Midtown Wednesdays

Midtown Public Computer Center/Digital Media

You can visit the Midtown My Town site to learn of other exciting initiatives happening in Midtown. To participate on this initiative, contact Kevin Cronin (see information below)

I wanted to post information about the potential value, and
steps required, in creating a public computer center/digital media
center. The center could be an important economic development
resource for the neighborhood, as well as a tool for low-income area
residents, solo artists and entrepreneurs.

Kevin Cronin, Attorney at Law
The Brown Hoist Building
4403 Saint Clair Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44103-1125

Ph: 216.377.0615 or 216.374.7578
Fx: 216.881.3928
______________________________________________________________
A Computer and Digital Media Center for Midtown?

I wanted to post information about the potential value, and steps
required, in creating a public computer center/digital media center.
The center could be an important economic development resource for the
neighborhood, as well as a tool for low-income area residents, solo
artists and entrepreneurs. The computer/digital media center could
operate in conjunction with other nonprofit activities (including the
bike station I have talked about, with activities on separate levels
to segregate the traffic).

Here's a quick take on one of Cleveland's challenges:
* Poor Schools: The years of problems in the public schools, and low
graduation rates, are well known, but I don't want to debate their
origin or school reform strategies here. Let's just work on a
strategy to work on the problem.

* Growth Aversion: Many Cleveland residents demonstrate a historic
reliance on the theory that, despite a low level of formal education,
individuals could get decent work and support a family on machining
and manufacturing. While this theory may have worked for dad or
grandpa, with tough international competition for manufacturing and
the growing sophistication of manufacturing itself, manufacturing jobs
are harder to find and even entry jobs take a certain level of
computer skills.

Cleveland has a low level of high school attainment and low level of
computer access and computer skills. With the right training, current
computer/work force skills can help individuals get decent work in
today's economy. Families face fierce challenges with their time,
balancing work (maybe several jobs), education and family obligations.
A computer center can be a neighborhood resource to help those
without computer skills get them, right in the neighborhood, during
evening and week-end hours when individuals may have time. The center
would also serve a resource for those who have skills, but don't have
a computer, need special hardware, software or higher speed, more
reliable connection to the Internet. While computers and computer
skills are often taken for granted, city residents often have little
computer experience, habits of use, computers at home or the
high-speed connection needed for content-rich education applications.

So what are the needed tools for a neighborhood computer center? The
answer, of course, evolves, as a computer center can evolve grow and
become more valuable with each donation or purchase of equipment (for
models, go to the national Community Technology Center Network,
ctcnet.org, or the Ohio Community Computing Center Network,
www.occcn.org). Here are some ideas:

Hardware: Hardware may be the simplest of the needs to address, with
refurbished, business-donated computers available from a variety of
local refurbishers. At various times, I have volunteered in a
computer center, assisted in setting up computer centers, donated
computers to individuals for their home, or helped ship off
refurbished computers for disaster relief (earlier this year, over 600
computers went from RET3, a local refurbisher, to gulf states for
Hurricane Katrina relief, but others, including nonprofit Computers
Assisting People, www.capinc.org, have also provided assistance).
Basic computers, scanners, printers, and software can be secured
through donation or acquired at subsidized rates (see the nonprofit
supplier, www.techsoup.org).

Space: Basically, the project would need an empty storefront (I think
the area has a few of them), with wide entry, adequate power and
access to the Internet. Ideally, there would be areas that could
serve as an office and a reception area. Ideally, the space would be
donated by a owner or rent would be paid by a neighborhood development
group. The facility would need adequate security arrangements.

Staff: The facility would need a project coordinator, to secure
donations and volunteers, open the door and pay the bills.

Volunteers: The heart of all endeavors, a committed group of
volunteers and users could provide the training for non-users and
hands-on assistance, as well as provide marketing and solicit
donations.

Enhancements: The center can be augmented by donations for a variety
of applications. Building developer David Perkowski (Hyacinth Lofts
in the Slavic Village/Broadway area), has provided a digital lab for
audio and video artists as a building asset. Computer center users
can serve as recruiters and solicitors of donations and other
volunteers. In some cases, the model borrows from co-op models for
needs and activities.

This is just a quick note to summarize the needs and steps involved in
creating a community computer/ digital media center. I helped use
similar strategies when I was the director of Digital Vision, the
group that helped Cleveland City Council create a $3 million
Neighborhood technology Fund, as well as worked at the nonprofit
social service organization, University Settlement, in Broadway/Slavic
Village, helped to raise money for what would become the Magic
Johnson/HP Inventor Center, a 25-computer lab supported by the
businessman and former basketball star. The computer center could be
a terrific neighborhood asset, offering education, training and
resources for those without affordable technology access. I'd welcome
the thoughts from others on this ide

posted by Unknown @ 6/16/2006