Addressing the Digital Divide through the Church in Boston Chris Tsang, PREP Walk-In Lab Coordinator May 5, 2001

1. Addressing the Digital Divide through the Church in Boston Chris Tsang, PREP Walk-In Lab Coordinator May 5, 2001

2. Christian Community Computer Centers in Boston

3. Mount Moriah Baptist Church Brockton Rev. Eugene Neville, 508-588-0833 • History: • The Amara Computer Learning Center began by providing technology training to children ages 5½ -17 years old through its after-school program. • Offered computer classes in Introduction to Computers, Office Applications, CD Production, Graphics and Animation, and Creative Writing and Journals. • The center has trained individuals from such organizations as the Brockton Housing Authority, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club. In 1999, the center had served over 1,400 individuals.

4. Mount Moriah Baptist Church Brockton Rev. Eugene Neville, 508-588-0833 • History (cont’d): • Summer campers and their parents in 1999 received a free Pentium computer upon completion of camp or for parents, a six-week training, to continue practicing the skills they learned. • The Center purchased and installed satellite technology which the Center has already used to conduct Multi-State Youth Town Meetings. Plans included starting a regional faith-based distance learning network. • Stats: • Computers donated through various private organizations. Funds are also generated through registration fees and through small grants.

5. Ella J. Baker House Four Corners, Dorchester Marc Jermain, Jed Hresko, 282-6704 • Current Uses of Computers: • After-school program for middle and high school students with 40 students per session • 1/2 METCO and charter students, 1/2 students referred to by DYS and the courts • meet twice a week and divided into four groups with open lab time on Saturday • use Encarta Africana software that provides a comprehensive look at African/African-American history • Computer lab in partnership with Harvard’s DuBois Institute and Microsoft

6. Ella J. Baker House Four Corners, Dorchester Marc Jermain, Jed Hresko, 282-6704 • Goals/Vision: • Emphasis on not just throwing technology out, but providing training and content • Stats: • Computer lab with 10 brand new Dell computers with CD burners • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)/high speed connection to the Internet • Scanner, color ink jet printer, 3 laser printers, web camera • Harvard arranged funding through banks and foundations

7. Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) Roxbury Sam Acevedo, 442-5608, judaherc@earthlink.net • Current Uses of Computers: • Adult computer literacy classes two nights a week for parents and grandparents of students pursuing a higher education at HERC • Starting a computer mentoring program during the summer • In collaboration with Roxbury Presbyterian Church and Cambridge Community Fellowship Church (CCFC) • Teaching computer networking skills on the level of Microsoft Certification Software Engineer (MCSE) combined with a Christian discipleship focus • “Train the trainer” session during the summer

8. Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) Roxbury Sam Acevedo, 442-5608, judaherc@earthlink.net • Stats: • 12 networked 3llenium computers – handbuilt and run by member of the congregation • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)/high speed connection to the Internet

9. Greater Framingham Community Church Framingham Edna Smith, 508-626-2118 Rev. J. Anthony Loyde, 508-626-2118 John Sims, 508-626-2118, jsims37083@aol.com Current Uses of Computers: Computer tutorial program for middle school students designed by Framingham State College students Goals/Vision: Our goal is the transformation of students from being "consumers" of technology (playing hand-held computer games, "surfing" the Internet, watching videos) to becoming "creators" of it (creating web sites, editing digital video footage, and becoming comfortable with computer programming.)

10. Greater Framingham Community Church Framingham Edna Smith, 508-626-2118 Rev. J. Anthony Loyde, 508-626-2118 John Sims, 508-626-2118, jsims37083@aol.com • Goals/Vision (cont’d): • Bi-weekly Computer Club for at-risk youth aged 12-16 • Club will go over topics such as Windows orientation and basic Internet literacy and then progress into more in-depth knowledge of Web Design and Graphic Design: HTML Programming, MS Front Page, and Adobe PhotoShop. • Stats: • 18 donated PCs and Macs • Internet access dialing up to 56K; will be going DSL

11. St. Paul’s AME Church Cambridge Lisa Mitchell, 661-1110/868-3648 • Current Uses of Computers: • Computer classes (i.e., Intro to Computers, MS Windows, MS Office applications [Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.], Financial Planning with a financial planner from American Express, Intro to the Internet, Desktop Publishing, etc. - $2/person/class).    • Walk-in assistance and internet access • Stats: • 10 Pentium PCs • ISDN dialup connection; may convert to DSL soon • Donated color laser printer

12. Twelfth Baptist Church Dudley, Roxbury Paula Waters, 442-7855, watp@earthlink.net • Goals/Vision: • Edit audio and video in the future in order to show a full-film produced and edited by youth on New Year’s Eve! • Offer primarily project-based computer center for the community to use gifts and skills of members • To share Christ with their neighbors as they get to know them • Bridging the generational gap by having youth teach seniors about the computer and to have seniors offer mentorship to youth

13. Twelfth Baptist Church Dudley, Roxbury Paula Waters, 442-7855, watp@earthlink.net • Stats: • 10 computers networked – both Macs and PCs (486s) • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)/high speed connection to the Internet • Donated color laser printer • Computer ministry funded through a 1997 Black Church Capacity Building Project grant and support of the church

14. Lowell Mission Church Lowell Rhea Gordon, 978-458-6480, LowellMC@aol.com • Goals/Vision: • Planning a walk-in computer lab for at-risk youth population outside of after-school program that includes homework help and tutorials for computer applications • Develop artistic abilities of youth through computer art applications similar to Adobe Illustrator

15. Grace Church of All Nations Codman Square, Dorchester Katherine Combs, 825-6757 • Part of City of Boston program called Technology Goes Home • Supply teachers for 10-week session of classes to collaborative • Refer families who are low-income and do not have a computer – one parent and one child to participate in 10 weeks of training in order to qualify for a free new computer

16. Black Ministerial Alliance Boston Joanne Allen-Willoughby, 445-2737, jawcsame@yahoo.com Currently all sites do not have capacity to integrate technology into their after-school programs However, through partnerships with the Grove Hall community and Grace Church of All Nations, they help refer families to Technology-Goes-Home. Would like to reach point in future where there are computers and staff at every site

17. Other Churches Looking Into Technology Programs Metropolitan Baptist Church, Dorchester Barbara Robinson, 436-0479 Currently have six computers and looking to grow Faith Pentecostal Church, Dorchester Elvina Greenaway, 265-2375 To teach computer classes for the community and integrate technology into the after-school program

18. Other Churches Looking Into Technology Programs Charles Street AME Church, Roxbury Teddy Maynard, 442-7770 Technology center one of the projects considering when education center is built Salvation Army Brengle Academy, Dorchester Sue Dunnigan, 288-8433 Currently partnering with PREP – 11 middle-school students come weekly for computer classes that combine relevant topics such as the History of Hip Hop music and learning programs such as Mircosoft PowerPoint

19. Computer Ministries

20. Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship Cambridge Andrew Sears, 876-2981, asears@alum.mit.edu • Currently: • PREP is a joint program of Dorchester Temple Baptist Church, Bruce Wall Ministries and the Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship. • Announcements and reports about PREP to the entire church each semester; Cambridge Vineyard also provides some of the funding. • 50 people have volunteered at PREP over the last year and a half.

21. Roxbury Presbyterian Church Dudley, Roxbury Evelyn Bourne, 445-6262, evelynb30@yahoo.com • Currently: • Partnership with Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) • Goals/Vision: • Planning a technology center that includes: • A technology component in the after-school program • GED preparation • Job skill training • Program for seniors since there is a home for seniors across the street • Open walk-in lab

22. Cambridge Community Fellowship Church (CCFC) Central Square, Cambridge Chris Tsang, 282-0155, cstsang98@hotmail.com • Formal partnership with the Higher Education Resource Center (HERC) in Roxbury; members mentor high school students towards pursuing a higher education by spending time with them and helping them with their college applications • Growing relationship with PREP – donating hardware and building a team of volunteers; looking to possibly replicate PREP model in Central Square as primary vision and commitment is to the surrounding neighborhood of the church

23. Greatest Needs • Upgraded state-of-the-art computers • Funding • Staff • Need for Partnership