LCTC Meeting Minutes for Aug. 17, 2000

Present: Andy Chandonnet (YWCA), Eduardo Czarnobai (LTC). Sr. Janet Deaett (St. Julie), Anthon Gunawan (Center for Family Work & Community), Samkhann Khoeun (CMAA), Holy Khut (CMAA), Cristi Lemon (Weed & Seed), Julio Pina (JUMAS), Chris McClure (Pathfinders / Milestone), Mickey Sin (MRC),Peggy Shepard (CTI), Felicia Sullivan (LTC), Ed West (MRC), Margarita Zapata-Turcotte (Lowell Community Charter School)

Pathfinders / Milestone will begin offering GED and ABE classes in computer labs at their site and the Lowell Transitional Living Center (formerly the Middlesex Shelter) starting 10/2. There will be four sections (2 at each location) running from 9-11 and 11:30 to 1:30 M-Th. This is a partnership with housing agencies and the local adult educaiton center
St. Julie will start registration for is ESOL classes on 8/28-30^th and 9/5 & 9/6. Classes are 9-12 weekdays and offered at 4 levels. Citizenship and community classes offered 12-1.
CTI is accepting nominations for its 7^th annual Local Heros award nominations due 8/18 to Peggy Shepard @ CTI
Youth Mapping project out of the Center for Family, Work and Community mapped 500 business and organizations in the acre who service youth and a database of information will be available soon as a result of this information.
Weed & Seed program is ready to set up its Urban Technology center (Seed Tech) ASAP. They will have 6 computers and will offer 3-4 different classes to the community.
Mass Rehab Commission is offering a range of programs. They are establishing a Computer Resource Center at the Flanagan Center on Chelmsford Street. Starting in Sept. will offer a range of classes and public access.
Lowell Community Charter School will begin classes in a couple of weeks offering K-3 grades. Strong focus on academics, English language competency, multicultural support, and community ties. They will have a 25 workstation lab which will be open to the public.

Human Resources : Recruitment and Development: Consortium has a VISTA volunteer (Dan MacNeil) working to recruit Technology Center staff (instructor, lab monitors, tech support). Dan is focussing primarily on building relationships with UML- Computer Science, Honors and Community Service progrms. Job Postings (Paid or Volunteer) can go to jobs@lctc.org . Resumes can also be posted to this address. To find postings go to http://www.lctc.org/go/vol/open/index.shtml . Dan will also be offering support and training to staff, volunteers, and other who have contributed significantly to CTCs. Primary training will focus on MCSE certification study groups. Still accepting applications for VISTA volunteers. Contact Felicia for further information.
Outreach. Flyers are available for distribution (contact Felicia to get copies), Talk of the Town highlighted the Dept. of Education grant and is now playing on Channel 8, Kevin Mullen and Felicia Sullivan will be presenting a technology planning seminar to the Greater Lowell Nonprofit Leadership Forum (a project out of the Center for Family, Work and Community). This seminar directed toward Executive Directors will detail the elements of implementing technology within organizations. Currently looking for a volunteer video producer to create an hour long documentary on the Consortium and its activities and how this community collaboration is impacting our citizens.
LINCT Program & Recycling: General consensus amongst the group was that the idea and vision presented behind the program was a worthwhile and valuable. Perhaps some of the components need to be change (i.e. using more commercial software). The Learn and Earn idea a good one. In general group identifies the need to train people in basic computer hardware assembly and upgrades, build community investment and get technology into homes. Main drawbacks of LINCT program was use of New Deal software and the lack of trackable outcomes.
Funding Grant to PowerUp to support youth based programs has gone out, starting conversations with Cisco about becoming a local networking academy, will be looking into funding from Verizon Foundation and Hewlett-Packard.

Community information - possible activities would include the creation of a community-wide database of community information and making it web accessible. (interested: Anthon Gunawan, Maryellen McEleney, Crisiti Lemon, Peggy Shepard
Education and Training - possible activities include coordinating all community based technology education programs and creating a solid certificate program that can then be linked up with industry (interested: Andy Chandonnet, Sr. Janet Deaett, Chris McClure, Kevin Mullen, Julio Pina, Felicia Sullivan, Ed West, Margarita Zapata-Turcotte)
Technology Planning and Implementation / Recyling - possible projects would be identifying resources for recycling program, coordinating community implementation of wide-area network (interested: Eduardo Czarnobai, Vikki Fanning, Holy Khut, Dan MacNeil, Mickey Sin, Dan Toomey)
Groups will begin conversations about objectives and priorities.