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”

 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
 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.
Digital Divide Across Income & Race
Digital Divide Across Income & Race
 The New Economy

Manufacturing Computer Industry ***

Jobs Down 55-65%* Jobs Grown to 7.4 million &

Increasing 6.5% per year

Once provided 52%

of jobs to some groups, 65% of all jobs use computers
but now only 28%**

90% of all jobs use computer-

related technologies
* 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
 The New Economy

Manufacturing Computer Industry ***

Jobs Down 55-65%* Average wage in IT-producing

industries was $58,000

Once provided 52%

of jobs to some groups, 346,000 IT jobs remain vacant
but now only 28%** nationwide and 1.7 million
need to be filled by 2003

* 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
 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
Ideas for Running a
Computer Center
 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
 Certified Computer
Training Refurbishing
Centers Entrepreneurship
Computer
Programs
Classes
Economic
Arts/Media Ministry Community Development

Computer
After School Job Training
Programs Centers
Gospel Missions
Teen Ministry
Walk-in Adult Education
Computer
Access
 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
 Joining ACCCC
 Joinfor 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
 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
 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
Spiritual and Skill Development Plan
Program Areas Goals

•Provide Experience and

Credentials Needed for Jobs

Student Advancement
Youth •Provide discipleship
Staff &
Certifications (20)
•Practice Material
and Advance Learning
Get Mentored (50) •Develop deeper relationship
Volunteer/Assist with Classes
• Build Skills Needed
Nine Week Classes for Employment
(250 students) • Develop Initial Relationship

Two-Week Classes (250 students) Decrease Barriers to

Walk-in Center (2,500 visits) Using Computers
Establish contact
After School Technology Curriculum (30)
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
 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
 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
 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
 How to Start a
Computer Center
 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
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)
 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
 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
 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)
 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
Appendix
 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)
 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

Internet Connection Sharing

Cable or DSL Modem

Ethernet Cable

Either/Or
Internet
Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Cables
Rehular Modem
 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

 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.
 Office Track Classes
Basics Intro to Computers Typing Intro to the Internet

Intermediate Intro to Word Mentoring Intro to Excel

Advanced Word MOUS Excel MOUS (or start Track

Level Test PREP Test PREP for Multimedia)

Goals Establish Basic Computer Knowledge; highly employable

in office jobs, administrative assistant and temp work

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.
 Multimedia Track Classes
Basics Digital Music Studio

Intermediate Web Design Entrepreneurship Graphics Design Video Production

Advanced Youth Run Business Mentoring FrontPage 2000

Level Certification

Goals Employment or Start New Businesses as as Web Designer, Graphic

Designer or in Video Production, Get FrontPage Certification

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.
 Volunteer Development Plan
Spiritual Development Skill/Leadership Development Career Development

Church Attendance Joining PREP Ministry

Taking a Class (as needed)

Small Group in Church
Assisting with a class Certifications

PREP Volunteer
Community Career Advancement
Teaching a class
Racial Reconciliation Career Changes
PREP Leadership Team
SHAPE & Vocational
Considerations
Part/Full Time Staff/
Living Waters/
Starting Another Program
Personal Healing
Digital Divide Across Families
Digital Divide Across Families