Faith Based Organizations and CTCs

1
Faith Based Organizations and CTCs

• Andrew Sears
• Association of Christian Community Computer
  Centers
• CTCNet Conference
• June 16, 2001

2
Outline

• Background and history of faith-based CTCs
• What makes faith-based CTCs unique?
• Overview of activities of faith-based CTCs
• Overview of the Association of Christian
  Community Computer Centers (AC4)
• CTCs partnering with faith-based organizations
• Strategies of Faith Based CTCs

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Faith Based Groups Addressing the Digital Divide

• Association of Gospel Rescue Missions
• Founded in 1913 and is a group of 265 Christian
  homeless shelters which serve several million
  people each year and have over 100,000 volunteers
• Many of these centers provide job training with
  focus on using computers for Adult Basic
  Education and GED classes
• Jewish Vocational Services
• Founded in 1939 and has served over 16 million
  people (currently 350,000 each year)
• Has 24 centers providing job training in the US
  and many focus on technology
• Association of Christian Community Computer
  Centers (AC4)
• New organization for some of the 60 Christian
  CTCs
• Others may include Salvation Army, YMCA,
  Christian Community Development Association

4
Historical Background

• Books Basic Literacy
• Computers Computer Literacy

• The term Sunday School originated from a major
  literacy
• drive by Christians several hundred years ago

5
Funds and Faith Based Organizations
From Giving and Volunteering in the United
States 1999 national survey from the Independent
Sector
6
Discussion 1 Question

• What makes faith based CTCs unique?
• What can they do particularly well?

7
Discussion 2 Questions for Faith Based CTCs

• What services does your CTC you offer and what
  are your strengths?
• What is your relation to faith-based groups?
• How does faith integrate with what you do?
• What issues do you face?

8
Faith Based Community Technology Centers
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Association of Christian Community Computer
Centers (AC4)

• Currently have 60 CTCs on our list
• Join for free now, but may have a fee in the
  future
• Web www.acccc.org or www.techmission.org
• E-mail info_at_acccc.org
• Computer Skills to Make a Living and A
  Spiritual Foundation to Make a Life

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The Need for AC4

• There is a need to help enable the Christian
  community to embrace the CTC movement
• Many churches and individuals will provided
  resources to CTCs if they have faith-based
  character
• Faith-based CTCs have unique strengths and
  challenges, so communication and community is
  helpful
• Not attempting to duplicate any efforts by other
  organizations like CTCNet, etc.
• Philosophy is to serve all people regardless
  their religious beliefs

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AC4 Goals

• Develop community and communication among C4s
• Web site, E-mail lists, conference calls and
  regional conferences
• Promote the concept of community technology
  within the Christian community by speaking at
  conferences and educating others through the
  Christian media
• Promote TechMission Model Assist C4s in
  starting metro area partnerships of Computer
  Ministries and Computer Centers
• Develop an international distribution network for
  refurbished computers

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Recruiting Volunteers from Faith- Based
Organization to CTCs

• Participant recruitment (easy)
• flyers, announcement in service, bulletin
• Volunteer recruitment (medium)
• announcement to E-mail lists, flyers,
  announcement in service, bulletin
• helpful to to know someone in the church
• Formal Partnership (difficult)
• Need to feel like it is not just people
  volunteering at someone elses program
• Computer ministry

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Computer Ministries

• Computer Ministry
• Computer ministries are teams of volunteers or
  staff that support community computer centers
• Many churches can have Computer Ministries
  without having computer centers (good ratio is
  three computer ministries to one computer center)
• Establishing Computer Ministries within churches
  provides a great opportunity for teens and adults
  to volunteer
• Great partnership opportunity for suburban and
  urban churches
• Classes provide good opportunity for volunteers
• Volunteers often need some structure and classes
  help provide that

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TechMission ModelForming Metro Area Partnerships
Suburban Churches (Computer Ministry)
Urban Churches (Computer Ministry)
Churches (Independent Volunteers)

• Resources
• Volunteers
• Tech Expertise

TechMission

• Community Connection
• Wealth of Experience
• Physical Location

CTCs (in urban churches)
CTCs (Christian non-profit)
Other CTCs
In Boston, we have about 15 churches, 10
Christian CTCs and 100 volunteers in early
stages of developing a partnership.
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Computer Ministry Organizational Ideas

• Ministry Leader (either staff or very committed
  volunteer)
• Leadership team/planning committee
• Instructors (if you are teaching classes)
• Need significant expertise in subject matter
• Primary responsibility for class falls on
  instructor
• Tech Professional in subject area who volunteers
  (or staff instructor)
• Assistants who have demonstrated their commitment
  and expertise
• Assistants/Mentors/Lab Monitors
• Assistants only need basic knowledge of subject
  matter
• Many students can return following semester to
  assist and continue learning
• Serve as instructor in training for new
  volunteers and provides ability to try it out to
  determine commitment level
• Help reduce the student-teacher ratio (need at
  least 15)

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Example Student Development Plan
Program Areas
Goals
Student Advancement
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Example Faith-Based CTC Budget
Numbers taken from PREP Community Computer
Center in Bruce Wall Ministries
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Appendix
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Getting Grants

• PowerUP (www.powerup.org)
• Get 20 new gateway computers with software
• Get 20-40k in funding over 3 years
• Looking to partner with faith-based groups with
  after-school teen programs (awarding thousands
  of grants targeting youth)
• Deadline August 15, 2001
• Requires that you have 2 full-time staff that can
  help with lab (but do not have to spend all their
  time on the lab)
• Application at www.powerup.org/program_applicatio
  n.pdf

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Getting Equipment Softwarethrough
Gifts-in-Kind Compumentor

• Register with Gifts in Kind International
  (www.giftsinkind.com)
• Cost 125 and must be Non profit 501(c)(3) and
  use software for service to community
• Cost 225 for 5 used computers 486 above
  laptops/desktops
• Network hubs for 50
• Get copies of most major software for 30
  (Windows, Office 2000, Adobe products, etc)
• Provide great discounts (90 off) on office
  products, projectors, clothes, etc.
• Use Compumentor for software discounts
  (www.compumentor.com)
• Most major software for only 30 and no
  registration fee

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Getting Equipment Software

• Make announcements in churches that you are
  looking for computer donations from individuals
  and companies
• relational method works best
• Suburban churches may have many people in
  companies with computers to donate
• Specify minimum requirements and types of
  computers
• We use Jumpstart software with kids
• Get 20 new Gateway computers by joining PowerUP
  (see grants section)

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Getting Grants

• CTCNET AmeriCorps/VISTA Grant
• Provides full time staff positions for a year for
  2,000
• To apply must first pay 100 to join CTCNet
  (www.ctcnet.org)
• Have some restrictions on these staff leading
  religious services during paid time, but one of
  the most open govt programs toward faith-based
  groups, and you select the staff
• Should open application process around Feb, 2001
• Contact Peter Miller of CTCNet at peterm_at_igc.org
  or 617.287.7371 or visit www.cpcs.umb.edu/newvista
  /
• Get list of technology grants
• Directory of Computer and High Technology Grants
  (53) from Research Grant Guides, Inc. (order on
  Amazon.com)
• HUD Neighborhood Networks Initiative will fund
  centers in housing projects (which Christian
  groups could run)

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Integrating Tech with Other Programs
PREP Computer Program
Other Programs And Activities
Local Community
Project 21 After School Program
After School Tech Curriculum
Tech Time at Camp
Pre-Teen
Camp Ozioma
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General Tech Tips for Churches

• Microsoft Software Licensing
• Get copies of Microsoft Office 2000 Professional
  for 65 for your church through Microsoft
  non-profit licensing (normally cost over 500)
• Licenses for community computer centers only cost
  30 at www.computmentor.org and at
  www.giftsinkind.org
• Order at www.ccbministries.com (select store and
  Microsoft non-profit licensing)
• Worship Songs
• Get digital text of songs for printing and
  displaying overheads
• CCLIs SongSelect provides text of over 7,500
  worship songs on one CD at www.ccli.com
• Church Management Software
• Provides integrated ability to track church
  members, donations, etc.
• More advanced option that making your own basic
  database
• Church E-mail Lists
• Easy to set up at groups.yahoo.com
• Have sign up for list in church service

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PREP How You Can Help(Sample Church
Announcement)

• Teach, assist or be a guess speaker with a class
  or take a class
• Provide Tech Support
• Attend Computer Ministry Training on Sat. January
  20 from 930-230 at Dorchester Temple
• Help serve lunch to students on Saturdays (small
  groups!)
• Provide a referral to our Web design business
• Donate a computer or get your company to donate
  their old computers

For more information sign up at table in back
after church or Contact Andrew Sears at
info_at_preptraining.org or 876-2981
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Take or Help With A Class (Sample Church
Announcement)

• For those with Business Interests
• Entrepreneurship
• For those with Artistic Interests
• Graphics Design
• Video Production
• Digital Music Studio
• For those with Computer Interests
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Graphic Design
• Web Page Design
• Databases

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Office Track Classes
Basics
Intro to Computers
Intro to the Internet
Typing
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either
taking the class or good subject
knowledge. 2. Students are encouraged to take
other classes on this track in future semesters.
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Multimedia Track Classes
Basics
Digital Music Studio
1. Students are encouraged to take other classes
on this track in future semesters.
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Web Site Filtering Software

• CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net)
• CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com)
• Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com)
• CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com)
• Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)
• Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com)
• Safesurf (www.safesurf.com)
• Watchdog (www.sarna.com)
• We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com)
• X-Stop (www.xstop.com)