March 22, 2002 Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. BCT Partners, Inc. Urban Affairs Association
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Transcript of March 22, 2002 Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D. BCT Partners, Inc. Urban Affairs Association
Building Community Through Technology:Early Results from the Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project
March 22, 2002
Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D.BCT Partners, Inc.
Urban Affairs Association32nd Annual Meeting
AgendaAgenda
I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context
II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results
III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations
AgendaAgenda
I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context
II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results
III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations
Project ContextProject Context Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Camfield Estates-MIT Creating
Community Connections ProjectCommunity Connections ProjectINFRASTRUCTURE:INFRASTRUCTURE: - State-of-the-art computers & software- State-of-the-art computers & software - High-speed Internet- High-speed Internet - Comprehensive training- Comprehensive training - Neighborhood technology center- Neighborhood technology center - Web-based community building system- Web-based community building system
AgendaAgenda
I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context
II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results
III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations
Research Methods (Mixed)Research Methods (Mixed) Quantitative DataQuantitative Data
– Survey via Interviews (i.e. multiple-choice) Survey via Interviews (i.e. multiple-choice) – Web Server LogsWeb Server Logs– Proxy Server LogsProxy Server Logs
Qualitative DataQualitative Data– Survey via Interviews (i.e. open-ended)Survey via Interviews (i.e. open-ended)– Direct ObservationDirect Observation– Case StudiesCase Studies
DemographicsDemographics Heads-of-household Heads-of-household
from 26 familiesfrom 26 families 68% African-68% African-
AmericanAmerican 84% female84% female 21% high school 21% high school
diploma/GED and diploma/GED and 21% 4-year degree 21% 4-year degree or moreor more
74% parents74% parents 53% single and 53% single and
26% married26% married 63% below 63% below
$30,000 annual $30,000 annual income income
Early ResultsEarly Results Reinforced and expanded local tiesReinforced and expanded local ties Heightened awareness of community Heightened awareness of community
resourcesresources Improved communication and Improved communication and
information flowinformation flow Positive shift in participants’ Positive shift in participants’
attitudes and perceptions of attitudes and perceptions of themselves as learnersthemselves as learners
Question 2000 2001 t pResidents recognized by name 29.7 39.5 -1.108 0.283Residents talked to on a regular basis 10.2 9.2 0.604 0.553Residents invited into your home 4.4 4.5 -0.043 0.966Residents invited into their home 3.4 4.2 -0.790 0.440Residents telephoned 2.4 4.6 -1.542 0.141Residents e-mailed 1.3 3.0 -1.978* 0.063
* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05)
Reinforced and Expanded Local Reinforced and Expanded Local TiesTies
Social Network DataSocial Network Data
N=26
Resource 2000 2001 t p
Skills and abilities of other residents atCamfield Estates 11% 32% 3.284* 0.004*
Associations and organizations thatserve the community 26% 58% 1.278 0.217
Volunteer opportunities in thecommunity 0% 42% 3.684* 0.002*
Institutions located in the community(e.g., schools) 74% 84% 0.809 0.429
Social services and programs providedfor the community 26% 63% 3.240* 0.005*
Community projects, activities, andevents 11% 58% 4.371* 0.000*
Businesses located in the community 53% 63% 0.224 0.826Products and services sold by localbusinesses 32% 32% 0.357 0.725
Employment opportunities in thecommunity 5% 37% 1.924 0.070
*Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05)
Heightened Awareness of Community Heightened Awareness of Community ResourcesResources
“Very Well Informed” and “Well Informed”“Very Well Informed” and “Well Informed”
* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05) N=26
Improved Communication and Information Improved Communication and Information FlowFlow
Web Server LogsWeb Server Logs
Improved Communication and Information Improved Communication and Information FlowFlow
Proxy Server LogsProxy Server Logs
Rank Domain Rank Domain1. blackplanet.com 11. musicmatch.com2. yahoo.com 12. nick.com3. msn.com 13. wwf.com4. launch.com 14. gohip.com5. espanol.yahoo.com 15. peoplelink.com6. camfieldestates.net 16. shockwave.com7. oneplace.com 17. uproar.com8. boston.com 18. microsoft.com9. aol.com 19. simmons.edu10. collegeclub.com 20. nbci.com
Shift in Perception and Shift in Perception and AttitudeAttitude
Qualitative ResponsesQualitative Responses
“[The project] has changed my life in more ways than one. A good example of this is that I found enough courage to teach myself HTML. Had I not had this opportunity, I might still be looking to muster up the courage. I know that technology is key to the future and I know that I could personally do anything with it that I put my mind to.”
- Participant C33
AgendaAgenda
I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context
II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results
III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations
Challenges and Challenges and OpportunitiesOpportunities
Coordinating multiple, interrelated Coordinating multiple, interrelated activitiesactivities
Developing a “curriculum” that Developing a “curriculum” that supports community-defined supports community-defined outcomesoutcomes
Conducting assessment and Conducting assessment and evaluationevaluation
Sustaining the initiativeSustaining the initiative
Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations
Understand the social and cultural Understand the social and cultural environmentenvironment
Understand individuals, families, and Understand individuals, families, and the communitythe community
Demonstrate relevance clearlyDemonstrate relevance clearly– Emphasize outcomes instead of accessEmphasize outcomes instead of access
Acknowledge and support process and Acknowledge and support process and productproduct
Integrate community technology and Integrate community technology and community building holisticallycommunity building holistically