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The
ACP: A Partnership of AT&T, Westside Health Authority and Northwestern
University
Austin
Communication Project
In every community, groups
and organizations that address issues of healthcare, education,
employment, economic development, youth recreation, housing and
safety are vital assets. The goal of the Austin Communication Project
is to assist the work of groups and organizations in the Austin
community through the application of communication technology and
the sharing of technical expertise. As part of the three-year project
launched in 1998, we are sharing some findings from interviews with
Austin-based community group leaders and citizen leaders affiliated
with the Westside Health Authority. We are also inviting Austin-area
community groups and organizations to join the project.
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Sharing
Expertise
Community groups in Austin
help span the "digital divide." Even small groups have gained access
to basic computer technology for record keeping and word processing
according to interviews with group leaders in Austin. Three-quarters
of those leaders rated computer equipment as contributing "a great
deal" to the work of their group. Nonetheless, most groups report
the need for more and newer technology. And even more urgently,
they need access to more expertise including Internet skills. To
expand the community's access to technical expertise, the Austin
Communication Project has created the role of community technology
coordinator. A key task of the coordinator, who is based at the
offices of Westside Health Authority, is to help community groups
build technical capability within their organizations. The coordinator
can also connect groups with Austin Communication Project volunteers,
including Northwestern University students who can offer computer
and Internet expertise.
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Using
the Internet
The Internet is making
a real difference to some community groups in Austin. Two-thirds
of the leaders who were interviewed said that they have access to
the Internet. About half of those with access said the Internet
contributes "a great deal" to the work of their group through faster
and easier retrieval of information provided by organizations and
agencies. With this in mind, the Austin Communication Project aims
to help more community groups benefit from the information gathering
power of the Internet - a form of empowerment that some community
groups in Austin already enjoy. The coordinator and volunteers are
ready to "navigate the web" in search of community-building tools
and knowledge of real value.
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Creating
a Web Presence
The Austin Communication
Project also aims to give the Austin community greater "presence"
on the World Wide Web. About one quarter of the groups have a World
Wide Web site, and most group leaders agreed that a web site could
be a useful way to reach other organizations and agencies and to
build support for their own organization. In addition to helping
individual groups to create or improve their own web sites, the
technology coordinator and volunteers are creating a web site that
promotes networking among groups and individuals within the community
and facilitates outreach to organizations and agencies beyond the
community. The goal is to create an online gathering place where
community groups can share information within and beyond Austin.
With the support of enough groups and organizations, this network
can be the place where civic leaders, public officials, donors,
agency staff and the general public "know to go" for information
about Austin.
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Expanding
EBV Online
The Internet has yet
to come to many Austin households. However, EBV Online is working
to expand Internet access to those who have taken a citizen-leader
role in the Every Block a Village neighbor-hood association. More
than just Internet access, EBV Online is creating an important new
information asset in the form of a web site with information specific
to the Austin community on such topics as health and public safety.
The web site is maintained by West Suburban Hospital Medical Center.
Westside Health Authority provides training and support to the citizen
leaders. EBV Online citizen leaders are encouraged not simply to
share information on the web site with others, but also to help
transform that information into knowledge of value to their neighborhood.
West Suburban Hospital Medical Center and Westside Health Authority,
the creators of EBV Online, recognize that the citizen leaders need
continued training and support. They also plan to make Internet
access (via the WebTV technology) and the EBV Online web site available
in selected public locations.
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Joining
the Project
The project
is open to all interested community groups. For information about
the Austin Communication Project and EBV Online, please contact
the community technology coordinator:
Patrick
McMullen
Email: pmcmullen100@hotmail.com
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About
the Project Partners
AT&T is pleased to support
the Austin Communication Project with a $300,000 grant. As a communications
company committed to providing services that connect people anytime,
anywhere, any distance, AT&T is proud of this partnership with Northwestern
University and the Westside Health Authority to examine how communication
technology can enhance community collaboration and strengthen connections
among community-based organizations and residents. This grant is
part of the AT&T Learning Network, AT&T's commitment to help families,
schools and communities use technology to enhance teaching and learning.
The AT&T Learning Network provides online and cable-based resources
for educators and families as well as AT&T Foundation grants to
support education-related programs. Visit the AT&T Learning Network
web site: www.att.com/learningnetwork
Westside Health Authority
(WHA) is a community-based advocacy group comprised of community
organizations, churches, health care providers, social service agencies
and residents of Chicago's West Side. Its mission is to use the
capacity of local people to improve the health and wellbeing of
West Side residents and to preserve existing health care institutions
in the area. Founded in 1988 to provide a forum for citizen involvement
in health care policymaking and planning, WHA aims to build bridges
between neighbors and empower them to build a stronger, healthier
community. Visit the WHA web site: www.healthauthority.org
Northwestern University
has a long history of teaching, research and practice in community
development guided by the principles of the Asset-Based Community
Development Institute. The Austin Communication Project draws upon
faculty and students in the Department of Communication Studies
and the Undergraduate Leadership Program. Visit the University web
site at: www.northwestern.edu
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