1. 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

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

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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

13. 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

26. Camfield Catchment Area

28. 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

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

30. 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

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

32. * 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

33. Improved Communication and Information Flow Web Server Logs

34. Improved Communication and Information Flow Proxy Server Logs

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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