CFY In the News: 2/21/00, DiversityInc.com, "Education and Home Access Key to Bridging Digital Divide"

February 21, 2000

Education and Home Access Key to Bridging Digital Divide

By Carol Stavraka

Elisabeth Stock, executive director of Computers for Youth, a New York City-based nonprofit organization, says the Digital Divide is about more than a lack of access to computers and technology. It's also about home access. While many companies and organizations are working to put computers in schools and communities, Computers for Youth is focusing on bringing that technology into homes as well.

Computers for Youth not only provides computers to New York schools, but also offers home computers to students and their families—and provides training to the entire household. Since launching the program four months ago, the organization has donated almost 200 Pentium computers to families in the South Bronx while another 150 home computers will be delivered to students and families by the end of this school year. Since beginning operations one year ago, Computers for Youth has developed partnerships with an impressive list of corporations that have donated funds, equipment, services and even volunteers, including Microsoft Corp., CitiGroup Inc., C3I, Inc., IDG Books Worldwide and iVillage.com Inc.

Stock explains why home access is critical to bridging the technology gap: "Having a computer in the home allows family members to spend more time on the computer than they can at a public access point. This uninterrupted time allows for deeper learning," she says. "Having a home computer also enables children, who tend to be more facile with technology, to teach computer skills to their parents. It’s critical to place the tools children need to do their homework in their homes, because when children do their schoolwork at home, parents are more likely to get involved. And finally, for many inner-city families, having a home computer can mean not having their children walking dangerous streets to get to public access points such as libraries and community centers," says Stock.

Stock feels that strong corporate support of these programs reflects growing recognition of a social problem that could have serious ramifications for businesses down the road: "With each passing day, the U.S. is becoming more and more a wired nation. Almost all American institutions have been impacted by the Internet and email," Stock explains. "Technology will continue to be crucial for businesses and the future workforce will need to have computer skills," she says.

You can learn more about Computers for Youth at www.cfy.org. To contact Computers for Youth, send an email to info@cfy.org.

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February 21, 2000 Education and Home Access Key to Bridging Digital Divide By Carol Stavraka Elisabeth Stock, executive director of Computers for Youth, a New York City-based nonprofit organization, says the Digital Divide is about more than a lack of access to computers and technology. It's also about home access. While many companies and organizations are working to put computers in schools and communities, Computers for Youth is focusing on bringing that technology into homes as well. Computers for Youth not only provides computers to New York schools, but also offers home computers to students and their families—and provides training to the entire household. Since launching the program four months ago, the organization has donated almost 200 Pentium computers to families in the South Bronx while another 150 home computers will be delivered to students and families by the end of this school year. Since beginning operations one year ago, Computers for Youth has developed partnerships with an impressive list of corporations that have donated funds, equipment, services and even volunteers, including Microsoft Corp., CitiGroup Inc., C3I, Inc., IDG Books Worldwide and iVillage.com Inc. Stock explains why home access is critical to bridging the technology gap: "Having a computer in the home allows family members to spend more time on the computer than they can at a public access point. This uninterrupted time allows for deeper learning," she says. "Having a home computer also enables children, who tend to be more facile with technology, to teach computer skills to their parents. It’s critical to place the tools children need to do their homework in their homes, because when children do their schoolwork at home, parents are more likely to get involved. And finally, for many inner-city families, having a home computer can mean not having their children walking dangerous streets to get to public access points such as libraries and community centers," says Stock. Stock feels that strong corporate support of these programs reflects growing recognition of a social problem that could have serious ramifications for businesses down the road: "With each passing day, the U.S. is becoming more and more a wired nation. Almost all American institutions have been impacted by the Internet and email," Stock explains. "Technology will continue to be crucial for businesses and the future workforce will need to have computer skills," she says. You can learn more about Computers for Youth at www.cfy.org. To contact Computers for Youth, send an email to info@cfy.org.
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