1. April, 9, 2010 Albertine Harris
Breaking Barriers Fund, INC
EIN
Zailin Abdul-Aziz
Request for Partnerships
Lisa Stone
Zaneta Harris-Cobham
An Infrastructure for Cultural Heritage Organizations to Engage
Goal
To partner and interact with a web based site for use by non-profit cultural heritage organizations
such as Breaking Barriers Fund, INC, who lack the funds and/or expertise to internally develop
an internet presence for their organization.
Rationale
Breaking Barriers faces the same challenges and issues of audience, funding, resources, and
mission.
It is our belief that one of the most potent ways to survive is by creating and maintaining a virtual
presence that builds loyalty and community for the organization. Combining “analog” and
“digital” resources into a cohesive whole, affinity for their mission, and the hoped for support,
has a greater likelihood of success than with the more traditional model of enticing visitors to
visit our physical space.
This is easier said than done. As mentioned previously, most organizations lack the funding or the
expertise to develop their own internal digital presence. And for many, if not most, razor thin
budgets do not allow for outsourcing web development even if the organization wanted to. We
believe that the solutions are already available, but have not been aggregated into a usable set of
tools. It is clear to us that an opportunity exists to develop a useful application that will allow any,
but particularly small to medium sized non-profits, the ability to create and maintain a web
presence.

2. Model
We will be working with the Westport Historical Society to develop a project tentatively entitled
“Uncovering Westport.” The basis of this project is a 2004 archaeological survey of existing and
potential archaeological sites around the town. We envision a searchable map that allows users to
“uncover” the town according to different eras or different times. As users explore the map(s),
they will find links to relevant passages from the archaeological survey, to photos or documents
associated with the sites, and a blog component that allows users to contribute their knowledge or
memories associated with the site. We are interested in developing a framework that allows users
to explore Westport in different eras (essentially a series of historical maps) or thematically
(Maritime, Industry, Agriculture, Leisure, etc.). These eras and themes have been suggested by
the archaeological survey as well as the accessible collections at WHS.
We are particularly interested in how historical societies or other non-profit organizations can
engage their communities with web-based tools. Our prototype may focus on a few key moments
of transition in Westport’s history, so as to be better able to draw upon the living memories of
Westport’s residents. Thus, structural and social changes associated with 20th century hurricanes
and the construction of two major by-ways, I-195 and Route 88 will be our initial focus. Further,
as an area called “The Narrows,” which was primarily inhabited by the town’s French Canadian
and other non-Yankee population and was the site of a (perhaps euphemistically termed)
“entertainment” district was destroyed by the construction of I-195, this project has the potential
to recover undocumented and otherwise “lost” memories of the town’s past. An especially
inspiring model for the way the web can be used to engage and connect a community is the
Brainerd, Kansas example.
Tools
• Wordpress. One of the very best open source “blog” applications. Easily tailored to “fit”
the particular needs of an organization. Flexible and scalable.
• Google Earth/Maps: Currently the premier tool for creating and maintaining visual
mapping.
• Embedded images: Flickr or Picassa (a Google partner) are two potential image
applications for the same reasons as above (video).

3. • Documents: Internet archive and Scribd are two applications under consideration,
although the research is still sketchy at this point. Longevity of the site, and ability to
embed are two prime considerations, along with cost and ease of use.
• Embedded video: You Tube or video.Googe are two logical choices for ease of use and
quality/cost. An interesting tool for those organizations who have video of oral histories,
webcams, etc.. Embedding creates a unified look for the site, without introducing other
interfaces.
• Audio: Clearly this is an important consideration and research is ongoing.
Workplan
Key to the overall success of the project will be the way the workplan is structured.
Understandably, the project we develop by the end of the semester will be a prototype for how an
historical society or other non-profit cultural organization can use open-source web tools to
engage audiences online. Some aspects of what we propose may be described rather than up and
working.
Key Steps
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