportunities for the field in the areas of funding, community engagement and volunteering, outreach and awareness, policy and advocacy, technology and online resources, and CTCNet resources, such as our annual conference.   Members at the meeting also expressed the desire and willingness to participate in the shaping of CTCNet’s future within the context of the changing nature of the field of community technology.   

We look forward to continuing this dialog with our members as we look toward the future of CTCNet. To learn more about NTEN and the 2007 Nonprofit Technology Conference, visit http://www.nten.org/ntc.

Intel Computer Clubhouse Network Annual Conference

At the end of April, Hanh traveled to Evanston, IL to participate in the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network Annual Conference.  Hanh, along with Russ Holland from the Alliance for Technology Access, was invited to present a plenary session, break-out session, and post-conference workshop on the topic of accessibility for community technology programs.  The invitation to the conference came about after Clubhouse Network staff and coordinators participated in a C4All Accessibility Institute hosted by CTCNet and ATA at the Museum of Science (MOS) in Boston this January.   

The first Computer Clubhouse was founded in 1993 in Boston by the Computer Museum (now part of MOS) in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab. The Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe after-school learning environment where youth ages 10 to 18 from underserved communities work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology. With the Clubhouse at MOS as a model, the Computer Clubhouse Network supports community-based Clubhouses around the world, providing thousands of youth with access to resources, skills, and experiences to help them succeed in their careers, contribute to their communities, and lead outstanding lives.   

Each year, the Network hosts a conference for staff from its Clubhouses across the country and around the globe.  The theme of this year’s conference was “Beyond Four Walls: Connections, Collaboration, and Community”.  Despite this being her first Clubhouse conference, Hanh was struck by how such a strong community could be so welcoming to a “newbie”.  Congratulations to the Computer Clubhouse Network on a great conference…and thanks for letting CTCNet be a part of it! 

For more information about the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network, visit http://www.computerclubhouse.org/.

 

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

CTCNet Resources

Youth Visions for Your Neighborhood

CTCNet’s Youth Visions for Stronger Neighborhoods curriculum offers a proven methodology for engaging youth in local community-building and problem-solving through multimedia tools and training.  Using this curriculum, youth across the country have identified some of the most pressing problems in their neighborhoods and worked towards creating solutions to and awareness around these issues. 

Between 2003 and 2006, CTCNet’s Youth Visions program awarded grants to 23 youth-serving organizations to implement community engagement and media projects while working collaboratively to adapt and refine the curriculum. What resulted is the field-tested curriculum now available to community organizations everywhere.

Youth Visions Highlight:   

Appalshop, Inc. – Whitesburg, KY (2006 Grantee)
http://www.appalshop.org/

Appalshop is a community-based media arts and education center located in the coalfields of Kentucky. The program's youth producers were interested in increasing the level of responsiveness toward the teen issues such as drug use and pregnancy in the school system and local government. The unique experiences and concerns of Letcher County youth were reflected in a youth-produced video. The work challenged local officials to consider allocating more resources to addressing issues of teen drug use and pregnancy. The video described how increasing funding for recreational and other alternative activities could reduce these issues in the community's youth population. 

The Appalshop film debuted to an audience of 130 at a local festival and the community response was highly enthusiastic. Residents, youth, government officials, teachers, and members of KFTC all turned out to learn about what these energetic and talented young people had to say. After the screening, forty youth and community leaders, and even the County Judge Executive, participated in a spirited panel discussion about the issues addressed in the video.  

For more information and to order your copy of the curriculum, please visit http://ctcnet.org/youthvisions/

 

From the CTC Resource Center

Recently, a member posted a query to the discussion list looking for GED instructional resources.  The CTC Resource Center contains several such resources, including practice tests, preparation materials, instructional tools and information about locating GED testing centers.  See the GED category in the Resource Center for more!

[back to top]

 

_____________________________________________________________________

Is Your CTCNet Membership Current?

 

CTCNet is sending renewal notices to all members whose memberships are due for renewal.  This summer, we will be holding elections to the Board of Directors, and in order to be eligible to vote, your membership must be up to date!   

Board elections are an extremely important opportunity for you to contribute your voice in shaping CTCNet’s future.  Please make sure you’re able to participate by ensuring that your membership is current.  

To inquire about your membership status, email us at membership@ctcnet.org!

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

Member Spotlight: Jordan Boys & Girls Club

 

Our featured CTCNet Member in this edition of the CTCNetwork News is the Jordan Boys & Girls Club in Chelsea, MA.   CTCNetwork News spoke with Adetunji Onamade to learn about the Club.

What services does Jordan Boys & Girls Club Chelsea provide to the community?  

The Jordan Boys & Girls Club is one of the nine sites of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston located in Chelsea, Mass. Our mission is to have boys and girls, especially those from disadvantage circumstances, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders.  To achieve this we offer a variety of program activities and support services designed to assist in the educational, emotional, physical, and social development of 6-18 year olds without regard to social, racial, ethnic or religious background.  

The club offers programming in six core areas: Technology, Arts & Cultural Enrichment, Leadership & Character Development, Sport, Fitness & Recreation, Life Skills, and Education. These efforts provide youth with knowledge, skills and attributes they need to pursue their dreams and succeed in life.  While each core area focuses on specific skills, it is the wide range of developmental opportunities and experiences that makes the club experience unique and effective. 

 

Can you briefly describe what your technology related programs are about and what they offer the community?  

The Club’s technology program works to help youth become “fluent” in the use of technology, giving members opportunities to increase their knowledge and hone their skills. Activities range from general introduction to computers – including age-appropriate introductions to using the internet and software utilities – to in-depth technology exploration and utilization for those with special interest in technology.

The Club has an interactive “Computer Clubhouse”, created in partnership with the MIT Media Lab and the Museum of Science, which provides a creative and safe learning environment where members use technology to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence. Participants have the opportunity to create their animations, simulations, musical compositions, robotic constructions and website designs. The technology program extends beyond the Computer Clubhouse to the libraries, social recreation areas, and teen centers – allowing club staff to integrate technology into all program areas and enabling members to apply their technology skills to other activities. 

 

What impact does the Jordan Boys & Girls Club Chelsea have on the individuals/community it serves? 

The club provides a safe, nurturing environment with professional caring adults running programs in all core programs.  The program provides a variety of services and opportunities for youth and families such as after school programming, free meals for members, parenting workshops, college preparation, leadership skills, job training and opportunity, and many other life skills learned through programming and a safe environment from bullying, gangs, and drugs. We provide many disadvantaged youth with consistent adult relationships as they travel from childhood to adulthood.

The Jordan club tries to address the specific needs of the Chelsea community, for example, providing teen pregnancy prevention programming, gang workshops, literacy and healthy relationships.    

 

What are the challenges, demands, and pressures facing your network?  

Demands from parents on how to be educated to keep their kids safe online. We organized a seminar to create awareness among parents on how to keep kids safe online at home, signs to look for when kids are being preyed upon online, and sharing resources available to seek help when needed. 

Updating and sustaining the Computer Clubhouse equipment has always been a challenge. Keeping up with up to date software and hardware is a continuous struggle. 

 

Upcoming events and programs at the Jordan Boys & Girls Club. 

We just concluded a yearly two-day technology event – Cyber Summit (www.bgcbcybersummit.org), organized for 70 kids from all of our sites and other community youth organizations. The goal of the Cyber Summit is to expose teen youth to different technologies in a fun, social, and non-competitive way. 

Cyber Summit includes hands-on workshops in cutting-edge technology, as well as team building opportunities in the form of “technical challenges”. Workshops and challenges range from creating digital music, to building 3D scale models, and filming and editing an original video. Over the past several years we’ve observed that members leave Cyber Summit empowered to utilize technology in a more meaningful and personal way. 

The club’s Robotic Group are preparing to participate in an annual Robot Sumo Competition organized by the Machine Science group. The event is coming up May 19 at the Museum of Science in Boston. 

The Jordan Boys & Girls Club is fashioning ways to make our technology program accessible to people with accessibility needs through gradual introduction of Assistive Technology.

For more information on the Jordan Boys & Girls Club, visit http://www.bgcb.org/get_into_clubs/virtual_Chelsea.cfm.

Thanks to Adetunji for his telling us more about the Jordan Boys & Girls Club!

 

 

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

CTCNet Welcomes 13 New Members

City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department

Tampa, FL

Commerce Coops, LLC - Digital Divide of Palm Beach County

Delray Beach, FL

Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, Inc. - Technology Learning Center

New York, NY

Delaware Center of Technology

Lewes, DE

Neighbors Empowering Youth (NEY)

Pasadena, CA

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Chicago, IL

Triangle United Way - Teaming for Technology

Research Triangle Park, NC

Techs & Trainers, Inc

Houston, TX

Digital Promise

Bellevue, WA

Empowerment Association

San Diego, CA

Port Aransas Computer Club

Port Aransas, TX

Media Education Lab

Philadelphia, PA

Evanston Community Development Corporation

Evanston, IL

 

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________

Meet CTCNet's New Program Manager!


CTCNet welcomes Amy Beckrich as its newest staff member!

Amy can be reached at abeckrich@ctcnet.org, feel free to drop her an email!

 

[back to top]

_____________________________________________________________________