Community Technology and Community Building: Early Results from the Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project October 17, 2002 Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. BCT Partners, LLC. Atlanta Technology Summit

Building Community Technology Partners An IT consulting company that works with businesses and non-profits who use technology to support change strategies, and improve their organizational effectiveness.

Agenda I.Overview II.Methodology - Web-Based Community Portal III.Early Results

Agenda I.Overview II.Methodology - Web-Based Community Portal III.Early Results

Background n Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MA n 102 units, approximately 300 residents n Predominantly African-American (75%) –32% Hispanic / 68% Non-Hispanic n Camfield Tenants Association (CTA) n Participant in US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) “Demo-Dispo” Program

Project Overview n Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project A model as to how individuals, families, and a community can use technology to support their interests and needs

Project Support n Camfield Tenants Association (CTA) n MIT n W.K. Kellogg Foundation n Hewlett-Packard Company n RCN n Microsoft Corporation n Williams Consulting Services n ArsDigita Corporation n Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) n US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) n US Department of Commerce n Lucent Technologies n Institute for African- American eCulture (iAAEC) n Trotter Institute n Youth Build-Boston

Project Context n Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project INFRASTRUCTURE: - State-of-the-art computers & software - State-of-the-art computers & software - High-speed Internet - High-speed Internet - Comprehensive training - Comprehensive training - Neighborhood technology center - Neighborhood technology center - Web-based community building system - Web-based community building system

Agenda I.Overview II.Methodology - Web-Based Community Portal III.Early Results

INTRODUCTORY COURSES SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING PRE-ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing Individual Skills & Abilities SPECIALIZED COURSES Activity-Based & Theme-Based Creating Community Connections (C3) System GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries SOCIOCULTURAL CONSTRUCTIONS & ASSET MOBILIZATION COMMUNITY TECHNOLOG Y COMMUNITY BUILDING POST-ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION June 2000 September 2000 June 2000 January 2001 August 2001 Project Methodology November 2000

Camfield Catchment Area

INTRODUCTORY COURSES SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING PRE-ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing Individual Skills & Abilities SPECIALIZED COURSES Activity-Based & Theme-Based Creating Community Connections (C3) System GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries SOCIOCULTURAL CONSTRUCTIONS & ASSET MOBILIZATION COMMUNITY TECHNOLOG Y COMMUNITY BUILDING POST-ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION June 2000 September 2000 June 2000 January 2001 August 2001 Project Methodology November 2000

Agenda I.Overview II.Methodology - Web-Based Community Portal III.Early Results

Early Results n Reinforced and expanded local ties n Heightened awareness of community resources n Improved communication and information flow n Positive shift in participants’ attitudes and perceptions of themselves as learners

* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05) Reinforced and Expanded Local Ties Social Network Data N=26

* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05) Heightened Awareness of Community Resources “Very Well Informed” and “Well Informed” * Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05) N=26

Improved Communication and Information Flow Web Server Logs

Improved Communication and Information Flow Proxy Server Logs

Shift in Perception and Attitude Qualitative Responses “[The project] has changed my life in more ways than one. A good example of this is that I found enough courage to teach myself HTML. Had I not had this opportunity, I might still be looking to muster up the courage. I know that technology is key to the future and I know that I could personally do anything with it that I put my mind to.” - Participant C33

Community Technology and Community Building: Early Results from the Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project October 17, 2002 Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. BCT Partners, LLC. Atlanta Technology Summit

Lessons Learned and Recommendations n Understand individuals, families, and the community n Understand the social and cultural environment n Demonstrate relevance clearly n Acknowledge and support process and product n Integrate community technology and community building holistically