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What We Do
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![]() Community Technology Network (CTN)BackgroundAlthough the average Californian depends on the Internet for employment, education, health care, services and civic life, a recent study reflects that the digital divide continues to widen in California, particularly for Latino and low-income residents. Eighty percent of Californians think the Internet is an important information source; however, only forty percent of residents with household incomes of less than $40,000 have Internet in their homes, as opposed to ninety percent of those with household incomes of more than $80,000.[1]. To help bridge this gap, many organizations and centers provide access to computers, the Internet, and IT training; yet, inequalities of accessibility are still apparent. Geographical gaps in one area coexist with overlap of services in another. Resources for technology programs are scare, but organizations and community centers are continually "recreating the wheel" as there is a noticeable dearth of shared learning and collaboration between these digital inclusion community programs. For years, many individuals and organizations imagined the accessibility gap would be closed by San Francisco's free municipal Wi-Fi network, until a key partnership in the project fell apart in Fall 2007.[2] Organization MissionThe mission of CTN is to improve the effectiveness of participating community-based organizations that have technology access and training as a driving part of their mission, educational programs and client-centered services. The programs of these organizations include youth development, workforce development, community development, social justice, and technology training. They are organizations who work directly with a disadvantaged community in the SF Bay Area, and use technology access and training to better serve their clients and fulfill their mission. CTN is both a convener and an advocate in helping these organizations to fulfill their mission at their maximum potential and to expand their capabilities, by fostering collaboration, sharing information, and facilitating information flow between these organizations. Full Circle Fund RoleProject lead, Kami Griffiths, and other members of Full Circle Fund's Technology Circle have been integral in the development of CTN as it adjusts its organizational structure as an independent organization. ImpactAlthough only mid-way through the project, Full Circle Fund's partnership with CTN has already had significant results:
Sources:1 Californians and Information Technology, Public Policy Institute of California Statewide Survey, June 2008 2 "'Digital Inclusion' Efforts Give Training, Gear", Agam Shah, PCWorld.com, April 13, 2008 |
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Community Technology Network
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Copyright 2008 Full Circle Fund