Announcement

Technology For All
Occasional Update - May 2003
http://www.techforall.org http://houston.techforall.org

"We Bring Technology to Underserved Communities"

Here's a quick update of news and information regarding Technology For All and our collaborative efforts to bring technology and the opportunities it provides to underserved communities. We hope this assists in your understanding of what we do to make the world a better place. Important information for Community Technology Centers (CTCs) and nonprofits is located at the bottom. If you like this newsletter, please e-mail it to a friend.

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News and Updates

Thirteen Organizations Seek Computers --- Thirteen different community organizations serving low-income and underserved communities have requested 271 computers from TFA-Houston in the second "request for computer" distribution for 2003. Seven organizations requesting computers will be developing community technology centers (CTCs) for the first time. Six organizations are previous TFA-Houston computer recipients that have requested upgrades. Five organizations are churches or faith based community initiatives and three are community development corporations. All are grass-roots community based organizations providing various services to their communities. TFA-Houston is working with with these organizations to assist them in the development of both a program plan and technical plan to determine if they are ready to develop or upgrade a CTC in service to their community. For more information about the "Request for Computer" process go to http://www.houston.techforall.org/submenus/request.html.

Unique Collaboration Under Development in North Forest ISD --- Technology For All-Houston has begun working with the Launch Point Community Development Corporation and the North Forest ISD to develop the first of hopefully many CTCs throughout the school district. This is a unique approach in that the school district will be making space available for the CTC during day-time hours as well as after school. Parents and students will be able to take advantage of the computer lab for a variety of programs being offered through and with Launch Point. By utilizing existing available space, this unique school/community partnership will re-create the neighborhood school concept in service to the entire community.

CTCs of the Month --- Each month a new "CTC of the Month" is recognized and spotlighted on the TFA-Houston home page. http://www.houston.techforall.org The May CTC of the month will be added in just a few days. CTCs recognized in previous months include: Citywide Outreach Center, April 2003; Open Door Mission, March 2003; Destiny Bridgebuilders, February 2003; and Texas Inter-Faith Housing, January 2003. For CTCs of the month, go to http://www.houston.techforall.org/feature.html.

The Cupboard is Almost Bare --- Our work to assist community based organizations in the establishment of community technology centers depends on regular contributions of computer equipment. At this time, TFA does not have enough equipment to fulfill the requests for equipment currently under review. We need approximately 150 Pentium II or faster computers. TFA/TFA-Houston accepts donations of computer equipment from individuals and corporations. For more information about how you or your company can receive a tax deduction by donating computer equipment being replaced, call Douglas Caldwell at 713.961.0012. Make a phone call today to help children, youth and their families in collaboration with TFA and our community program partners across Houston, Denver, and in other cities across the U.S. For more information go to http://www.houston.techforall.org/submenus/recycling.html .

New "Club Ten" Members Recognized --- "Club Ten" members make gifts to support TFA's work with at least ten persons per day per year. New "Club Ten" members include the Voyagers Class, Clear Lake United Methodist Church; Will and Karen Reed; Janet Horn; Arch and Stella Rowan Foundation. The day to day achievement of our mission is not be possible without the annual support of our Board members and friends. Club Ten members make an annual commitment to support TFA's work with at least 10 persons per day for a 2003 gift of at least $109.25. "Club Ten" members receive monthly email updates and invitations to meet persons who benefit by participating in community events with TFA program partners. New "Club Ten" members are listed each month in the "Occasional Update". To Join "Club Ten" click on the link below, make a gift of at least $109.25, and indicate "Club Ten membership" in the "comments" section. https://app.etapestry.com/happ1/Technology%20For%20All/OnlineGivingCreditCard.html You can also join "Club Ten" by sending a check for $109.25 or more to Technology For All, 109 North Post Oak Lane, Suite 425, Houston, Texas 77024.

Office to Move to Misión Milby --- TFA/TFA-Houston will be moving its operations from the Edloe office to our Misión Milby facility in Houston's East End at 2220 Broadway effective May 27. This will allow TFA-Houston to expand its services to the community around the Misión Milby CTC and provide more effective services to CTCs across the city. The new address will be 2220 Broadway, Houston, Texas 77012. For directions go to http://www.houston.techforall.org/submenus/contact_milby.html

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Grants and Awards

TFA Granted Additional Skillsoft Content --- Through the generosity of SkillSoft, TFA recently expanded its online content offerings for CTCs. In addition to the previously offered IT courses with 55 certification tracks, TFA's Skillsoft content now includes courses in business skills such as "Email Essentials," "Professional Telephone Skills," courses on Safety and Disaster Preparedness, as well as hundreds of courses for personal growth. All new learning paths include sound, which reads the text on the screen to the student, and all of the great features currently within the course views, which include bookmark feature, resources, assessments, etc. CTCs wishing to utilize SkillSoft courses for workforce development, staff training or general community outreach are encouraged to contact Jessica Wisnoski, TFA's Manager of Online Content at Jessica.Wisnoski@techforall.org or by calling 713.961.0012. For more information on the TFA website go to http://www.techforall.org/announcements/elearning.htm. To review an updated catalog go to: http://www.techforall.org/subpages/elearningcatalog.htm

TOP Grant Submitted --- A grant proposal was recently submitted to the Technology Opportunities Program with the Department of Commerce. The goal of the collaborative proposal, if funded, is to bring livable wage jobs to four Houston CTCs in collaboration with local community development corporations using the innovative tools of community technology and community development. Keep your fingers crossed!

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Important Info for CTCs and CBOs

CTCNet 12th Annual Conference --- The annual conference and meeting of the Community Technology Center's Network will be in Washington, DC, June 27-29, 2003. TFA encourages its affiliated organizations to attend. For more information go to http://www2.ctcnet.org/conf/2003/

Community Technology Centers as Catalysts for Community Change --- A new report prepared for the Ford Foundation presents the findings of exploratory research into how community technology centers (CTCs) could function more effectively as public spaces and as forces for positive social change at a community level. Authors of the report include Stephen Davies and Andrew Wiley-Schwartz of the Project for Public Spaces, Randal Pinkett and Lisa Servon. Houston community technology practioners will remember Lisa Servon from the TFA-Houston sponsored event in Fall 2002. For a PDF version of report, go to ....... http://www.bctpartners.com/resources/CTCs_as_Catalysts.pdf

Keys to Sustaining Your Community Technology Center --- The America Connects Consortium recently placed a new feature article on its website regarding CTC sustainability. Written by George Gundry of Tech Soup, the article explores several key points including discussions on community support and partnerships, building a great program, and the importance of conducting an organized planning process.To view the article, go to ....... http://www.americaconnects.net/field/F9sustain2.asp

Top Sites for CTCs and Nonprofits --- 1. Foundation Center http://www.fdncenter.org ; 2) Guidestar http://www.guidestar.org ; 3) Idealist http://www.idealist.org ; 4) Gilbert Center http://news.gilbert.org ; 5) Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership http://www.nonprofitbasics.org ; 6) Putnam Barber's site http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq ; 7) Network for Good http://www.networkforgood.org ; 8) Service Leader http://www.serviceleader.org ; 9) Tech Soup http://www.techsoup.org ; 10) Volunteer Match http://www.volunteermatch.org ; 11) Community Technology Centers Network http://www.ctcnet.org ; and 12) America Connects Consortium http://www.americaconnects.net .

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Websites of Interest to CTCs

Brains Rule! --- Brains Rule! is a site dedicated to learning about the brain and neuroscience. Presented through a unique user-friendly interface, the site provides information about the brain for students and teachers. Students can learn about the brain while playing the interactive games such as "Neuron Navigator" and "Brain-o-Coaster." Students can interact with the brain experts and the site by posting questions to Brains Rule! in order to win free prizes.
http://www.brainsrule.com

Giggle Poetry --- Giggle Poetry is a comprehensive site dedicated to kid's poetry. Located on the site are various poetry resources, including favorite kid's poems, school poems and information about poetry contents, among others. Suggestions for the proper methods of teaching poetry and fiction are included on the site. Begin by having students read and evaluate the poems found in "Read'em Rate'em." You can stimulate additional skill building by using the poetry fun area's resources; have students try the "Rhyme-Time Riddles" and the Fill-In-the-Blanks poems. After students have used the resources on the site to create poetry, be sure to consider submitting them to the poetry contests that are available from the site. http://www.gigglepoetry.com

Play it Cyber Safe --- Play It Cyber Safe is produced by the Business Software Alliance, a group that promotes the ethical use of intellectual property. This site provides information on the types of "cyber-crimes," presents resources for students and teachers, and provides a section for reporting cyber crimes. Use the resources, particularly the curriculum guides for teachers, to plan an instructional unit on cyber ethics. Include information found on this site with resources about plagiarism to take this instruction one step further. Use the link to the Business Software Alliance to obtain useful information about what is right and wrong in the digital world. http://www.playitcybersafe.com

Remember our Program Partners --- For a complete list of TFA and TFA-Houston program partners, go to http://www.techforall.org/partners.htm or to http://houston.techforall.org/submenus/partners.html

We welcome your feedback! Contact Will Reed at 713.316.5761 or by email at will.reed@techforall.org .

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TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL/Technology For All-Houston
http://www.techforall.org http://houston.techforall.org

This newsletter is produced by Technology For All especially for our donors and friends.

Technology For All (TFA) and Technology For All-Houston (TFA-Houston) are Houston based non-profit organizations focused on bringing technology and the opportunities it provides to underserved communities. TFA has supportive relationships with over 300 community based organizations in 56 US cities. Since 1997, TFA-Houston has assisted 160+ community based organizations create and develop community technology centers that bring technology and the opportunities it provides to Houston's underserved communities. To make a donation go to https://app.etapestry.com/happ1/Technology%20For%20All/OnlineGivingCreditCard.html. To learn more call 713.961.0012 or email info@techforall.org.

If you do not wish to receive the Technology For All occasional update send an email to Will.Reed@techforall.org with the words "please remove" in the subject line.