Community Technology Center:
Vision Brainstorming

What does the center look like in two years, after we've moved?

• New computers
• Bigger space
• Staff feels more included in Plugged In team: attend meetings for example
• More staff
• More computers
• More classes
• 500 visits per week
• Prepares people for OICW programs
• Better pay for staff
• A web design/graphic arts studio & workshops: combine high-end equipment & software with training materials, workshops and marketing support
• Domain name service
• Close to the bus stop
• Sell more services
• Also engages some of the black youth that doesn't use our program today
• A telephone center, maybe financial transactions.

What's the importance of the Community Technology Center in 2 years, if you can buy a PC for $200?

• As a space that helps people figure out how to use this technology = training
• As a social space: a place where people can socialize, network
• A place where you can have access to advanced technologies, try out new things
• A place that articulates and demonstrates the value of these technology to community members; organizes resources
• A place that helps people solve problems they can't figure out at home
• A place that offers a broad range of information technology services
• A place for people who can't afford a $200 computer.

Operational lessons:

• Importance of support services
• Importance of social space. The Borders model: create a social space that provides context for the products you offer. Maybe this means creating a meeting room, or bringing back the couch (Alvin thinks it should be in the back of the space). The problem is that by introducing the $1, we are discouraging the socializing, "hanging out" part of the center. Let's look at ways to bring that back.