The Center for Urban Missions strives to prepare adults for employment opportunities and to help children improve academic performance by offering computer training and equipment to families in Birmingham neighborhoods. Classes will be offered in groups, with parents and children learning together in order to strengthen families and build community as well as skills.
Neighborhood programs will operate in eight communities through the Neighborhood Technology Collaborative, a coalition of faith- and community-based organizations. The majority of the families in these neighborhoods have little or no computer training, and limited job skills and education. Over 70% of Birmingham's high school dropouts come from these low-income communities. The Collaborative will select participating families, and provide training, practice lab space, and ongoing support.
The program curriculum will include computer literacy training, Web-delivered job development, and vocational courses. The program model will provide participating communities with an incentive to reallocate scarce resources in support of this Internet-centered academic preparation and job training program.
The Center for Urban Missions; Holy Trinity World Outreach; Guiding Light Christian Church; Calvary Resurrection; MUSE, Inc.; N.H. Price Elementary; County Housing, Education, and Assistance, Inc.; Jefferson County Center for Family Wellness; Lawson State; and the University of Alabama in Birmingham have formed a partnership to develop the Neighborhood Technology Collaborative.
