What are CTEP AmeriCorps members doing?

Recruiting volunteers; starting new programs; expanding existing programs. Helping new technology users through community service activities.

2006-07 CTEP Member Activities

Kevin and Jim at St. Paul Neighborhood Network are working with the youth media program to expand outreach into new immigrant and low-income communities. Youth that participate in video production classes have had their work shown recently at the Walker Art Center, and at a national conference for youth media in Washington D.C. Jim has also developed a new equipment database that will help SPNN keep track of it’s digital media tools.

Employment Action Centers have three AmeriCorps members serving at three area sites: Glen, Leona and Jerrell all support EAC’s youth, ESL, and adult employment programs, which include online GED classes and technology skills training as part of their Adult Basic Education efforts.
Leona Xiong has helped EAC connect with the University of Minnesota to secure volunteers for their New American Employment Services program.

At CommonBond Communities,three CTEP members are collaborating on an extensive web-based game project to help residents explore and learn about job readiness skills. In the first quarter of this year, CTEP members Jennifer Elliot and Rasheed Ali conducted outreach presentations at 8 CB sites.
As a result, 29 adults registered for computer basics classes, and 4 of these students successfully secured employment as a result of these classes.

Bridget Olsen, serving at at PUC Waite House successfully just completed a computer redistribution project, 40 computers were handed out to college bound teens (Laptops for Learning). Youth participated in open source and Internet safety workshops to qualify for their laptops. As a result of state funding cuts for employment programs, the access lab is very busy. Bridget is now developing programming to accommodate an increase in adult job-seekers.

Amy, Renee K., and Renee L. are based at St Paul Public Libraries. Members support both adult learners, and staff the afterschool homework help centers at three locations. CTEP Members work with library staff and patrons to learn how to use the accessibility tools available to those with disabilities. Use of those stations has increased dramatically as a result of CTEP AmeriCorps support, and the public access labs are now open and have adult supervision for 6 hours daily.

CTEP Members have been developing teen programs that go beyond homework help at the Dayton's Bluff Library. They are planning an ArtiCulture Teen Art Slam that will be used to engage youth, amplify creativity and expression, and improve confidence of the youth involved.

At the new Emma B. Howe Learning Center at Project for Pride in Living, Wendy, Abdi and Mike coordinate access lab volunteers, oversee a new Youth media project they helped design, and work with recent immigrants, low income MFIP recipients and ex-offenders through PPL’s Train to Work program.
Mike has been able to help ex-offenders develop their first resume, and gain new technology skills to help them land jobs.

Lesmada Lim at Intermedia Arts continues to work with Phyllis Wheatley with their Digital Storytelling Program (a partnership that was developed last year by a CTEP member).  They also hope to partner with the Brian Coyle Center to provide programming on open source software to complement the Wi-Fi opportunities now available to the residents at Cedar/ Riverside.

Alison, serving at the Lake Street Business and Career Center, has has been working with her site to start a volunteer program at the BCC, and created over 10 project charters that demonstrate the need for volunteers there.  The CTC at this agency accommodates the many Latino and Somali adults that use the center to find information about micro-enterprise resources and small business tools, including online banking and tax filing.

Gina at the St. Paul YWCA has developed new programs at the Y to complement their use of the Plato learning system.  She teaches youth how to use Powerpoint and utilize this tool in creative ways, and plans on creating an youth program using Scratch (the open source software being developed by the MIT Media Lab).  

At East Side Neighborhood Services, Maureen MacDonald used her skills using PowerPoint to develop a visual guide to forklift operation, helping adults pass the OSHA test for this skill. Since many of her students speak limited English, this was very useful. Maureen is also teaching PowerPoint to staff and adult learners as part of her work supporting the Job Readiness classes East Side offers.

At the MN Dept. of Human Rights, CTEP Member Rich brings a strong background in multimedia production to his work, helping MDHR translate several important websites. Rich is also working on developing a youth program in conjunction with MDHR and several community organizations this year.