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1. How to Start & Run a
Community Computer Center
Andrew Sears
Coordinator, PREP Community Computer Center, Bruce Wall Ministries
Director, Association of Christian Community Computer Centers
“Giving People Skills to Make a Living and a Foundation to Make a Life”

2. Outline
 Background and Need
 Ideas for Running a Computer Center
– What are people currently doing
– About the Association of Christian Community
Computer Centers
– Ideas for ministry from our experience at the
PREP Community Computer Center
 How to Start a Center

3. What is the “Digital Divide”?
The “digital divide” is the gap that separates
those with access and training on computers and
the Internet from those without.

4. Digital Divide Across Income & Race

5. Digital Divide Across Income & Race

6. The New Economy
Jobs Down 55-65%*
* In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears
** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago
*** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce
Once provided 52%
of jobs to some groups,
but now only 28%**
65% of all jobs use computers
90% of all jobs use computer-
related technologies
Jobs Grown to 7.4 million &
Increasing 6.5% per year
Manufacturing Computer Industry***

7. The New Economy
Manufacturing Computer Industry***
Jobs Down 55-65%*
* In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears
** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago
*** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce
Once provided 52%
of jobs to some groups,
but now only 28%**
Average wage in IT-producing
industries was $58,000
346,000 IT jobs remain vacant
nationwide and 1.7 million
need to be filled by 2003

8. The Church and the Digital
Divide
 The term “Sunday School” originated from a major literacy drive by the
church in the 1800’s; Christians can also lead the computer literacy drive
Books Basic Literacy
Computers Computer Literacy
 This is one of the best funded areas for serving the community
 Schools and the government can only do so much

9. Ideas for Running a
Computer Center

10. What is a Christian
Community Computer Center
 Christian Community Computer Center Defined:
any ministry using computers as an outreach to
serve the community
– There are over 1,000 community computer centers in the US and it
is likely that over 100 of these are Christian centers
– Range from ministries with less than 5 computers to ministries
with over 50 computers

11. Community
Computer
Centers
Economic
Development
Gospel Missions
Adult Education
Job Training
After School
Programs
Teen Ministry
Arts/Media Ministry
Walk-in
Computer
Access
Entrepreneurship
Programs
Computer
Refurbishing
Computer
Classes
Certified
Training
Centers

12. Association of Christian
Community Computer Centers
 Mission:
– To support and promote the use of computers and technology in
Christian outreach ministries
– To assist the 60+ identified existing Christian community computer
centers and help others get started
– To partner with national organizations to support CCCC’s
 Pursuing partnerships with CCDA, Mission Year and CTCNet
 Web: www.acccc.org or www.computerministry.org
 E-mail: info@acccc.org

13. Joining ACCCC
 Join for free now, but may have a fee in the future
 Benefits
– Keep informed of events of interest to Community
Computer Centers, Grants, Computer Donations
– Share program information
– Participate in future joint programs
 Sign up on sheet or send E-mail to info@acccc.org

14. PREP Community Computer
Center
 Joint Program of
– Bruce Wall Ministries
– Dorchester Temple Baptist Church
– Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship
– www.preptraining.org
 PREP Activities
– 15+ Computer Classes to 220 students each semester
– Walk-In Computer Center with 20 visits per day
– Youth Run Web Design Business
– After School Technology Curriculum
– Mentoring: provides relational time with students
– Saturday Lunch: provides relational time with students

15. Sponsorship and Growth
 In first year, received over $300,000 in donations from:
– Microsoft
– Adobe
– Filene Foundation
– PowerUP
– Gateway Computer
– Individuals
 Now have a staff of nine and about 30 volunteers
 Have two computer rooms with a total of 40 computers

16. Program Areas Goals
Nine Week Classes
(250 students)
• Build Skills Needed
for Employment
• Develop Initial Relationship
Youth
Staff &
Certifications (20)
•Provide Experience and
Credentials Needed for Jobs
•Provide discipleship
Two-Week Classes (250 students)
Walk-in Center (2,500 visits)
After School Technology Curriculum (30)
Decrease Barriers to
Using Computers
Establish contact
Get Mentored (50)
Volunteer/Assist with Classes
•Practice Material
and Advance Learning
•Develop deeper relationship
Student
Advancement
Spiritual and Skill Development Plan

17. Ideas for Church Involvement
 Establish Computer Ministry within churches
 Great partnership opportunity for suburban and urban
churches
– Many people in suburban churches will get involved in outreach
ministries in urban communities because of their interest in
computers
– Great opportunity for reconciliation and transformation
– PREP Volunteers: 20 suburban an 10 urban (most raised up
through program)
 Classes provide good opportunity for volunteers
– Have teaching assistants who train their first semester to teach the
class while helping with the class

18. Ideas for Youth
 Computers can easily become a component of an after school program
 Walk in center is popular with teens
– Music mixing popular allowing them to write a CD of their songs (get free
download of Hip Hop eJay from Internet)
– Internet access is popular (high speed connection: DSL or cable needed,
see appendix for info on connecting a network and Internet connection
sharing)
 We’ve found youth want the advanced and media classes while more
adults want the basic classes
 Youth staff supervise our walk-in center, but another adult is always in
the building
– great opportunity for youth to lead, learn and be discipled
 Youth Run Business: Web design business, T-Shirts, Graphics Design,
Video Production

19. Ideas for Classes
 Make a major effort initially to let the community know
– This is needed to have applicants at start of semester
– We handed out 3,000+ flyers & table-tents on street, in schools,
stores & restaurants
– Got mailing list of our community from Boston’s Voter
Registration Records and mailed to 10,000 residents
 Meals between classes can provide opportunities for
relationship building
 Project based classes work well
 Teens and adults can work in same classes, but adults
taking classes with younger children does not work
 See list of classes in Appendix

20. Issues to Consider
 Computer ministry should be relational ministry
– “It’s not about the technology, it’s about the people.”
 Center needs to be in an organization that is indigenous to
community being served and raise up indigenous leaders
 Web filtering software on all computers (see appendix for
list of filtering software)
– Some software programs do not filter Web based E-mail (i.e. Hotmail)
– We do not allow chat or non-educational games
 Security is a major issue:
– BWM has an alarm system and motion detectors and are installing a “panic” button for lab
monitors and video entry cameras
 Software licensing is an issue

21. How to Start a
Computer Center

22. Things You Need
 God’s support
 People: staff support/volunteers
– Technical support is a must
– Can get work-study students from colleges for tech support
 Space: to house computers
– Look for space in churches and Multiservice centers
 Equipment: computers, network, Internet connection
 Software
 Advertising/marketing
 Money: varies depending on your goals

23. Getting Equipment & Software
 Make announcements in churches that you are looking for
computer donations from individuals and companies
– relational method works best
– Suburban churches may have many people in companies with
computers to donate
– Specify minimum requirements and types of computers
 We use Jumpstart software with kids
 Get 20 new Gateway computers by joining PowerUP (see
grants section)

24. Getting Equipment & Software
through Gifts-in-Kind & Compumentor
 Register with Gifts in Kind International
(www.giftsinkind.com)
– Cost $125 and must be Non profit 501(c)(3) and use software for
service to community
– Cost $225 for 5 used computers 486 & above laptops/desktops
– Network hubs for $50
– Get copies of most major software for $30 (Windows, Office 2000,
Adobe products, etc)
– Provide great discounts (90% off) on office products, projectors,
clothes, etc.
 Use Compumentor for software discounts
(www.compumentor.com)
– Most major software for only $30 and no registration fee

25. Getting Grants
 PowerUP (www.powerup.org)
– Get 20 new gateway computers with software
– Get $20-40k in funding over 3 years
– Looking to partner with faith-based groups with after-school &
teen programs (awarding thousands of grants targeting youth)
– Deadlines: March 15, 2001 and August 15, 2001
– Requires that you have 2 full-time staff that can help with lab
(but do not have to spend all their time on the lab)
– Application at: www.powerup.org/program_application.pdf

26. Getting Grants
 CTCNET AmeriCorps/VISTA Grant
– Provides full time staff positions for a year for $2,000
– To apply must first pay $100 to join CTCNet (www.ctcnet.org)
– Have some restrictions on these staff “leading religious services”
during paid time, but one of the most open gov’t programs toward
faith-based groups, and you select the staff
– Should open application process around Feb, 2001
– Contact Peter Miller of CTCNet at peterm@igc.org or
617.287.7371
 Get list of technology grants
– Directory of Computer and High Technology Grants ($53) from
Research Grant Guides, Inc. (order on Amazon.com)
 HUD Neighborhood Networks Initiative will fund centers
in housing projects (which Christian groups could run)

27. For More Information
 Visit Association of Christian Community Computer Centers Web site
and join E-mail list
– Get information on grants, hardware donations, share ideas, etc
– Join for free now, but will have a fee to join in future
 Visit www.acccc.org or www.preptraining.org
 E-mail info@acccc.org
 Call Andrew Sears at 617-876-2981
 Join Community Technology Centers Network (www.ctcnet.org), get
on E-mail list and go to national conference each June
– Best information resource available
 Visit HUD’s Neighborhood Networks at
– http://www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html

28. Appendix

29. Web Site Filtering Software
 CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net)
 CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com)
 Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com)
 CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com)
 Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)
 Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com)
 Safesurf (www.safesurf.com)
 Watchdog (www.sarna.com)
 We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com)
 X-Stop (www.xstop.com)

30. Setting Up A Network &
Internet Connection Sharing
 Need the following
– Computers with one Ethernet card in each
– Ethernet cabling between computers and Ethernet hub (called RJ-45
cable)
– Computer to serve as “firewall” to connect to network (with either 2
Ethernet cards or one Ethernet card and one modem)
– Proxy or Firewall Software
 An easy setup version comes with Windows Millennium Edition as Internet
connection sharing
 A good inexpensive package is Comsocks (www.linkbyte.com)
– Ethernet Hub
 Get 24 port hub from Gifts in Kind for $50
 Get 16 port hub from www.warehouse.com/datacom/ for about $200
 Get from local computer stores

31. Internet Connection Sharing
Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Cables
Ethernet Cable
Cable or DSL Modem
Rehular Modem
Either/Or
Internet

32. Internet Connection Sharing
(Configuration)
 Do not need to do this if using Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing
 Under TCP/IP Configuration
– Server: on card connecting to clients
 IP Address: 10.0.0.10
 Gateway: get from network provider
 DNS: get from network provider
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
 Other Card/Modem: get config from network provider
– Client Machines
 IP Address: 10.0.0.Anything from 0 to 255 but must be unique
 Gateway: 10.0.0.10
 DNS: 10.0.0.10
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
 Configure Options in Browser to Use Proxy at 10.0.010
 Call proxy/firewall software provider for help

33. PREP Mission
To serve those in urban centers by providing community
computer access and education needed for employment,
spiritual development and to equip the Christian
community to do the same.

34. Office Track Classes
Intro to Computers Intro to the Internet
Basics
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either taking the class or good
subject knowledge.
2. Students are encouraged to take other classes on this track in future semesters.
Establish Basic Computer Knowledge; highly employable
in office jobs, administrative assistant and temp work
Goals
Word MOUS
Test PREP
Excel MOUS
Test PREP
Advanced
Level
(or start Track
for Multimedia)
Typing
Mentoring
Intro to Word Intro to Excel
Intermediate

35. Multimedia Track Classes
Employment or Start New Businesses as as Web Designer, Graphic
Designer or in Video Production, Get FrontPage Certification
Goals
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either taking the class or good
subject knowledge.
2. Students are encouraged to take other classes on this track in future semesters.
Web Design Graphics Design
Intermediate Video Production
Entrepreneurship
Basics Digital Music Studio
Advanced
Level
Youth Run Business Mentoring FrontPage 2000
Certification

36. Volunteer Development Plan
Assisting with a class
Teaching a class
PREP Leadership Team
Part/Full Time Staff/
Starting Another Program
Joining PREP Ministry
Taking a Class (as needed)
Small Group in Church
Church Attendance
Living Waters/
Personal Healing
Certifications
Career Advancement
PREP Volunteer
Community
SHAPE & Vocational
Considerations
Spiritual Development Skill/Leadership Development Career Development
Career Changes
Racial Reconciliation

37. Digital Divide Across Families

38. Digital Divide Across Families