FIRST BAPTIST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S C.L.A.S.S. INITIATIVE PROVIDES COMPUTERS TO RENAISSANCE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS

New Technology Program Manager Hired to Spearhead Technology Efforts to Provide Computer Access to Community Senior Citizens and Youth

Somerset, NJ - November 1, 2001: The First Baptist Community Development Corporation ("FBCDC") has distributed 25 computer systems to families in the Renaissance Community to provide access to technology, over the past three months. This effort to bridge the digital divide gap is spearheaded by the new Technology Program Manager, Rev. Mereides Delgado. "I'm excited to be on board and I look forward to implementing programs that will continue to provide access to technology for the seniors and youth in our community," says Delgado. Rev. Delgado recently joined the FBCDC and she will work to further develop the FBCDC's community technology initiative called the Center for Learning About SuccesS ("CLASS"). She was previously an Information Systems Consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and worked in the telecommunications industry.

Since CLASS was implemented in 1999, the project has served over 1,000 people through technology summits, institutes, computer training and computers made available for public use. In 1999, CLASS introduced a College Center to provide information about colleges, universities and technical schools. Novice and advanced level computer training was provided to 25 community members, 25 senior citizens, and 60 youth. In 1999 and 2000 through CLASS, over 500 people who reside, work or worship in the Renaissance Community, regularly communicate with one another via e-mail. Five (5) kiosks have been purchased and placed throughout the Renaissance Community. These units are used to introduce various service agencies and businesses that are located in the community.

The kiosks serve as a visible example of how technology is used to solve common problems at home, in school and on the job. Sharon Tucker-Brown, Executive Director, FBCDC, says, "It is important to continue the movement of introducing technology to the community residents and businesses, putting into place the technology necessary to build the infrastructure necessary for global access for the underserved Renaissance Community population."

The CLASS overall premise has been to model a process on how to bridge the digital divide for an underserved urban community like the Renaissance Community. To continue to narrow the digital divide throughout the Renaissance Community, CLASS is focused on increasing the access, exposure and regular use of technology among the residents, youth, businesses and community at large.

CLASS's goal is to place a refurbished personal computer system with free Internet access directly into the homes of 100 community residents. The computers will provide residents with Internet connections to increase educational opportunities, community communications via e-mail, access to on-line resources, and enhanced delivery of community-based services. Closed chat rooms and topical forums hosted on an Intranet site will increase communication among the participants. Essentially, it will enable the selected families to create their own electronic village.

CLASS is striving to use technology to increase enterprise development and entrepreneurship in the Renaissance Community. The next initiative is to expose and train current business owners to use technology to increase their customer base, improve customer service, and develop new ways to improve their company via the Internet.

CLASS will demonstrate that an economically disadvantaged community can become part of the economic mainstream by harnessing technology. The use of technology will improve the employability of residents, increase educational performance for youth, enhance the delivery of social services, and improve the economic base of the community with thriving businesses. Also, access to technology provides the opportunity to integrate and shape this technology into their daily lives.