October 16, 1998
A new partnership program between industry and community organizations will soon start providing educational opportunities to students and community residents who have not previously had access to computers and the Internet.
The San Diego Regional Technology Alliance (SDRTA), Pacific Bell and ATCOM/INFO have partnered together to provide computers for five local community centers which work with under-served populations. Through a competitive process the following centers were chosen as the first five recipients of the SDRTA's Commuters in Community Centers program.
Urban Corps of San Diego
Jackie Robinson YMCA
YWCA Downtown
Chula Vista Public Library
San Diego Urban League
"One of our goals is to help catalyze partnerships between companies and the communities of which they're a part," said Joe Raguso, SDRTA executive director. "As a company grows, we help it invest into its surrounding community. This benefits not only the community, but also the local company as it looks for help in meeting a variety of future needs."
Reguso commented, "We were approached by Pacific Bell with this program, which generously provided funding for the internet connections for each computer as well as invaluable staff time."
Raguso also announced ATCOM/INFO was contacted and has generously provided all five computers, application software and remote network management services. ATCOM/INFO is the leading provider of software for public access internet/information terminals with hundreds of installation locations throughout North America.
California ranked among the lowest five states in a national sampling of students tested last year in sciences by the National Assessment of Educational Programs. As San Diego's high-tech economy continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers. Our region's students need access to sophisticated computers and the internet in order to be a part of the future high-tech work-force.
The five community centers were selected because of their unique approach to implementing a computer-training program for students and community residents. The computers will be available for kids during the critical after-school hours.
"This is about more than just giving away some computers," Raguso concluded. "It's about access to information community residents and students would not normally enjoy."
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