|
|
Enron Mail |
Technology For All invites you to read the articles to go with the headlines
below... TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL-HOUSTON REACHES MILESTONE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GRANT TO SUPPORT TFA/AAMA PROJECT ALLISON AND TERRORIST ATTACKS IMPACT FUNDING ---------------------------------------------- TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL-HOUSTON REACHES MILESTONE 100 Community Based Organizations Served since 1998 An estimated 20,000 persons now served each week Houston, Texas - (October 5, 2001) - Since the first installation of a computer lab at the M.D. Anderson YMCA in May 1998, Technology For All-Houston (TFA-Houston) has helped develop and create 100 community technology centers (CTCs) serving Houston's underserved communities. The 100th CTC installation is in collaboration with The Living Temple Ministries Inc. (TLT, Inc.), a community-based organization developing a new CTC that will serve Houston's northeast side. TLT, Inc. will utilize the lab to expand a workforce development initiative called the Alpha Career Center. TLT, Inc. is a non-profit, multi-racial, faith-based organization incorporated in Houston in 1997. Since inception TLT, Inc. has developed programs designed to serve low to middle income Houstonians. Initially operating in Southwest Houston, the development of the new CTC will enable TLT, Inc. to expand services to the Northeast side. In addition to providing technology access and after school activities, the CTC will serve as an extension of TLT, Inc.'s successful Alpha Career Center workforce development and training program. The Alpha Career Center offers free IT classes to underserved individuals, and through a relationship with CC Staffing, is able to provide job placements upon student completion of the program. TFA-Houston is pleased to support TLT, Inc. and the Alpha Career Center because of the innovative programming and volunteer support, as well as their proven track record of accomplishments in the community. The provision of computer hardware and access to TFA's suite of online software will allow TLT, Inc. the opportunity to further its mission of "ministering to the total man." Technology For All-Houston is proud to be a partner in this effort. Since its organization in late 1997 TFA-Houston has focused its efforts in Houston on the development of collaborative relationships with community-based organizations serving Houston's low-income underserved population. With each organization TFA-Houston has helped develop a technology and program plan that will serve the needs of the community. Using new computers and computers redeployed from corporate donations, TFA-Houston has worked with the organization to build a community technology center. Additionally, TFA-Houston brings other supportive and collaborative relationships to each new CTC it helps develop. These include the expertise and online content resources provided by its parent organization Technology For All (TFA) and others. TFA-Houston is the local affiliate of TFA. Together they have also developed key supportive relationships with the Houston Technology Center, The Telecom Opportunity Institute, Rice University, the Houston Children's Museum and the Houston Area Technology Advisory Council of the Greater Houston Partnership. Each of these collaborative relationships help provided added value to the support that TFA and TFA-Houston bring to local grass roots organizations bringing technology to Houston's underserved communities. Community-based organizations assisted through the collaborative efforts of TFA and TFA-Houston include local YMCAs, community centers, churches, faith based social service agencies, community development organizations and others focused on providing services to Houston's low-income underserved communities. In addition to the M. D. Anderson YMCA, organizations assisted include the Liberation Project, a CDC in Missouri City, the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, the Tejano Center, the Park Place United Methodist Church, Talente Bilingua, and the Southeast Family Community Center. While TFA-Houston CTCs are located throughout the Houston area, the majority are located in Houston's Enhanced Enterprise Community that includes the Third Ward, Fourth Ward, Fifth Ward, Sixth Ward and Houston's East End. "Technology For All-Houston is supported in its mission to bring technology to underserved communities by many Houston corporations, who redeploy computers back into the community through TFA," says Will Reed, President and CEO of TFA/TFA-Houston. The generous support TFA's donor base of individuals, foundations, and corporations comes from many, including Houston Endowment, the Linda and Ken Lay family, the M.D. Anderson Foundation, the Vivian Smith Foundation. Corporate sponsors include Enron, SmartForce, FYI-Net, ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and many others. New corporate partners are always welcome for the support they provide in the community in collaboration with TFA and TFA-Houston through contributions of computer hardware being replaced as well as cash contributions. For more information about support for Technology For All and its community partners, contact Will Reed at 713.316.5761 or 713.316.0012. ------------------------------------------------- $850,000 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GRANT Supports Project of Two Houston Non-Profits Houston, Texas - (October 1, 2001) -Technology For All (TFA) announces a relationship with the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) toward the accomplishment TFA's national initiative to bring technology to underserved communities. Through an $850,000 grant from the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) of the U. S. Department of Commerce, the Latino Technology Network (LTN) will connect twelve diverse Community-Based Organizations across the nation. Community Technology Centers (CTC) will be established within eleven of the organizations for educational and technology training. Community Technology Centers are a places in many underserved communities where students can utilize computers and take advantage of online content provided by TFA. AAMA will help develop the LTN, and TFA will provide CTC participants with access to the complete suite of SmartForce e-Learning courses, which includes everything from basic technology skills to several certification tracks. SmartForce courses are offered in English and Spanish. CTCs will work with at-risk, inner-city Hispanic high school students to train them in advanced web-based applications and maintenance of the national network. Students taking SmartForce courses will gain skills necessary for competing successfully for higher-wage technology employment upon their graduation from high school. The United States Hispanic population is increasing dramatically-from 35.5 million or 12.5% of the total population recorded in the 2000 census to a projected 98 million in 2050. The LTN project will provide CTCs with a network for collaboration and sharing as well as affordable access top high-speed internet connectivity and technical support that the CTCs otherwise would not be able to support. The project makes a concerted effort to reach out to at-risk youth. TFA provides affiliated CTCs with access to the TFA "eSource Room"*, a private, password protected web space that provides access to application software and educational content. Through the "eSource Room"*, students will be able to access online content focused on their individual learning needs. "This new relationship with AAMA will encourage collaborative relationships between several Latino organizations and community technology centers in underserved communities", said Technology For All President and CEO Will Reed. "We are pleased that students and families with limited means will now have some of the same educational opportunities that others take for granted." AAMA is considered one of the most successful Hispanic non-profits in the United States, celebrating thirty years of service to Texans. At its Sanchez Charter High School AAMA has pioneered the Advanced Technology Computing Center, a working model for training "at-risk" youth and placing them in jobs with Fortune 1000 corporations. TFA and AAMA provide the Latino Technology Network with needed expertise, skills and infrastructure. Other project partners include the National Puerto Rican Coalition, the National Association for Bilingual Education, the National Puerto Rican Forum, the Cuban American National Council, Student Alternatives Program, Inc., the Center for Training and Careers, Chicanos por la Causa, Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee, Multicultural Area Health Education Center, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. ---------------------------------------- ALLISON AND TERRORIST ATTACKS IMPACT FUNDING Technology For All and Technology For All-Houston have both been impacted by the important support that foundations and corporations have given to flood relief and terrorist victim support. To do its part, both organizations have reduced monthly operating expenses through staff attrition, voluntary salary reductions by senior staff and other means. Both organizations are also working to increase both cash and in-kind donations in an effort to weather the storm of funding reductions brought on by the difficult events of recent months. If you do not wish to receive these monthly updates. Please send a reply to Will.Reed@techforall.org Have a good weekend. Will ------------------------------------------------- William S. Reed President/CEO Technology For All & Technology For All-Houston 109 North Post Oak Lane, Suite 425 Houston, Texas 77024 713.316.5761 <http://www.techforall.org<; TFA Operations Center & Technology For All-Houston 3405 Marquart, Suite 300 Houston, Texas 77027 713.961.9945 will.reed@techforall.org
|