Projects in New York

The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) serves 1.1 million students and their families, with more than 79,000 teachers in more than 1,200 school buildings. The New York City Department of Education Beaumont pilot program embraces 14 schools located in Harlem and the Washington Heights neighborhoods of upper Manhattan. Of these 14 schools, eight are under the administration of the Chancellors’s District 85, Dr. Sandra Kase, Superintendent; three are in Community School District 4, Ms. Evelyn Castro, Superintendent; and three are in Community School District 5, Dennis J. Pradier, Superintendent.

The NYCDOE Beaumont pilot, Teresa Bader, Project Director, is being coordinated and supported by the Office of Instructional Technology, Mr. Mark Gura, Director. OIT, in collaboration with the participating districts, will provide guidance, instructional software and professional development to ensure successful integration into the teaching and learning experience.

Following is a list of participating schools with a website link to their respective 2000-2001 Annual School Report. Additional information on schools and the districts can be found on the New York Department of Education website.

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Alianza Dominicana partners with youth, families and public and private institutions to revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods. Technology is used to provide vocational training and technology education as well as offer children and adults online courses for ESL and GED.

Founded in 1987, Alianza’s mission is to assist children, youth and families break the cycle of poverty and fulfill their potential as members of the global community. In addition to open access to laptops for research, writing and Internet access, technology will be used to support activities of the Family Center. This program serves mainly children, youth and adults who are recent immigrants or first-generation U.S. citizens from the Dominican Republic. The Family Life Center also provides long-term relief services to more than 200 victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack through the Community Relief Station program. Many victims and families require vocational training and technology education.

The Amber Charter School is the first New York City charter school founded by the Community Association of Progressive Dominicans. The school is designed to reverse inner-city school failure and to educate leaders to participate fully in life in the commonweal. Technology integrated into instruction assists students with special needs, especially second-language learners.

Amber prepares students to meet New York State Learning Standards at high levels of achievement while becoming fluent in both English and Spanish. Serving upper Manhattan, Amber utilizes a “partial-immersion” model of language instruction. All children , both English- and Spanish-dominant, are immersed beginning in kindergarten 50 percent of the time in English language classes and 50 percent of the time in Spanish language classes. Amber currently serves 180 children in grades K-3. It will eventually serve students through grade 12 by adding a grade each year.

The Technology and Learning Center (TLC) at the Armory, established in 1999, is the largest community technology center in Washington Heights serving students and adults. TLC offers skills-based classes that enhance technical abilities and educational programs to assist individuals to integrate technology into their daily lives.

The 30 state-of-the-art laptop computers, software and servers received are used to assist in TLC’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and improve literacy by providing programs that address the needs of the community. Ongoing programs include the spaghetti book club, tech squads, reading readiness, and adult computer literacy class. Beyond school, access is available to community school district 6 for weekly staff development and everyday for individuals in the community. Programs use technology as a tool to motivate, inspire and challenge learners to develop critical reading, writing and job skills. By enlisting teachers, after-school educators and, most importantly, family members, we acknowledge the most important educators: teachers and families to address community literacy?truly a community approach.

The Armory, established in 1993, is a jewel in the Washington Heights, a diverse, largely Hispanic community. The transformation of the Armory from an underutilized military installation with an overcrowded homeless shelter to a fully functioning community center in fewer than 12 years represents unprecedented progress. More than $19 million has been raised to restore it to a multipurpose community center that today includes a world-class track and field facility, an active community technology and learning center, the National Track & Field Hall of Fame, a well-run after-school program, a clean and safe shelter for 200 homeless men, and office space for numerous community-based organizations.

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The Choir Academy of Harlem is a collaboration of the Boys Choir of Harlem, Inc. and the Girls Choir of Harlem, Inc. The School serves students in grades 4 through 12, offering an array of rigorous academic course and artistic choral programs. Wireless laptops are available for student and teacher use in both the library and classrooms for the teaching and learning experience, and to access rich content on the internet.

Wireless laptops will be available to support and enhance the library’s research capabilities providing mobility not currently available to students and teachers. Students will have the ability to engage in collaborative work in and outside the classroom and to conduct both text and Internet research throughout the library and surrounding classrooms. Laptops will also be available for use in the elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Teachers can plan and implement Internet-dependent lessons, and students will be afforded access to a level of technology commensurate with that of the state’s more richly funded suburban school districts.

The Convent Avenue Family Living Center is a transitional housing facility for homeless families sponsored by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Department of Homeless Services. Technology is used to create a computer technology program for homeless families. Children participate in programs to develop new learning and technical skills.

In December 1989, West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. acquired management of the Convent Avenue Family Living Center. In addition to managing two homeless sites, the organization offers a large array of services and programs to assist community and individuals, including Family Advocacy Integrated Resources, Mannie L. Wilson Towers Neighborhood New Approach Anti-Drug Program, Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Program, Neighborhood Homes Programs, Neighborhood Preservation Consultant Program and Neighborhood Redevelopment Program.

East Harlem Council for Community Improvement coordinates and delivers quality human services to residents of upper Manhattan. The agency serves children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Technology is used to provide training and build the skills of individuals with disabilities between the 8 and 21 years of age. Laptops will be used in the after-school education and recreational programs as well as a weekend respite program for children and families in the East Harlem community. Technology adaptations will be investigated to enhance education and training opportunities for clients.

The agency was founded in 1979 by concerned residents and community leaders of East Harlem to coordinate and deliver quality human services to the residents of Manhattan’s Community Planning Board #11. Since its inception, East Harlem Council for Community Improvement has evolved into one of New York City’s major social service providers, meeting the needs of thousands of individuals and families each year.

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Harlem Children's Zone, founded in 1970, is a nonprofit, community-based organization working to enhance the quality of life for children and families in some of New York City's most devastated neighborhoods. Harlem Children's Zone has 15 sites serving more than 10,000 children and adults, including more than 6,000 at-risk children located in low-income, hard to reach neighborhoods.

The Harlem Children's Zone has placed its wireless classroom system at TRUCE, the Renaissance University for Community Education, the media literacy and youth development program that serves 160 Central Harlem youth ages 13-21. The system supports publishing Harlem Overheard, a youth-produced newspaper; The Real Deal, a youth-produced cable TV show; Hot Works, a youth theater group; the Insight Center, an academic support program; and the College Prep program.

The agency’s emphasis is on education, social services and recreation as well as rebuilding the very fabric of community life. Harlem Children’s Zone has intentionally developed programs where other agencies are not located in order to improve the quality of life for its community. Harlem Children Zone’s was formerly known as the Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families.

As a partner in the New York City Pilot, the Harlem Children's Zone has placed its wireless classroom system at TRUCE, The Renaissance University for Community Education, the media literacy and youth development program that serves 160 Central Harlem youth ages 13-21. The system supports publishing Harlem Overheard, a youth-produced newspaper; The Real Deal, a youth-produced cable TV show; Hot Works, a youth theater group; the Insight Center, an academic support program; and the College Prep program.

Harlem Congregation of Community Involvement provides job training and referrals to area residents including programs targeted to in-school youth. The Career Development Center, a department within the agency provides workshops, computer skills, building maintenance, and customer service trainings as well as job placement assistance.

Participants learn to improve attitudinal, behavioral and communication skills, to set and accomplish goals, to become economically self-sufficient and to learn effective career search techniques. In addition, the Cisco Networking Training Program is offered to help prepare students obtain employment in maintaining the computer networks of local, national and global businesses. The program provides students an opportunity to obtain skills needed for a career in the 21st century.

The Harlem Partnership Center provides community access to Internet-connected computers. Organizations, families and children are trained on state-of-the-art technology using the latest software. A mobile laboratory for students and their parents in Community School Districts 4 and 5 is available offering a variety of Internet based programs, including literacy (spaghetti book club), math (cyber chase) and science (science quest).

Laptops are located in a private housing project in East Harlem with approximately 1000 families. The children served are in grades 4th to 8th. Parents also participate in the programs offered, thus linking the home, school and communication seamlessly. Harlem Partnership Center also provides community access to Internet-connected computes. Organizations, families and children are trained on state-of-the-art technology and the latest software. Small businesses are offered classes in research and market analysis over the Internet.

Established in 1995, the Center provides technology and business services to communities residing in upper Manhattan. The Center addresses a wide range of urban concerns, including economic development, information and technology education and training. In the past five years, HPC has evolved into a multi-service business consulting and technology solutions organization, serving more than 500 individual businesses.

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The Harriet Tubman Family Living Center is a 100-unit transitional facility providing temporary housing for homeless families displaced by fires, building condemnations, disasters or evictions. Families are housed in self-contained apartments. Technology is used to create a learning environment that will assist children and families to become computer literate and increase their educational skills.

In September 1987, West Harlem Group Assistance, Inc. opened the Harriet Tubman Family Living Center. West Harlem Group Assistance is a nonprofit agency working to re-create a community in which all responsible residents, community-based organizations and other stakeholders are mobilized and firmly committed to work together willingly and cooperatively to ensure Harlem is positioned to enter the 21st century as a safe, socially stable, healthy, economically sound, well-educated, informed, and politically strong community.

STRIVE (Supporting and Training Result in Valuable Employees) is a national organization focused on individual and community empowerment through employment. STRIVE/East Harlem Employment Services, Inc. was created in 1985 to assist individuals facing barriers to employment and financial independence. As a nationally recognized workforce development agency, STRIVE uses technology innovations in a variety of job readiness programs, including STRIVE YO!

YO! Harlem serves as a hub for youth development activities and programs which reinforce: Educational Achievement, Retention, and Reintroduction; Life Skill Attainment; Social Services; Financial Literacy; and Career Development. Serving 259 youth in its target population from July 2001 – June 2002 (ages 14-21), YO! Harlem sought to demonstrate that “there are no throw away” youth.

Almost one-third of all East Harlem youth are unemployed -- a rate more than three times greater than that of the city. Nearly 1.4 percent of young people aged 16 to 19 are either not in school, not high school graduates or not employed. While seemingly small, this percentage is more than twice that for New York City (0.6 percent) and more than three times that for Manhattan (0.4 percent). Older youth (18-21) who need full-time employment are directed to a core attitudinal training program. This intensive four-week training program emphasizes individual ownership of the skills and attitudes needed to obtain and retain employment. Clients learn to take directions, accept criticism, undertake group efforts, dress and speak appropriately for the workplace, conduct successful job searches with the guidance of job developers, and take advantage of our career advancement program once successfully employed.

The YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood is a nonprofit organization providing a host of youth programs serving predominantly students and families of Dominican descent. The facility is located in a 14-story residence with 100 apartments housing more than 140 seniors with very low-income levels. Laptops and access to the Internet is available to all residents.

There are five pre-school and kindergarten classes for normatively developed children, two of which are integrated with both special needs and normatively developed children. One is entirely dedicated to children with special needs. These groups have time allocated to use the computers with pre-school software learning programs.

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