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Technology For All
Occasional Update - December 2004
"Together We Empower Communities Through Technology"
Here's a quick update regarding Technology For All (TFA) and our collaborative efforts to empower residents of low-income and underserved communities through the tools of technology. Important information for Community Technology Centers (CTCs) and nonprofits doing community technology is located at the bottom. If you like this newsletter, please e-mail it to a friend.
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News and Updates
TFA-JobTech begins Business Development Phase --- For the past year, TFA has been writing the business plan, developing the IT infrastructure and through STREET U, training potential employees for TFA-JobTech. With initial funding and capitalization by the U. S. Department of Commerce, TFA-JobTech is a social enterprise focused on providing high quality document conversion and knowledge management services to its customers at a competitive rate using neighborhood labor trained and employed at participating community technology centers. TFA-JobTech is developing business relationships directly with corporations, businesses. governmental agencies and other organizations needing this service as well as serving as a second tier outsourcing opportunity for document conversion and knowledge management companies. TFA-JobTech can convert your files from paper to digital files and "code" or add to them the intelligence you need to manage the knowledge of your organization. To discuss the document conversion or knowledge management needs of your business or organization, please contact Jim Forrest, Business Development Officer at 713.961.0012, x107 or by email at Jim.Forrest@techforall.org .
Reminder! --TFA Consolidates Offices --- In order to be more available to our clients, partner organizations and donors, TFA and TFA-Houston have consolidated all offices at the Mission Milby Community Development Corporation location in Houston's East End. TFA staff members are being assigned direct phone numbers, but all TFA staff can be reached at the main number - 713.961.0012. The consolidated office is located at: 2220 Broadway Houston, Texas, 77012. Mission Milby CDC is a project of the Milby United Methodist Church. The Misión Milby mission is to bring the tools of community development and community technology together in a collaborative effort of neighborhood improvement with stakeholders and other community partners to serve Pecan Park and Houston's East End neighborhoods.
Mission Milby CTC Begins Registration for Spring Classes --- Registration for classes at TFA's Mission Milby Community Technology Center (MMCTC) is underway. Spring classes at MMCTC will include English as a Second Language, Learn and Earn a Computer classes for High School Youth, Introduction to SimHouston, GED, Adult Basic Education, college and career counseling for youth and various computer classes in English and Spanish. These classes are offered to residents of Houston's East End in collaboration with Technology For All, the Mission Milby Community Development Corporation, SimDesk Technologies, Houston Community College, The Telecom Opportunity Institute and the LULAC National Educational Service Center. Information about classes can be obtained by calling TFA at 713.961.0012 or Mission Milby at 713.645.5150 or in person at Mission Milby located at 2220 Broadway, Houston, Texas, 77012 (two blocks south of Milby High School).
Recent Donations to TFA (Year End Donations due by December 31) --- TFA expresses thanks to its recent donors including the U. S. Department of Commerce, CompuCycle, The George and Josephine Hamman Foundation, David and Judy O'Neil, Charles Williams, Gene and Pat Calvert and Will and Karen Reed. Cash donations can be sent to Technology For All, 2220 Broadway, Houston, Texas, 77012. To make a computer or other technology donation contact Douglas.Caldwell@techforall.org or call 713.961.0012.
Corporations-Reduce your Total Cost of Ownership --- TFA-STARRS (Secure Technology Asset Recycling and Redeployment Services) can assist your company with its technology assets. As you replace equipment, TFA, through its strategic alliance with CompuCycle and others, can reduce your total cost of ownership. By donating technology assets being replaced to TFA-STARRS, Corporations receive the following benefits: substantially lower cost of total ownership; Comprehensive inventory management and flexible reporting; Secure data removal (above DOD standards); Environmental protection through zero-landfill policy; national and international footprint; and community goodwill. Through our strategic alliances, TFA can customize our services to fit every customer's needs relating to inventory, collection, testing, auditing, recycling, end of lease, surplus and obsolete equipment, and redeployment of these assets to low-income and under-resourced communities. Recent customers of TFA-STARRS include ChevronTexaco, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and GEMSA Loan Services. For more information contact Douglas.Caldwell@techforall.org or Jim.Forrest@techforall.org at 713.961.0012.
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Important Info for CTCs and CBOs
New Digital Divide Network Website --- The Digital Divide Network has just launched its new website: http://www.digitaldivide.net . Five years ago,the first Digital Divide Network website and email discussion group was created. Since then, DDN has grown into a network of over 3,000 people in more than 75 countries. The Digital Divide Network invites you to visit the site and try out all the new features created for you and other DDN members. Create your own user name and password and join the DDN. As a DDN member, you will have access to a variety of powerful tools that will allow you to: create your own blog; host your own online community workspace featuring document sharing, online publishing and bulletin board discussions; access DDN content through RSS feeds; publish your own news headlines, event announcements and articles; and participate in live webcasts hosted by DDN staff.
Tsunami Relief Efforts --- A series of powerful earthquakes on Sunday, December 26 unleashed massive tidal waves across Asia killing more than an estimated 40,000+ people in eleven different countries. Earthquakes originating off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered the tsunamis. Villages and resorts were slammed with waves of water, some reaching as high as 30 feet. The strongest earthquake measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, making it the most powerful earthquake in 40 years. Many in the community technology leaders are concerned about the millions who have been impacted by these destructive tsunamis. To educate CTC clients regarding the Tsunami and relief efforts in the countries impacted you may wish to post the following websites. ReliefWeb (www.reliefweb.int ) is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts. OneWorld (www.oneworld.net) is a portal that brings together over 1600 organizations across the globe fighting poverty and promoting human rights awareness. Network for Good. the U.S. site that provides information about nonprofits and creates donor opportunities, has created a growing list of organizations in the relief efforts. Go to http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/international/earthquake/tsunami122604.aspx to make a donation or learn more about tsunamis.
TFA Seeks CTCs for University of Houston College of Technology Program ---Through the efforts of TFA-Houston board member and UH professor Dr. Cheryl Willis, many CTCS have benefited from the efforts of students enrolled in "Technology in the Community", a project management course that provides service learning experiences for students and important technology consulting services to CTCs and other CBOs. TFA's Pam Gardner is working with Dr. Willis to identify CTCs and projects for Spring 2005 classes. CTCs interested in participating are encouraged to contact Ms. Gardner at 713.961.0012 or by email at Pam.Gardner@techforall.org .
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Websites of Interest to CTCs and CBOs
Health A to Z --- http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/encyindex.jsp
Black Wings - Pioneer African American Aviators --http://www.nasm.si.edu/blackwings/index.html
Computer Hope - Free Computer Help --- http://www.computerhope.com/
Software Tutorials (free) --- http://www.actden.com/
Digital Divide Network --- www.digitaldivide.net
TexasLawHELP.org --- http://www.texaslawhelp.org/TX/index.cfm
Association for Community Networking --- www.afcn.org
Join CTCNet today - TFA encourages community technology centers to join the Community Technology Centers' Network. For more information, go to www.ctcnet.org .
Support our Program Partners --- For a complete list of TFA and TFA-Houston program partners click here.
We welcome your feedback! Contact Will Reed at 713.961.0012, x102 or by email at will.reed@techforall.org .
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TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL/Technology For All-Houston
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 working together to empower underserved communities through the tools of technology. TFA has supportive relationships with community based organizations operating CTCs in 56 US cities. TFA creates social enterprises to empower low-income and under-resourced communities. Since 1997, TFA-Houston has assisted 185 community based organizations to create and develop community technology centers that bring technology and the opportunities it provides to the residents of Houston area neighborhoods. TFA-Houston operates its own CTC at Mision Milby in Houston's East End. To make a donation click on the donate now button located at the bottom of this page. 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.
Copyright 2004 Technology For All, Inc. All rights reserved.
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