Cross the digital divide: build technology awareness in Black communities

Go to any college these days and you will see black students tuned into the Internet: accessing news, researching information, and connecting to black scholars and information technology leaders around the world. They are the young achievers getting ready for the new opportunities of the information age.

But, at present few black households in Britain are wired up.

• At home few black households own personal computers or use the Internet to build a future based on information technology.
• Local schools often lag behind in providing the baseline skills students need to participate in the new technological revolution.

• to introduce information skills and knowledge to Black families and communities.
• to explore the power and potential of computers and information technology.
• to celebrate the pioneer Internet users and professionals in the community who are paving the way for others.

Here are some activities you could start where you are: in school, at home or at work.

Ask your librarian to host an Information Computers and Communsity Awareness day in association with business and companies.

Use your local computer shop to find out about the new IT products available and their uses.

Ask your local school, college or university to host computer lab training for students of all ages and their parents.

If you are in a computer-using business or profession take a group of children into your offices to show off the new technology.

Honour a Black Technology leader in your community at your church, school or town hall.

Teachers and professors can organise a seminar for students on career and professional development in IT.

Invite representatives of media and computing or Internet companies to talk about leading edge developments in their fields.

Write a paper on computing and Information Technology and what they mean to black communities, and submit an article to The Chronicle.

Do you need help to pursue one of the ideas?

Send an e-mail to tlb@thechronicle.demon.co.uk with " Black Community Technology Awareness Week" in the subject box.