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The Internet is more and more important to everyday life. Many forms, job applications and information are only available on the Internet. But many people in San Francisco still do not have access to the resources of the Internet.
The Project TechConnect Task Force
The Project TechConnect Task Force was created to assist and advise the Department of Telecommunications and Information Services of the City and County of San Francisco on how to address lack of Internet access in the City’s most underserved neighborhoods as well as disadvantaged residents and families: low-income, limited English speaking and disabled populations. The task force consists of fifteen community leaders from business, nonprofit and philanthropy sectors with expertise and experience in technology, affordable housing, community development, human and social services. The monthly meetings are open to the public.
The Task Force created a Digital Inclusion Strategy to make recommendations on how to address the lack of access in low income communities.
The strategy identifies these four components of successful Internet access:
1. Affordable access to the Internet itself
2. Access to affordable equipment
3. Appropriate and affordable technical support and training
4. Appropriate and engaging content
If people do not have all four components available, they are not likely to use the Internet in their daily lives.
SF Connect works with the Project TechConnect Task Force to implement San Francisco’s Digital Inclusion Strategy.
First, SF Connect works with local organizations, such as afterschool providers or community centers, to identify what barriers may exist for people to access the resources of the Internet. In 2007, SF Connect has worked with Booker T. Washington Community Service Center in the Western Addition; Self-Help for the Elderly in Chinatown; Excelsior Middle School; Conard House McAllister in the Tenderloin and the Visitacion Valley Middle School Community Beacon Center.
Then SF Connect works with many local partners to design a meaningful experience for each community. Each event may be different in order to be effective for a specific group of people.
For example, SF Connect works with One Economy and Jobs for Youth to promote job search information; City College to promote online citizenship, ESL and GED classes; Wells Fargo to teach about financial literacy and online banking; KQED to develop digital storytelling workshops with recent immigrants; and with ReliaTech, Compumentor, Caminos Pathways Learning Center and Goodwill to promote their computer refurbishment and low-cost computer purchase programs. There are more than 50 organizations that can provide specific information or programs, depending on what a group may be interested in.
There are three types of event:
1. Technology Fairs at which several community organizations and businesses provide information about their services. The Westside Court Housing project event was a Technology Fair.
2. Internet Mentoring Sessions at which trained volunteers sit down and show people what they want to learn. Events at Conard House McAllister and Excelsior Middle School are mentoring opportunities.
3. Hands-on workshops at which partners demonstrate a device or software application for a small group of participants. Volunteers help the participants with the hands on demonstrations. The Chinatown event was a hands on workshop.
Future events may include set and installation of computer labs or upgrading and refubishing old equipment in community centers and schools, if SF Connect can identify who or what organization would be responsible for the equipment afterwards. At this point, most SF Connect events are designed to share information, not to install hardware or software.
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