Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Judy Hallman <hallman AT email.unc.edu>]

To colleagues and friends on several lists:

I am forwarding below two messages about community technology centers
(CTCs) for evacuees in Houston. Technology For All
(http://www.techforall.org/) was already operating
at least 60 community technology centers in Houston. Their mission
statement includes:
> ... to empower under resourced communities through the tools of technology" 
and
> ... we create educational, economic and personal opportunities for low-income 
> persons and the communities in which they live.

Technology For All has the partnerships, volunteers, training programs,
and experience to create more CTCs in Houston and to help us create them
in other parts of the country.

Will Reed is reporting activity and needs in his blog at
http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/

A post on the DigitalDivide Network list today:
"Making the Astrodome CTC the Rule, Not the Exception" -- What will it
take to get CTCs established at other refugee centers? See
http://mailman.edc.org/pipermail/digitaldivide/2005-September/003378.html.
And see Will's followup message at
http://mailman.edc.org/pipermail/digitaldivide/2005-September/003391.html.
(Kavita Singh is Executive Director of CTCNet.)

How can we help?

If you'd like to join the DigitalDivide Network discussion, see
http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/digitaldivide or go directly to
http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide

Judy Hallman (hallman AT rtpnet.org, http://www.rtpnet.org/hallman)
Executive Director, RTPnet, NC (http://www.RTPnet.org/)

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ctcnet] Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts in Houston - CTC
planned for the Astrodome
Date:   Thu, 1 Sep 2005 13:32:07 -0500
From:   Will Reed <Will.Reed AT techforall.org>
To:     <ctcmembers AT lists.ctcnet.org>

Technology For All(TFA) is working with its community and corporate
partners to set up a Community Technology Center (CTC) at Houston's
Astrodome, which will soon be home for 25,000 evacuees from the New
Orleans Superdome.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to help in
this way and have made an initial commitment to install a 40 station
CTC. We expect we will need to expand that, but want to move quickly
with what we can do and then assess the additional need. TFA also
anticipates working with public leaders and officials to assist in the
deployment of a Wireless Mesh Network in the Astrodome. Those details
are under discussion. Pam Gardner (Pam.Gardner AT techforall.org
<mailto:Pam.Gardner AT techforall.org> 713.454.6415) on our staff is
coordinating volunteer efforts to set up the CTC and then provide
programming assistance. TFA will need additional computers (Pentium 4 or
faster), software, volunteers, $'s and organizational capacity to pull
this off. Thanks in advance for your assistance. As more details are
worked out we will pass them along.

Will

[see Will's signature lines below]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ctcnet] CTC for Katrina Victims Update - Please Forward
Date:   Fri, 2 Sep 2005 05:54:48 -0500
From:   Will Reed <Will.Reed AT techforall.org>
To:     undisclosed-recipients: ;

As of late last night, the Astrodome was full and evacuees were being
diverted to other sites. We have an internal TFA meeting this morning to
update everyone working on the Astrodome Community Technology Center
(CTC) project.  The minor change in plans is that we now expect to be
working on the development of CTCs at shelters and staging areas across
the city in addition to the Astrodome.

In speaking late yesterday to our contact in the mayor's office, it is
estimated that at least 100,000 persons will be scattered across the
city in multiple long term shelters including the Astrodome, empty
buildings, churches, and other sites. Helping to connect these folks to
the outside world will extend beyond this emergency situation, because
we expect many of these evacuees to stay as permanent residents in the
area. Many of them are the poorest of the poor and will need additional
assistance, training, support etc.   Schools are accepting new
students.  Yesterday, for instance, my wife's school received 30 new
students and they were over capacity before that.  Many new students
across the region could benefit from CTCs that provide after school
programs near shelters and schools. Creating opportunities for digital
stories of this ordeal could be both a cathartic and a learning
experience for victims of Katrina. Using these computers for job
training and searches will also be important. This is just the beginning.

The existing and rapidly expanding Houston CTC community will be asked
to step up to the plate to prepare for the opportunity/challenge.   We
have had enough equipment, software, and connectivity donated for the
initial installation at the dome, but we are going to need much more.
Once all our donors have signed off (some have asked for anonymity), I
will provide a summary of their donations. Thank you to each of you and
your corporations/organizations who have already signed up to help.

Your help is needed. We now know we need additional equipment,
connectivity, software, volunteers, and of course $'s. I will put a list
of equipment needs on our blog at  http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/ .
Cash contributions can be made online at www.techforall.org
<http://www.techforall.org> or by check to the address below.

Will

*William S. Reed, D.Min.
**TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL**.**/Technology For All-Houston**
*2220 Broadway | Houston, TX 77012
Tel: 713.454.6400 | Direct: 713.454.6411 | Fax: 713.454.6454
e-mail: Will.Reed @ techforall.org    website: http://www.techforall.org
<http://www.techforall.org/>
BLOG:  http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/  TFA-Wireless
http://www.techforall.org/tfa_wireless.html
*"We Empower Communities"*