1. Building Connections: The Role of CTCs in Community Change June 22-25, 2000 CTCNet Annual Conference Atlanta, GA Randal D. Pinkett, MIT Media Laboratory Advisor: Mitchel Resnick

2. Agenda I.Project Overview II.Project Methodology III.Creating Community Connections (C3) System

3. Project Overview n The role of a CTC, and technology in the homes of a low- to moderate- income housing development, for the purpose of community building –Infrastructure: Computers, high-speed Internet connectivity, community-based web-system –Theoretical Framework: Asset-based community development and sociocultural constructionism

4. Project Support n Camfield Tenants Association (CTA) n W.K. Kellogg Foundation n Hewlett-Packard n RCN Corporation n MIT Media Laboratory n MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning n MIT Laboratory for Computer Science

5. Project Site n Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MA n Predominantly African-American (75%) n 102 units and 400 residents n All residents classified as “very low income” according to HUD’s guidelines n Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) on the premises

6. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

7. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

8. Assessment and Awareness n Preliminary surveys and interviews –Assess the community’s interests and needs n Marketing and awareness campaign –Create and understanding of the benefits and the relevance of technology to the community’s interests and needs

9. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

10. Comprehensive Training n Basic computer hardware and software applications –Theme-centered and project-centered n Specialized computer applications –Creating Community Connections (C3) System

11. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

12. General Asset-Mapping n Obtain general information regarding community assets within a 9-mile circumference of the housing development –Citizen’s Associations and Organizations (e.g., PTA, social services agencies) –Local Institutions (e.g., libraries, schools) –Neighborhood Businesses

13. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

14. Specific Asset-Mapping n Obtain specific information regarding community assets within a 9-mile circumference of the housing development –Including the skills and abilities of residents

15. GENERAL ASSET-MAPPING Broad Community Boundaries Targeted Community Needs SPECIFIC ASSET-MAPPING ASSET MOBILIZATION Project Methodology ASSESSMENT & AWARENESS Surveys, Interviews & Marketing COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING Basic & Specialized Skills

16. Asset Mobilization n Broker connections between community assets –Online and offline (e.g., employment) n Encourage active involvement and active production of content by community members –Creating Community Connections (C3) System

17. Creating Community Connections (C3) System n Community Intranet –E-mail, listservs, bulletin boards, calendar of events, chat rooms, announcements n Community Extranet –Asset-maps (GIS), browse/search/update asset (resource) records, customizable web portals, security restrictions

20. Building Connections: The Role of CTCs in Community Change Randal D. Pinkett, MIT Media Laboratory rpinkett@media.mit.eduhttp://www.media.mit.edu/~rpinkett