According to the recent national study, “Measuring Digital Opportunity for America's Children,” children who are media and information literate are more likely to be healthy, informed, voting citizens and active members of their communities. They are also more likely to pursue higher education and find quality jobs. The Verizon Tech Savvy Awards identify the nation’s best information communications technology literacy programs. For a full list of criteria, click here.
2006 VERIZON TECH SAVVY AWARD WINNERS
National Winner: Enemy Swim Day School, Waubay, SD
Enemy Swim Day School connects generations through ICT literacy and the power of storytelling. The organization’s RealeBook project increases parents’ technology skills by teaching them to write and publish a children’s book. Using software, digital cameras and printers, participating parents learn organizing, writing, editing and publishing skills. After parents complete their books, they share them with their children. Because the books incorporate the Dakota language, native to the people of the Lake Traverse Reservation, the children gain a greater understanding of their heritage, increased respect for their parents and improved literacy skills. Enemy Swim Day School serves more than 100 students annually. To learn more about this program click here.
Contact:
Teresa Shoemaker
FACE Coordinator/Adult Education
Enemy Swim Day School
605-947-4605, Ext. 3023
tshoemaker@esds.bia.edu
Eastern Regional Winner: Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative, Providence, Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI) uses the community library to provide ICT literacy programming to families for which English is a second language. In direct response to the growing immigrant community in Rhode Island, the program combines an ESL teacher with a technology instructor and a children’s teacher to increase tech skills while improving English comprehension skills. Technology is integrated in both the ESL and the children’s classes. The end result is a more educated parent who is able to lead their child in the use of technology in the classroom and in the home. There are 17 operating locations at library branches and community centers. RIFLI serves approximately 400 students annually. To learn more about this program click here.
Contact:
Karisa Tashjian
Literacy Program Coordinator
Rhode Island Family Literacy Initiative (RIFLI)
401-455-8185
ktashjian@provlib.org
www.rifli.org and www.provlib.org
Midwest Regional Winner: Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge, IA
The Iowa Central Community College Adult Literacy Program empowers parents to be their child’s first and best teacher. Using ICT literacy instruction, adult students learn how to use the Internet to communicate with their child’s teacher through email, to gain knowledge about Web sites that their children visit, to enhance writing skills, and to improve basic computer skills for job retention. ESL software is incorporated to enhance the speaking and listening skills of immigrant parents, allowing them to better advocate for their children’s education. Being a tech savvy parent gives these adult literacy students the confidence to continue educating their children after the school day has ended. Iowa Central’s Adult Literacy Progarm serves more than 1,000 Latino, Asian and African adults annually. To learn more about this program click here.
Contact:
Ann Waynar
Adult Basic Education Coordinator
Iowa Central Community College
800-362-2793 x1959
waynar@iowacentral.edu
Mountain/Southwest Regional Winner: Forrest Outreach Foundation, Addison, TX
Forrest Outreach Foundation’s Click-for-Success program seeks out the most economically disadvantaged families and brings ICT literacy instruction to them. The program is built on the philosophy that a family supporting each other will achieve greater success. Through weekly Computer Club classes, children improve their ICT skills. These improvements are reinforced during home visits where parents join students in using the hardware, software and Internet access provided by the program. Mentors work to establish the interconnectivity between parents and children furthering their education and skills together. Forrest Outreach Foundation serves more than 600 families annually, 98 percent of which are of minority status. To learn more about this program click here.
Contact:
Kim Kamen
Program Director
Click-For-Success
469-688-3393
director@click-for-success.org
West/Northwest Regional Winner: Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
Little Tokyo Service Center’s DISKovery Angelina program provides ICT training to low-income immigrant families living in and around the Angelina Apartments community. Program participants learn to use computers to navigate the challenges of every day life, including public transportation, housing information, childcare programs and legal services. Through regular “Mommy and Me” and “Papi and Me” classes, students are transformed into teachers as they instruct their children how to use computers and the Internet to access educational tools and other resources. DISKovery Angelina serves 5,000 first generation immigrants and ethnic minorities. To learn more about this program click here.
Contact:
Monica Peralta
Program Coordinator
DISKovery Angelina
213-481-7208
mperalta@ltsc.org
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