July 12, 2000
RELEASE ON RECEIPT

Oberlin Group Works to Close Computer Gap

OBERLIN, OHIO--While more and more Americans are gaining access to computers and the Internet, says the U.S. Commerce Dept., the "digital divide" between whites and black/Hispanic families is not only widening--it is well on its way to becoming a "racial ravine."

Early last year, concerned that the growing technological revolution would increase social and racial divisiveness within Oberlin--where 26 percent live at or below the poverty level--a group of concerned townspeople, including members of Oberlin College's faculty and staff, joined forces to find ways to narrow the gap locally.

They brought in guest experts, hosted discussions with the public library, the Cable Co-op, the local housing authority, and other groups and held public meetings. Considerable momentum and support throughout the community resulted, culminating in the formation last fall of the Oberlin Community Technology Committee (OCTC).

Steering committee members included the Rev. Steve Hammond, pastor of Oberlin First Baptist Church; Ann Fuller, executive director of Oberlin Community Services; Gary Kornblith, director of the Oberlin Center for Technologically Enhanced Teaching; and Oberlin College Religion Prof. A.G. Miller.

As a result of its consultations with a broad cross-section of the community, OCTC decided that one of the best ways to redress the digital divide was to provide free computer education and online access to all Oberlin residents at a centrally-located computer center.

The group has been meeting almost weekly to secure a location, hire staff, plan programs, and obtain equipment. This week, their efforts resulted in the opening of The Bridge--the new community technology center.

The Center's initial program is My First Computer Day Camp. A free week-long workshop for children K-3, it has virtually full enrollment and is being held each afternoon this week from 1 to 4 P.M. The program is designed for children with very little or no computer experience and is geared toward what they will need in their academic programs this fall.

"We have been careful to choose software and non-computer activities that touch upon reading, writing, math, drawing, creativity, problem solving, etc. for the K-3 age groups," says counselor Barbara Sawhill, an Oberlin resident and director of the language laboratory at the College's Paul and Edith Cooper International Learning Center.

Also assisting at the Camp are Oberlin residents Sheila Hicks and Barbara Yates; Kornblith; Jim Altieri OC '00, language lab intern; Paul Pitcher, OC '00, Elias Suarez OC '04, and Bryan Englehardt OC '04; Caitlin Scott, assistant director for youth education programs at the College's Center for Service and Learning; plus younger experts Simon Kornblith and Courtney Godbolt.

"As the programming for the Bridge begins to grow, we plan to include opportunities for kids to follow up on what they've learned in the camp," Sawhill notes. "Later in the summer there will be conversations with teachers in the Oberlin Public Schools and the Oberlin Early Childhood Center about what we used at The Bridge, what we found to be successful, etc., so that the children may continue growing and learning with technology at school as well."

"We would like to do a variety of targeted programming with local organizations," adds Kornblith. "OCTC very much wants to work collaboratively with other groups, and we encourage individuals and groups to suggest projects that The Bridge can undertake to best serve the community."

More than 10 computers will be up and running for the camp, a number of them donated by the College. Members hope to have 25 computers and peripherals in place by fall. OTC members currently are conducting a search for an executive director and making plans to expand programming, thanks to a just-received grant of $67,500 from the Nord Family Foundation, which initiated the early community discussions.

Drop-in hours, workshops, senior citizen classes, family nights, and job-skill training will be scheduled as staffing allows. For information about Bridge hours and future programming, contact Kerry Lowe at Oberlin Community Services Center 440/774-1353.

"We also would like to invite members of the community to volunteer as instructors," stresses Hammond. "They don¹t have to have great computer skills, and we will offer some training. The more volunteers we have, the more times we can be open." To volunteer, contact Steve Hammond at 440/774-3619.

Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli 7/12/00 #01 bg