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"We’re one of the most wired cities in the world, but there’s still much we can do to bring the benefits of this technology revolution to all segments of our city." -Mayor Greg Nickels ethnomed: health and culture siteEthnoMed is a website of multilingual materials desined to be used in clinics by care providers. The site offers medical and cultural information on immigrant and refugee groups. The project started in 1994 to bridge cultural and language barriers during medical visits. The site makes information about culture, language, health, illness and community resources directly accessible to health care providers who see patients from different ethnic groups. For related information, visit the UW's Harborview Project website. get the
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| Greg Nickels, Mayor Department of Information Technology SYLVIA SHIROYAMA acting chief technology officer RONA ZEVIN director, internet and cable tv DAVID KEYES community technology program manager staff D.H. CASS MAGNUSKI editor |
Money for low/moderate income families: South Park, Rainier, and Yesler Community centers have joined the libraries in offering access to online filing for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
city funds puget sound alliance
for community technology
The Puget Sound Alliance for Community Technology (PSACT) is a nonprofit membership organization that helps to ensure that community technology centers develop the programs, skills and resources necessary to effectively serve needy communities. PSACT offers networking, professional development and technical support programs that focus on sustainability.
With a recommendation from the Citizens Telecommunication and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB), the City of Seattle is proud to announce $50,000 in funding for PSACT’s organizational growth and development. “The technology literacy and access programs in our community centers, senior centers, community development programs and human services agencies provide an increasingly vital link to critical social services, education, jobs, civic and cultural participation” says City of Seattle Mayor, Greg Nickels, “I believe PSACT provides an opportunity to bring together the expertise and best practices nationally.” PSACT is being developed in response to needs expressed by community technology centers and program providers to better leverage limited resources and develop strategic coordination. It also responds to recommendations made in City funded research on Sustainable CTCs. The City hopes others will step forward to support this important collaboration.
PSACT Offers Resources, Training, Networking Opportunities April 16
In a very short time, PSACT has already secured donations and discounted software for local community technology centers. PSACT will be presenting more information about these opportunities and hosting a free seminar, Shareware/Freeware: Useful Tools for the Community Technology Lab, on Wednesday, April 16, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at High Point Career & Technology Center, 6760 34th Avenue SW, Seattle. Advance registration is free, or $5.00 at the door. For more information on PSACT or to register for the seminar contact Daria Cal, (206) 386-4105. More information may be found at www.psact.org.
communities rally: feds
refund community tech
Good news! Following our December report, the Technology Opportunities Program and Community Technology Center initiative, two major federal programs that support community technology, were both fully funded for Fiscal Year 2003. This is the result of extensive rallying by a broad coalition of national and local support and CTCs stepping forward to share their views with key elected officials stepping forward to protect our drive for digital opportunities for all. Washington Senator Patty Murray provided a strong voice in D.C. for protection of these programs. Both programs had been recommended for termination in the administration's FY 2003 budget and are still proposed for elimination in the 2004 budget.
The Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), which is operated by the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration, has long been known as one of the few grant sources that would pay the costs of the hardware and infrastructure required for community organizations to create innovative, large scale technology projects that benefit society. In FY 2003, the TOP initiative will be funded at last years rate of $15.5 million. Information about past winners and applying for funds may be found at the TOP website.
The Community Technology Center (CTC) program, a U.S. Department of Education initiative operated under the Fund to Innovate Education, has played a major role in establishing locations where low income Americans can access digital technology and the Internet in order to build 21st century skills. In FY 2003 the CTC initiative will also be level-funded at $32 million. Information about past winners and applying for funds from the CTC program can be found at their website.
For more info about the Digital Empowerment campaign, see Digital Empowerment
d.o.l.l.a.r.s
equipment heads up
The Beaumont Toshiba laptop grant deadline is March 31. It's available to individuals, non-profits and schools. It's recommended that you not wait until the last week to apply.
georgia pacific funds available
Your organization may qualify for a Georgia-Pacific Foundation grant or matching gift.
According to their web site, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation invests in education efforts that produce successful transitions to the workforce and provide workers with job readiness. The foundation is also interested in providing scholarships and investing in technical training programs that give workers the skills they need to compete in today's workforce. Grant applications are accepted between January 1 and October 31.
Educational priorities of the Foundation are:
- Scholarship programs and other recognition mechanisms key that are key to the company and reward excellence
- Adult and family literacy
- School-to-work/job readiness programs and technical training.
neighborhood matching funds
Save the date: Neighborhood Matching Fund Ideas Fair: Saturday, March 29 at Seattle Central Community College. Next Small and Simple Projects Fund application due date: Monday, April 21.
Money: The Neighborhood Matching Fund provides money, more than $3 million each year, to Seattle neighborhood groups and organizations for a broad array of neighborhood-initiated improvement, organizing or planning projects. City dollars need to be matched by contributions from the local community. Community technology programs may be most interested in the Small and Simple Projects Fund (application due dates: Monday, April 21, July 21 and October 20) or the Neighborhood Outreach and Development Fund, which provides small grants at any time. The Large Project Fund will take new applications next year.
Each month, Neighborhood News On-Line includes the full text of several feature stories and a summary of others. If you live or work in Seattle, you may subscribe to the email version of Neighborhood News without charge.
$500k available from 3com
The Urban Challenge grant application deadline is April 21, 2003. Apply today at 3Com for a $100,000 grant in equipment and services. The Urban Challenge program rewards forward-thinking schools and municipalities that are committed to using technology to transform education, improving public communication, and making municipal services faster and more convenient to use.
3Com, in cooperation with The United States Conference of Mayors, has been rewarding cities and school districts across the nation with grants of $100,000 worth of 3Com products and services to incorporate new uses for information technology into the fabric of their communities. To date, $4 million has been committed to help 40 cities and school districts across the country make technology and its benefits accessible to more people.
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We encourage you to visit the City of Seattle's Community Tech pages, cityofseattle.net/tech.