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Chilen Tech Exchange what's hot
sustainable
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free internet
Free cable broadband Internet service is available for organizations providing technology training to community members. The free service is offered in the Comcast service delivery area and within the Seattle city limits, based on the City’s cable franchise agreement. For more information and to download a short form to make application, go to our tech web. If you have questions, email Derrick Hall or call (206) 233-5061.
archives
Back issues of Brainstorm including techtips and linkage are now available in our online archives. Previous TechTips and Linkage are also available. Click to revisit all previous issues.
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Greg Nickels, Mayor Department of Information Technology BILL SCHRIER chief technology officer BUSBONG SEARS acting director, office of electronic communications DAVID KEYES manager, community technology program staff  D.H. CASS MAGNUSKI editor |
community tech exchange with chile
David Keyes shares info with Penalolen Mayor, Claudio Orrega.
Last month, the City of Seattle signed a technology letter of cooperation with the city of Penalolen near Santiago, Chile. David Keyes, Seattle's Community Technology Program Manager, had an opportunity to visit El Encuentro, a model telecentre (community tech center) there, where he met with representatives from various community media and digital literacy programs.
El Encuentro focuses on training for small entrepreneurs and youth. They offer refurbished computers for about $40 each, and have an open lab where they charge about $.75 per hour. They get referrals from schools to serve dropouts and provide test prep, GED equivalency and technical certification courses. They have also developed a relationship with businesses to get unexpended training funds at the end of the year! The telecentre also operates a community radio station with volunteers from all ages. Their mix of services enables them to attract students.
David also had a chance to present the city's digital divide and broadband strategies to SubTel, the federal telecommunications department and other town and non-profit representatives. Chile's library program was the second country in which the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invested. Chile now has computers in all the libraries. BiblioRedes has run some very effective programs including one where kids personalized Mother's Day cards and presented their mom's with vouchers for free Internet training at any BiblioRedes location. As a result, 65.2 percent of patrons who received training in 2003 were women. Get more info on their programs on the BiblioRedes site, and some descriptions in English at the Gates Foundation site.
Members gather at the Cambodian Womens Center.
cambodians get b'band
The Cambodian Womens Center has just gone high speed, thanks to the City's free broadband cable Internet program, run in cooperation with Comcast.
Comcast had to install a new line to reach the building, but for staff at the center, it was worth the wait. The new broadband Internet service will allow program participants to learn about online resources (such as city services info in Khmer or health info.
According to Paularita Seng, Executive Director, rather than a long wait for forms to download, the fast connection will allow them to access benefits forms and immigration information with almost immediate results. The center currently has one computer for the community, but allow their volunteers use two other PCs at the agency. Youth who come to the center for the community and language training had been asking for a better Internet connection. They will now be able to do homework research and to share computer skills with the adults, some of whom have feared using the computer because of their lack of English skills. The Cambodian Women's Center is most well known for it role in organizing the annual Cambodian Cultural Heritage Celebration, which will be held this year on August 11 at Seattle Center. For more info on the women's center, call (206) 760-0539.
Note: The Ethnomed offers background on the Cambodian/Khmer community and health here.
Recognizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to better serve Seattle residents with limited English proficiency, the City recently adopted a new policy to expand services for immigrants and refugees. The policy improves the city's translation and interpretation services. It calls for translating vital documents, such as an explanation of City services, consent and complaint forms, notices of rights, and notices of free language assistance into Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Somali, Tagalog and Korean. These are the primary languages spoken by a substantial number of Seattle residents. All translated documents are easily available online on the City's website. The website currently provides service and community information in 26 different languages. Seattle is enriched by the nearly 100,000 foreign-born individuals from a host of different countries who make their homes here. "By bridging language differences," said Mayor Greg Nickels. "We can dismantle many of the barriers to a building a better life for thousands of people." For more information, read the full news release. The press release is also available in Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Somali, Spanish and Tagalog. immigrant & refugee initiative
computer curricula
available in many languages
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Are you looking for technology teaching tools?
Microsoft offers a free curriculum called Unlimited Potential to teach basic to intermediate computer skills in a hands-on manner. Available in English for several years, the curriculum is now available in 21 languages, including Arabic, French, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Portuguese, Bulgarian, Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Romanian, Latvian, Indonesian, Hebrew, or Malayalam. To download the curriculum, go here.
Another free teaching tool is the Digital Literacy Curriculum. The goal of this curriculum is to teach basic computer concepts and skills so that people can use computer technology in everyday life to develop new social and econonmic opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities.
The Digital Literacy program consists of five courses: Computer Basics, The Internet and World Wide Web, Productivity Programs, Computer Security and Privacy, and Digital Lifestyles. Each course has an e-learning module and an assessment. You can also take the Certificate Test, which covers topics from all five courses. If you pass the Certificate Test, you can print out a personalized Digital Literacy Certificate. For more information, go here.
s.e.c.u.r.i.t.y
identity theft
The Seattle Department of Information Technology presented a workshop on how to protect yourself from identity theft. This workshop is available online via the City's Information Security office. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Ivan Orton, Deputy Prosecutor for King County, talked about ways to reduce risks of identity theft and protect personal information.
d.o.l.l.a.r.s
United Health Foundation
Deadline: Ongoing
Funds programs that enhance the quality of health and medical care services by providing reliable, scientifically-based information to support decisions made by health professionals, communities and individuals.
Money Tree
Deadline: Ongoing
Sponsors organizations whose work benefits people in their communities. Supports groups whose work is of concern to their customers and staff members and which focuses on children's and health-related issues.
Group Health
Deadline: September 15
Funds proposals that improve the health of children and adolescents.
l.i.n.k.a.g.e
Throughout Seattle, Earth Day has expanded into Earth Month. Following are a few great environmental stewardship events. Get more here and here. Here's the history of Earth Day.
Seattle Green Map is a community mapping project that uses icons for local features and assets. It's part of an international community of green mappers.
April 14
Residential Solar Power:
Photovoltaic Assembly for Real People
Where: Carkeek Park Environmental Learning Center, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
For more information, call (206) 684-0877. Please pre-register by April 12.
April 22
Yesler Creek Cleanup
Meet at the south end of the Metropolitan Market parking lot next to the black chain link fence and Burke Gilman Trail, corner of 40th and 55th NE.
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
For more information, contact Jennifer Lawson, (206) 228-7937.
April 26
Environmental Film Night: "The Future of Food"
Where: Camp Long Environmental Learning Center, 5200 35th Ave. SW
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
For more information, call (206) 684-7434.
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