Program Updates

Pixley Digital Connectors Spread Technology in Rural California

Last month, the first class of Pixley Digital Connectors celebrated their graduation and began their community service to their rural California community. These high school students completed a summer program that included training and employment experience that taught the students to be able to apply their leadership and technological skills to real world problems.

The Pixley Digital Connectors program was created in partnership with the Great Valley Center. This fall, these youth will receive laptops and train families on computer applications, including Beehive. They will provide tech support to families that have received computers and DSL accounts to the Pixley Connect Project Grant.

One Economy's Digital Connectors program continues to gain momentum.  This summer, over 300 youth participated in 20 programs across the country. The Pixley Digital Connectors are a great example of how these youth are building bridges to new technology.

New Educational Program Gives Bertie Teens a Second Chance

This fall, students in Bertie County, NC who struggled academically last year, kicked off the school year in a new classroom: the Bertie Hive. One Economy partnered with the Bertie County School System and the Bertie County Family Resource Center to create a program that provides a second chance for teens and prepares them for the workforce by teaching them technical and life skills. This alternative to the standard school experience will raise the high school graduation rate and help students get back on the right track.

From the Digital Connectors curriculum and Microsoft Office Training, the students will gain valuable skills with which to pursue a technical career. The students will also learn leadership skills and social responsibility while developing character and pursuing personal growth. They will also gain professional and vocational skills through real world experiences, including college visits, guest speakers, internships, and more.

Eligible students failed ninth grade and struggle with math and reading. Those who were not successful in the typical classroom, but have an interest in technology, are most likely to thrive at the Hive. By participating at the Hive, students will decrease risky behaviours and contribute to the community rather than continuing with destructive decisions.

What is Hip Hop?

What is hip hop music and how does the industry impact my community? North Lawndale Digital Connectors recently answered this question during a three month civic journalism workshop and the launch of One Economy’s 247 TownHall (www.247townhall.org), an online civic engagement resource.

Over 50 youth Digital Connectors completed a structured journalism course including speakers from the Chicago Reporter, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. Local partners and One Economy staff trained youth on how to use Flip video cameras and blogs to promote their stories. The youth chose the hip hop music industry as their topic and conducted on-camera interviews with their peers and neighbors.

Last month, the youth sponsored North Lawndale Youth Speak about Hip Hop! at North Lawndale’s College Preparatory High School. More than 100 youth listened to a panel of experts that included morning disc jockey Trey the Chocklit Jok (FM 92.3) speak about the state of the industry. Youth also premiered their footage on an original video, “What is Hop Hop?”

The Motorola Foundation and the City of Chicago’s After School Matters program support the Digital Connectors program. One Economy and the Motorola foundation are working together to create Chicago's first connected community through the development of broadband infrastructure, computer acquisition programs, online content, and training.

Lights… Camera… Action! – Digital Connectors Go Multimedia

Across the country, youth in the Digital Connectors program are giving back to their communities in a whole new way. The new Arts and Digital Media program is giving Digital Connectors the tools they need to capture audio and visual content and the skills to create exciting new media. With this new training, Digital Connectors are preparing to be the eyes and ears of their communities.

Earlier this year, Digital Connectors in the Bay Area received Flip cameras (small, easy-to-use digital camcorders) and audio recorders to capture the voices of their communities. Digital Connectors captured a variety of voices in their neighborhood in video that they have edited for placement on 247TownHall (www.247townhall.org), an online civic engagement and social networking resource. They have also spoken to students and parents about education, gathering content for ZipRoad (www.ziproad.org), our educational resource that provides information for students and parents. Click here to watch a video created by Digital Connectors.

Digital Connectors in Chicago’s North Lawndale community recently completed a four-week civic journalism workshop to get ready for an upcoming youth-led virtual town hall funded by the Motorola Foundation. Youth will be using flip camcorders and audio recorders to promote awareness for issues that are on young people’s minds today, such as the tone of the music industry and violence in schools.

As One Economy develops and expands its Arts and Digital Media curriculum, the Digital Connectors program will not only prepare the next generation of digital media specialists, it will cultivate a generation of social activists eager to voice their new, innovative ideas and solutions for old problems.