Previous Articles
Impact on Our Community: Digital Inclusion
(Editor's Note: During Washtenaw County's Planning Process to create the 2008/2009, we will make a concerted effort to bring out the stories of how County services and service collaborations impact our community. For more information on this rigorous and important Planning Process, please see the dedicated web site.)
Have you heard about Wireless Washtenaw? How about the Digital InclusionTask Force? Well, Digital Inclusion is a "piece" of Wireless Washtenaw and is made up of a community of business members and partners trying to promote education and improve quality of life by the incorporation of technology into the community. The goal is to "eliminate the Digital Divide in Washtenaw County by enhancing the availability, accessibility and education surrounding Internet connectivity."
The task force compiled
survey data from two focus groups, the ETCS workforce Development and Foster
Grandparents. Response from both groups was approximately 50% had no
computer. Additionally, Foster Grandparents indicated that cost was
the main factor in over 50% of the responses, and for the Workforce
Development responses, it was almost 75%.
The Task Force determined a variety of benefits to the community with Digital Inclusion:
Economic
- At home PC use develops computer skills, enhancing employability.
- Computer literate workers drive productivity.
- Businesses are drawn towards communities with a talented workforce, which in turn increases the potential for economic development.
Social Justice
- An increasing number of organizations are moving services online - leaving the "offline" population at risk of exclusion.
- Quality of life can be enhanced by the wealth of information that is available on line.
Community
- Internet access increases the convenience with which individuals can tap into their community and explore their local resources.
The process begins by the resident who needs assistance making contact with a qualifying partner (someone they may already deal with, Barrier Busters, ETCS). The task force, consisting of many companies (Technology Disposition Partners) who have committed to "reuse and store" their resources, makes the connection for distribution, thus sending the machine on it's path to reprogramming and a new home.
An example of the possibilities this program offers is the Boost and Step Program. Derrick Jackson, Director of Elections, presented Digital Inclusion at a recent Barrier Busters[CREATE A LINK HERE TO THE CIS ABOUT BARRIER BUSTERS?] meeting. Naomi Williams attended that presentation and contacted Derrick about a program she is affiliated with, the Boost and Step Program. The Boost and Step Program is designed to help children boost their self esteem and motivate them to do their best at school. Helping children from their most basic needs, food and clothing, all the way through to providing tutors for school. Naomi was encouraged by the possible partnership of her program with Digital Inclusion Task Force.
Past Articles
Free Summer Music Series With Jazzy Nights
Grab a blanket or lawn chair for
seating and head to Frog Island Park for a free concert by the Washtenaw
Community College Jazz Orchestra on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 pm ~
through July 9th.
This free concert series is presented
[more]
June 25, 2008 8:59 am
2008 County Land Atlas & Plat Book Available
The Washtenaw County 2008 Land
Atlas & Plat Book is now available for purchase through the
Clerk/Register of Deeds Office. This great resource
contains maps of each city, township and village in Washtenaw County,
describing
[more]
June 25, 2008 8:24 am
A Landmark Photo Gallery - and Contest Winners!
Twenty photos
featuring sights in seven municipalities in Washtenaw
County have been selected as finalists in the County’s
Landmark Photo Contest. The photos include five overall "Judges'
Choice" photos. Please
see the
[more]
June 23, 2008 2:43 pm
Summer Fun for 2008
Beat those high gas prices and join in the fun right here in Washtenaw
County. From lunch concerts to weeklong fairs – there is sure to be
something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Sonic Lunch
Thursdays 12 – 2 pm June 5 – Aug 21
[more]
June 18, 2008 9:12 am
Reality Check! Pro Athletes Bring the Message Home
Local Detroit professional athletes are
showing their support of youth in our community!
Detroit Tiger Nate
Robertson spent time with West Middle School youth in
Ypsilanti. Detroit Lion Mike Furrey
visited 6th, 7th and
[more]
June 9, 2008 11:37 pm
Teens! WATT and TCW2 All-Nighter
It will be a summertime teen blast this June
21st when the second ever
WATT and TCW2 All-Nighter gets underway!
This overnight event presented by the Washtenaw Area Teens for
Tomorrow (WATT) and the Teen Center Without Walls
[more]
June 8, 2008 8:20 pm
Homeless Needs for the Summer
The Shelter Association of Washtenaw
County needs your help in the summer too! As the weather
heats up, the demand for shower facilities increases substantially.
Presently, the Delonis is completely out of bath towels, and very low on
[more]
June 2, 2008 10:04 pm
Mary Beth Doyle Park and Wetland Preserve Dedication June 1
A dedication ceremony for the
Mary Beth Doyle Park and Wetland Preserve (formerly Brown Park) will be held
on Sunday, June 1, at 2 p.m. at the
Birch Hollow entrance (off Stone School Road). The
public is invited to the event, which will include
[more]
May 22, 2008 9:47 am
County Environmental Education Recogntion
Today, creating, understanding, and changing behavior have become vital
parts of public service. And when it comes to the environment, Washtenaw
County
Planning and Environment is garnering local, state and national
recognition for its
[more]
May 21, 2008 2:08 pm
Washtenaw County Heritage Tours Wins Award
For their actions which “have
accomplished noteworthy positive changes in the historic
preservation climate and have made a significant contribution
to the preservation of Michigan's Heritage,” the
Washtenaw County Heritage Tours Project
[more]
May 19, 2008 5:38 pm
Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra at Riverside Park
The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and Target
Corporation present Ypsi Pops: A Tribute to the Americas, a
free concert by the Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, May 24th at
2:00 pm. The concert will be held at Ypsilanti’s
[more]
May 19, 2008 3:20 pm
Visions 2008 Is Another Hit
Visions 2008: Technology and Services for the
Blind and Visually Impaired was another tremendous success with nearly 1000
people attending from all parts of Michigan, Ohio and even Canada! This
biennial vendor fair was co-sponsored by the
[more]
May 16, 2008 11:54 am
VISIONS: May 14 Vendor Fair for the Visually Impaired
The state’s largest vendor fair for
people who are blind or visually impaired will take place from
10 to 4pm
Wednesday, May 14th at the Morris Lawrence Building of
Washtenaw Community College in Ann
Arbor, Michigan.
This biennial
[more]
May 7, 2008 8:44 am
2008 Washtenaw Literacy Breakfast
On Tuesday, May 20, 2008, Washtenaw
Literacy will host the
Support Literacy Now Breakfast at the Morris
Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College. The breakfast
is scheduled from 8:00am until 9:00am -
[more]
May 6, 2008 2:41 pm
Summer Camps for Kids - Register Now!
First of all: it's
FREE. But everything after that is just as cool about the 2008
Washtenaw County Summer Sports Camp.
Summer day camps for kids from ages 8 to 15 in Football, Track, Golf,
Wrestling, Basketball, Cheerleading and Tennis
[more]
May 2, 2008 2:47 pm
Earth Day 2008 - Thoughts & Possibilities
“In the end, we will conserve
only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand
only what we are
taught.” Senegalese
Environmentalist Baba Dioum
I saw that quote at an exhibit in
[more]
April 22, 2008 9:41 am
Project Red Public Program
The purpose of this unique program is to educate youth and adults about
local agriculture and natural resources. Participants will learn about
agricultural products produced in Michigan, they will have a better
understanding of where food & fiber comes from and have the opportunity
to learn about animals and their care, as well as being up close and
personal with the animals.
[more]
April 16, 2008 10:21 am
Youth Day of Caring - May 10
The third annual Youth Day of Caring on May 10, 2008, a
collaboration with WATT (Washtenaw Area Teens for Tomorrow), Washtenaw
County Government, Washtenaw Community College, the Girl Scouts of the
Huron Valley Council, Michigan
[more]
April 15, 2008 2:03 pm
Michigan Money Smart Week Events
Improve your financial
literacy during Michigan Money Smart Week.
The Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago, along with more than 100 local organizations, is holding the Fifth
Annual Money Smart Week of Michigan, April 20 thru 26.
[more]
April 10, 2008 3:21 pm
Spring Bug Hunts: Clues to a Healthy Environment
"benthic macroinvertebrates" They're out there - also known
variously as stoneflies or mayflies - and every year about this
time, groups of enviornment loving volunteers count them along streams
in the Huron River and River Rouge watersheds.
[more]
April 10, 2008 9:59 am
