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Black Families Technology Awareness Event Bridges Digital Divide During Black Heritage Month
Posted: 02-23-2009 : RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Fifteen African-American families brought their children, a dish to share, and a longing to learn about technology this past Saturday when Triangle United Way hosted the Black Families Technology Awareness event as part of its Teaming 4 Technology (T4T) program.
The Black Families Technology Awareness event is one of several community outreach events hosted by TUW’s T4T program on an annual basis. Each family in Saturday’s event was sponsored by one of the Triangle area’s educational institutions, 501 (c) 3 nonprofits, or faith-based institutions.
Triangle United Way volunteers and staff guided children to a supervised play room following a meet and greet over a pot luck lunch. The adults then adjourned to an area set up with various computer stations where volunteers assisted them in learning basics of computer hardware and how a computer works, keeping their kids safe when they use the computer, setting up an Internet account and using email, protecting computers from viruses and protecting themselves from email fraud.
Upon completion of the hands-on workshop, each family was presented with a refurbished computer to take home. In 2008, T4T gave out 1,039 computers as part of its plan to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina by empowering low-income families with children and individuals with disabilities by giving them a home computer. T4T also supports operating needs of Triangle United Way partner agencies and under-funded education programs to help increase their operating efficiency deliver their services more effectively and enhance their ability to leverage funds and other resources.
United Way’s Teaming for Technology is one of the most direct ways the United Way touches people’s lives through its opportunities for businesses or individuals to donate technology; for volunteers to assist in refurbishing donated equipment and teach workshops; and for families, schools, and United Way partner agencies who receive these computers.
A GREEN DECISION, TOO.
Triangle United Way’s T4T is keeping it green, as well. In 2008, 28 tons of computer equipment was reused and 13 tons were recycled. These “green” efforts helped keep thousands of dollars worth of equipment out of landfills.
Community support keeps the T4T mission strong. Current community sponsors include Bayer Crop Science, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, City of Durham, IBM, Synergy Recycling, Computer Service Partners, SAS, Nortel and Time Warner Cable
HOW TO GET INVOLVED - Businesses can arrange to donate their computers and accessories to the T4T program by contacting Joe Burgess, the T4T manager at the Triangle United Way, at (919) 460-8687, or via email, jburgess@unitedwaytriangle.org. Computers considered obsolete in the fast-paced corporate world are still very valuable to area schools and local non-profit agencies where a quality, refurbished computer can ease financial burdens from the high cost of purchasing new computer equipment. T4T helps schools and non-profit agencies keep expenses down by providing refurbished computers loaded with a fresh copy of Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Technology equipment donations are accepted at Triangle United Way’s office, 1100 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 112 in Morrisville (NOTE: our address changes starting March 2 to 2400 Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 150 in Morrisville) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information about Teaming for Technology, contact Triangle United Way at (919) 460-8687 or check us out on the web at www.unitedwaytriangle.com/t4t .
PHOTOS AT: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15145&id=8599159998
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