How to Start

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How to Start Run a Community Computer Center

• Andrew Sears
• Coordinator, PREP Community Computer Center,
  Bruce Wall Ministries
• Director, Association of Christian Community
  Computer Centers
• Giving People Skills to Make a Living and a
  Foundation to Make a Life

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Outline

• Background and Need
• Ideas for Running a Computer Center
• What are people currently doing
• About the Association of Christian Community
  Computer Centers
• Ideas for ministry from our experience at the
  PREP Community Computer Center
• How to Start a Center

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What is the Digital Divide?

• The digital divide is the gap that separates
  those with access and training on computers and
  the Internet from those without.

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Digital Divide Across Income Race
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Digital Divide Across Income Race
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The New Economy
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The New Economy
Computer Industry
Manufacturing
Jobs Down 55-65
Once provided 52 of jobs to some groups, but
now only 28
In a range of Northern cities between
1967-1987, When Work Disappears Statistics are
for inner-city black men in Chicago Other
sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and
Department of Commerce
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The Church and the Digital Divide

• The term Sunday School originated from a major
  literacy drive by the church in the 1800s
  Christians can also lead the computer literacy
  drive
• Books Basic Literacy
• Computers Computer Literacy
• This is one of the best funded areas for serving
  the community
• Schools and the government can only do so much

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Ideas for Running a Computer Center
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What is a Christian Community Computer Center

• Christian Community Computer Center Defined any
  ministry using computers as an outreach to serve
  the community
• There are over 1,000 community computer centers
  in the US and it is likely that over 100 of these
  are Christian centers
• Range from ministries with less than 5 computers
  to ministries with over 50 computers

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Community Computer Centers
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Association of Christian Community Computer
Centers

• Mission
• To support and promote the use of computers and
  technology in Christian outreach ministries
• To assist the 60 identified existing Christian
  community computer centers and help others get
  started
• To partner with national organizations to support
  CCCCs
• Pursuing partnerships with CCDA, Mission Year and
  CTCNet
• Web www.acccc.org or www.computerministry.org
• E-mail info_at_acccc.org

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Joining ACCCC

• Join for free now, but may have a fee in the
  future
• Benefits
• Keep informed of events of interest to Community
  Computer Centers, Grants, Computer Donations
• Share program information
• Participate in future joint programs
• Sign up on sheet or send E-mail to info_at_acccc.org

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PREP Community Computer Center

• Joint Program of
• Bruce Wall Ministries
• Dorchester Temple Baptist Church
• Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship
• www.preptraining.org
• PREP Activities
• 15 Computer Classes to 220 students each
  semester
• Walk-In Computer Center with 20 visits per day
• Youth Run Web Design Business
• After School Technology Curriculum
• Mentoring provides relational time with students
• Saturday Lunch provides relational time with
  students

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Sponsorship and Growth

• In first year, received over 300,000 in
  donations from
• Microsoft
• Adobe
• Filene Foundation
• PowerUP
• Gateway Computer
• Individuals
• Now have a staff of nine and about 30 volunteers
• Have two computer rooms with a total of 40
  computers

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Spiritual and Skill Development Plan
Program Areas
Goals
Student Advancement
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Ideas for Church Involvement

• Establish Computer Ministry within churches
• Great partnership opportunity for suburban and
  urban churches
• Many people in suburban churches will get
  involved in outreach ministries in urban
  communities because of their interest in
  computers
• Great opportunity for reconciliation and
  transformation
• PREP Volunteers 20 suburban an 10 urban (most
  raised up through program)
• Classes provide good opportunity for volunteers
• Have teaching assistants who train their first
  semester to teach the class while helping with
  the class

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Ideas for Youth

• Computers can easily become a component of an
  after school program
• Walk in center is popular with teens
• Music mixing popular allowing them to write a CD
  of their songs (get free download of Hip Hop eJay
  from Internet)
• Internet access is popular (high speed
  connection DSL or cable needed, see appendix for
  info on connecting a network and Internet
  connection sharing)
• Weve found youth want the advanced and media
  classes while more adults want the basic classes
• Youth staff supervise our walk-in center, but
  another adult is always in the building
• great opportunity for youth to lead, learn and be
  discipled
• Youth Run Business Web design business,
  T-Shirts, Graphics Design, Video Production

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Ideas for Classes

• Make a major effort initially to let the
  community know
• This is needed to have applicants at start of
  semester
• We handed out 3,000 flyers table-tents on
  street, in schools, stores restaurants
• Got mailing list of our community from Bostons
  Voter Registration Records and mailed to 10,000
  residents
• Meals between classes can provide opportunities
  for relationship building
• Project based classes work well
• Teens and adults can work in same classes, but
  adults taking classes with younger children does
  not work
• See list of classes in Appendix

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Issues to Consider

• Computer ministry should be relational ministry
• Its not about the technology, its about the
  people.
• Center needs to be in an organization that is
  indigenous to community being served and raise up
  indigenous leaders
• Web filtering software on all computers (see
  appendix for list of filtering software)
• Some software programs do not filter Web based
  E-mail (i.e. Hotmail)
• We do not allow chat or non-educational games
• Security is a major issue
• BWM has an alarm system and motion detectors and
  are installing a panic button for lab monitors
  and video entry cameras
• Software licensing is an issue

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How to Start a Computer Center
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Things You Need

• Gods support
• People staff support/volunteers
• Technical support is a must
• Can get work-study students from colleges for
  tech support
• Space to house computers
• Look for space in churches and Multiservice
  centers
• Equipment computers, network, Internet
  connection
• Software
• Advertising/marketing
• Money varies depending on your goals

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Getting Equipment Software

• Make announcements in churches that you are
  looking for computer donations from individuals
  and companies
• relational method works best
• Suburban churches may have many people in
  companies with computers to donate
• Specify minimum requirements and types of
  computers
• We use Jumpstart software with kids
• Get 20 new Gateway computers by joining PowerUP
  (see grants section)

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Getting Equipment Softwarethrough
Gifts-in-Kind Compumentor

• Register with Gifts in Kind International
  (www.giftsinkind.com)
• Cost 125 and must be Non profit 501(c)(3) and
  use software for service to community
• Cost 225 for 5 used computers 486 above
  laptops/desktops
• Network hubs for 50
• Get copies of most major software for 30
  (Windows, Office 2000, Adobe products, etc)
• Provide great discounts (90 off) on office
  products, projectors, clothes, etc.
• Use Compumentor for software discounts
  (www.compumentor.com)
• Most major software for only 30 and no
  registration fee

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Getting Grants

• PowerUP (www.powerup.org)
• Get 20 new gateway computers with software
• Get 20-40k in funding over 3 years
• Looking to partner with faith-based groups with
  after-school teen programs (awarding thousands
  of grants targeting youth)
• Deadlines March 15, 2001 and August 15, 2001
• Requires that you have 2 full-time staff that can
  help with lab (but do not have to spend all their
  time on the lab)
• Application at www.powerup.org/program_applicatio
  n.pdf

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Getting Grants

• CTCNET AmeriCorps/VISTA Grant
• Provides full time staff positions for a year for
  2,000
• To apply must first pay 100 to join CTCNet
  (www.ctcnet.org)
• Have some restrictions on these staff leading
  religious services during paid time, but one of
  the most open govt programs toward faith-based
  groups, and you select the staff
• Should open application process around Feb, 2001
• Contact Peter Miller of CTCNet at peterm_at_igc.org
  or 617.287.7371
• Get list of technology grants
• Directory of Computer and High Technology Grants
  (53) from Research Grant Guides, Inc. (order on
  Amazon.com)
• HUD Neighborhood Networks Initiative will fund
  centers in housing projects (which Christian
  groups could run)

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For More Information

• Visit Association of Christian Community Computer
  Centers Web site and join E-mail list
• Get information on grants, hardware donations,
  share ideas, etc
• Join for free now, but will have a fee to join in
  future
• Visit www.acccc.org or www.preptraining.org
• E-mail info_at_acccc.org
• Call Andrew Sears at 617-876-2981
• Join Community Technology Centers Network
  (www.ctcnet.org), get on E-mail list and go to
  national conference each June
• Best information resource available
• Visit HUDs Neighborhood Networks at
• http//www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html

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Appendix
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Web Site Filtering Software

• CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net)
• CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com)
• Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com)
• CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com)
• Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)
• Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com)
• Safesurf (www.safesurf.com)
• Watchdog (www.sarna.com)
• We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com)
• X-Stop (www.xstop.com)

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Setting Up A Network Internet Connection Sharing

• Need the following
• Computers with one Ethernet card in each
• Ethernet cabling between computers and Ethernet
  hub (called RJ-45 cable)
• Computer to serve as firewall to connect to
  network (with either 2 Ethernet cards or one
  Ethernet card and one modem)
• Proxy or Firewall Software
• An easy setup version comes with Windows
  Millennium Edition as Internet connection sharing
• A good inexpensive package is Comsocks
  (www.linkbyte.com)
• Ethernet Hub
• Get 24 port hub from Gifts in Kind for 50
• Get 16 port hub from www.warehouse.com/datacom/
  for about 200
• Get from local computer stores

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Internet Connection Sharing
Cable or DSL Modem
Ethernet Cable
Either/Or
Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Cables
Rehular Modem
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Internet Connection Sharing (Configuration)

• Do not need to do this if using Microsoft
  Internet Connection Sharing
• Under TCP/IP Configuration
• Server on card connecting to clients
• IP Address 10.0.0.10
• Gateway get from network provider
• DNS get from network provider
• Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
• Other Card/Modem get config from network
  provider
• Client Machines
• IP Address 10.0.0.Anything from 0 to 255 but
  must be unique
• Gateway 10.0.0.10
• DNS 10.0.0.10
• Subnet Mask 255.255.255.0
• Configure Options in Browser to Use Proxy at
  10.0.010
• Call proxy/firewall software provider for help

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PREP Mission

• To serve those in urban centers by providing
  community computer access and education needed
  for employment, spiritual development and to
  equip the Christian community to do the same.

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Office Track Classes
Basics
Intro to Computers
Intro to the Internet
Typing
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either
taking the class or good subject
knowledge. 2. Students are encouraged to take
other classes on this track in future semesters.
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Multimedia Track Classes
Basics
Digital Music Studio
Intermediate
Web Design
Graphics Design
Video Production
Entrepreneurship
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either
taking the class or good subject
knowledge. 2. Students are encouraged to take
other classes on this track in future semesters.
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Volunteer Development Plan
Spiritual Development
Skill/Leadership Development
Career Development
Joining PREP Ministry
Church Attendance
Taking a Class (as needed)
Small Group in Church
Certifications
Assisting with a class
PREP Volunteer Community
Career Advancement
Teaching a class
Racial Reconciliation
Career Changes
PREP Leadership Team
SHAPE Vocational Considerations
Part/Full Time Staff/ Starting Another Program
Living Waters/ Personal Healing
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Digital Divide Across Families
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Digital Divide Across Families