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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
better late than... The 2003 Tech Matching Fund recipients celebration was held recently at the Key Tower. From left to right: Connie Devaney of Council House; Joan Rabinowitz of Jack Straw Productions; Kathy Gilman of Washington CASH; P.D. Lucier of LIHI; and Assaye Abunie of Ethiopian Community Mutual Association. Absent is Tara Irvin of the Boys and Girls Clubs Techmobile. To learn more about their programs, go to the TMF site. top fundedOn the chopping block since the beginning of the Bush administration, the Department of Commerce's Technology Opportunity Program (TOP) has been reauthorized, at least for now. Not taking anything for granted, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Education Fund has launched a grassroots campaign to encourage activists to send a general letter of support on TOP to the President and their elected officials. NTIA and TOP have not had an official authorization (a congressional measure that establishes or continues an agency or program) for years. Authorization is normally required before appropriations (i.e., funding) measures can be passed. But due to the complicated "points of order" process provided by the rules of the House and Senate, "unauthorized appropriations" can be made through "suspension of rules or unanimous consent." To make a long story short, having a program authorization is preferred and puts a program on a more sound footing. To take effect, the NTIA/TOP authorization bill must ultimately be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President. l.i.n.k.a.g.eseattle.govThe City of Seattle Public Access Network has much to offer. Check out these kewl links. Seattle Animal Shelter Citizen Q & A Tech Map Seattle Human Services Seattle Aging and Disability Services 3% Home Improvement Loans
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Greg Nickels, Mayor Department of Information Technology SYLVIA SHIROYAMA acting chief technology officer RONA ZEVIN director, office of electronic communications DAVID KEYES community technology program manager staff  D.H. CASS MAGNUSKI editor |
ecma trainers graduate
 
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  Mayor Greg Nickels was in attendance at the July 19 Ethiopian Community Mutual Association Train the Trainers graduation. |
The Ethiopian Community Mutual Association (ECMA) has made good use of City of Seattle Technology Matching Funds to increase the size of its computer lab and to educate 12 individuals to become computer skills trainers. In return for the computer training, these volunteers have committed to weekly volunteer hours in the computer lab. This program will allow ECMA to accommodate the growing computer skills training needs for the Ethiopian community in Seattle. The lab is open six days a week, providing training, tutoring and Internet access. The TMF grants were the largest ever received by ECMA.
The Ethiopian Community Mutual Association (ECMA) was started in 1983 to provide social, economic, and emotional support to Ethiopian refugees and immigrants in the greater Seattle area. ECMA provides case management and advocacy, employment referral, counseling, child care, housing, health information, education and training, cultural activities, translation services, and emergency intervention.
Last year, more than 200 people graduated from the basic computer skills classes held in the lab and more than 600 people visited the lab for personal work during open hours.
brad stilwell to leave cttab
Brad Stilwell, chair of the Citizens Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Board (CTTAB) E-Democracy Committee, has resigned from CTTAB to take a job with the State Department. CTTAB studies, recommends, conducts hearings, and otherwise facilitates citizen participation in telecommunications and technology decision making. Brad Stilwell is the immediate past chair of CTTAB and provided strong leadership throughout the year. Stilwell holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and an MBA from Cornell. Brad has also participated in national presidential campaigns. He was employed as a product manager for Realnetworks.
According to Brad, "The U.S. Department of State has given me the rare opportunity to serve as a Foreign Service Officer, a chance to serve my country while gaining more international experience. Consequently, my wife Sabina and I will relocate in late August to Washington, D.C. for my training there before going overseas."
We'd like to take this opportunity to thank him for his great work. Brad will be very much missed.
d.o.l.l.a.r.s
progressive technology project
Deadline: August 29, 2003
The Progressive Technology Project has announced an organizing and technology grant opportunity designed to help community organizing groups support and develop strategic uses of technology that strengthen their ability to affect change in their communities and beyond. Get more information here.
drucker award
Deadline: August 22, 2003
The Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University is accepting applications for the Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation. The $25,000 award is given to a nonprofit organization in recognition of an innovative, existing program that "has made a difference in the lives of the people it serves by producing results that represent a new dimension of performance."
Applications must be submitted by the organization responsible for the program; third-party nominations will not be accepted. The applicant organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Only one entry per organization may be submitted. Complete program information is available at the Drucker Graduate School of Management Web site.
nea radio & tv funding
Deadline: September 12, 2003
Grants are available to support the development, production, and national distribution of radio and television programs on the arts.
Full information may be found at the NEA web site. Programs targeted to children and youth also are welcome. Projects may include high profile multi-part television and radio series, single documentaries, performance programs, or arts segments for use within an existing series. Programs may deal with any art form (e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, film/video/audio art, folk and traditional arts). All phases of a project -- research and development, production, completion, and distribution costs -- are eligible for support.
ctcnet conference update
CTCnet.org recently held its 12th annual conference in Washington, D.C. Community technology centers (CTCs) are stepping-stones to opportunity, equality and civic participation for youth, senior citizens, people with disabilities, people of color, low-income and new residents. This year's theme was Creating Our Future: Shaping the Agenda of Community Technology. The past two years demonstrated to community technology practitioners and advocates that CTCnet must become more involved in local, state and national policy debates. Get the conference update online.
budget alert from the acting cto
I want to let you know the latest impact of the national and local recession on Seattle city government. Today at noon, Mayor Nickels met with department directors and announced a new revenue forecast that shows a growing gap between expenses and projected revenues for city government. The recession will force us to make reductions throughout the city. I will be working with the Mayor and City Department of Information Technology staff to find additional cuts to those we made earlier this year. Please be assured that we are committed to maintaining a high level of service to the public during this time. While we do not yet have specific targets for reductions, I share the Mayor's view that City government must live within its means and that priorities must be balanced across a spectrum of needs. Details of the revenue problem and the Mayor's press release are available at the Mayor's web site, seattle.gov/mayor.
Sylvia Shiroyama, Acting Chief Technology Officer
Department of Information Technology
psact tech talk sept. 16
You are invited to a PSACT Tech Talk networking event on September 16th, noon - 1:30 p.m., at the Sand Point Community Technology Center. For more information, contact Daria Cal at (206) 386-4105 or email info@psact.org.
in memory of bill wrightThe CTC community, and particularly Seniors Training Seniors, will miss William H. "Bill" Wright, whose recent unexpected death saddened colleagues, family and friends. Since 1998, Bill served as executive director of MidTown Commons in Seattle’s Central Area. Under his leadership, MidTown received a Community Technology Fund grant in 1999 to support training and Internet publication of the Central Area Newsletter. MidTown also sponsored a Community Technology Center that targeted seniors and Seniors Training Seniors. Bill’s community involvement in Seattle began as housing services director for CAMP. He then joined the City of Seattle as a telecommunications planner in Seattle’s cable office and later served as special assistant to Mayor Charles Royer. In 1995, Bill co-authored a study of the coming opportunities of electronic commerce on the Internet for the Washington State Administrative Services Department. Bill was also active in programs that advocate for people getting out of prison. Bill’s leadership, skill, humor and commitment to the community will be missed. |
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