Communities in Schools, New York: Bridging the Digital Divide
CISNY Launches PowerUP Computer Lab at Brownsville Recreation Center
May 17, 2002
 |
| Students and tutors work in the new CISNY- PowerUP Computer Resource Center at the Brownsville Center of the New York City Parks & Recreation Department. |
An audience of over 200-including elected officials, technology experts, youth counselors, children and parents-gathered in the Brownsville Recreation Center auditorium to celebrate the opening of the Center's new PowerUP computer lab.
The lab, a result of collaborative efforts between CISNY, PowerUP and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is intended to provide underserved communities with free multimedia computer access, tutoring, career training, professional development, parenting programs, and much more.
"Technology presents opportunities for economic and educational empowerment," said CISNY technology consultant Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein. She described the collaborative nature of the new computer lab as "an ecology for community renewal."
 |
| Young Brownsville Recreation Center participants gather for a group shot outside the CISNY- PowerUP Computer Resource Center. |
Within days of opening, the lab at the Brownsville Center hosted a two-day workshop for educators, the Marco Polo Internet Content for the Classroom. During these sessions, teachers learned to understand, access and integrate high-quality Internet content for the classroom into their core curricula. The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and the Education Technology Think Tank (ET³) partnered with CISNY to bring the workshop to the Brownsville Center. Many similar programs are planned for the near future.
Facts about the Digital Divide
Although more Americans than ever have access to personal computers and the Internet, a major gap-or digital divide-exists between the haves and have-nots when it comes to technology.
In a 1999 report, U.S. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley stated that Americans should be "alarmed" by the fact that "the 'digital divide' between certain demographic groups and regions of our country continues to persist and in many cases is widening significantly."
Students attending high poverty schools are less likely to have access to computers, the Internet, or high quality educational technology programs.
Only 12.7 percent of low-income households can connect to the Internet.
Just 23 percent of African-American and Hispanic families have home Internet access. Only one-third of African-American and Hispanic households own computers, while the national computer ownership average is 51 percent.
What is Communities in Schools, New York Doing?
 |
| CISNY Technology Consultant Dr. Ronnie Lowenstein at the PowerUP Lab cable-cutting with Congressman Major Owens and New York City Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. |
Communities in Schools, New York is committed to closing the digital divide by bringing technology and training directly to at-risk, underserved student populations.
In 2001 CISNY was awarded eight new PowerUP sites, following the opening of a site at Lexington School for the Deaf.
CISNY has developed partnerships with PowerUP, the New York City Parks & Recreation Department, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI), the Police Athletic League (PAL), the New York City Board of Education, and Cisco Systems, Inc.
A Communities in Schools, New York Motto: Partnerships Make It Work!
|
|
