June 5, 2000
Montclair State University's TEAM (Technology, Education, Access, Mentoring) project has received $80,000 from MCI WorldCom to enhance existing Computer Learning Centers and establish three others in the township of Montclair.
The two-year grant was announced May 16 at a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In attendance from Montclair State were Gregory Waters, vice president for Institutional Advancement, Freyda Lazarus, director of Cooperative Education and Service-Learning, and Huron Benson, a student involved with TEAM. They were accompanied by William "Bucky" Schnarr, executive director of TEAM, a partnership of Montclair State University, community organizations, religious institutions and technology volunteers focused on addressing the digital divide.
The MCI WorldCom grant is administered under the Campus Compact "Making a Civic Investment Program." Only 20 of the 160 programs that applied for the grant were funded, and Montclair State's is the only one from New Jersey.
TEAM was started in 1997 as part of the University's Service-Learning Program. The project, supervised by Richard Peterson of Information and Decision Sciences, establishes computer learning centers in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in the town of Montclair to ensure that all children have the opportunity to become proficient in computer skills. Montclair State students recycle and upgrade computers used in the project, and train community members to use the computers and software at the centers. The three existing centers are located at Hollow Day Care Center, the Unitarian Church After-School Program and Day Nurseries, Inc. The grant will be used to establish three additional centers, provide Internet access in the existing and new centers, and hire a technology coordinator. MSU students and tutors will teach children how to use the Internet to connect to the township's library, museum, government offices and social service agendas. Children who complete the program will take home a computer that has been recycled and upgraded by Montclair State students.
"TEAM, like Montclair State's other service-learning initiatives, gives the University a wonderful opportunity to strengthen its involvement in the community and allows our students to put their education to work for meaningful social change," said Waters. The Computer Learning Centers are expected to serve approximately 1,000 families per year, providing them with computer literacy skills, effective curriculum for academic achievement and job and life skills.
"The goal of these Centers is to help prepare all community members for the challenges and opportunities in the 21st century while serving as a catalyst for civic engagement," Peterson said.