Tri-State Technology Learning Center

[Mac Obiri-Mainoo]

Hello, Everyone:

We are a fairly new non-profit youth educational organization that has 
acquired a space that used to be a bicycle repair workshop. Our plan is to 
transform this into a technology-learning center within the next five 
months for the three communities we serve in central Massachusetts. Our 
program will be geared towards the following:

i/ youth-at-risk (including DYS-committed youth) to train in computers and 
computer-repairs, video and digital photography, career counseling & job 
search skills eventually leading to job internships and placement with a 
component for character education; 
ii/ after-school programs for students' homework, tutoring and other 
school projects.
iii/ parents and other adults for personal enrichment and computing 
training to help with their job-search and their students' homework.

However, we do not have the means, financial or otherwise, at the moment 
to get the place ready by July 1, 2004 when we hope to get the center 
functioning. Our current needs are for
 i/. furnishing- carpeting, chairs and tables, cabinets and bookshelves; 
ii/. wiring and networking the rooms for connectivity;
iii/. multi-media-computers (used, refurbished and new) including a 
server, two printers and a scanner, two camcorders, two digital cameras, 
one large (27'' or bigger TV set);

We have just started putting some names together, made up of educators, 
local businessmen/women, professionals and parents, for the formation of a 
technology planning committee. We hope to use these members to recommend 
companies/ organizations and other avenues we can adopt to receive 
donations, both in cash and in kind. They will be the group that will send 
out letters to the school superintendents and a college president and 
declare our intention to partner with them to ensure the success of our 
program.

We are also appealing to friends and colleagues at YouthLearn to share 
ideas with us so that we can benefit from their experiences as well. 
Thanks so much for reading and for your input.

<p>Prince Obiri-Mainoo
Executive Director

Mac's Vision International 
macsvision at lycos.com
P. O. Box 116
Webster, MA 01570-0116

<p>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
YouthLearn ( http://www.youthlearn.org ) brings together youth
professionals to share information on using technology to create
exciting learning environments. YouthLearn was created by the
Morino Institute ( http://www.morino.org ) and is now an Initiative
at Education Development Center ( http://www.edc.org ). We hope
this list assists you in your efforts to make a difference in the
lives and potential of young people.

Tips:
* To post a message to this group, send an email to
mailto:youthlearn at mail.edc.org

* To subscribe or unsubscribe from this list or
to receive YouthLearn in digest form, go to
http://www.youthlearn.org/join/subscribe.html

* To search the YouthLearn archives, go to
http://www.edc.org/hypermail/youthlearn/

* To contact the list facilitator, send an email to
mailto:info at youthlearn.org