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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
11.03.2005 ET
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Native American Family Technology Journey Seeks to Preserve Heritage Through Innovation and Encourage Internet Access Today
(CSRwire) ARMONK, NY - While technology is hailed by many for its potential to
advance today's society, Native Americans are encouraged by the promise it
holds to help sustain languages and cultures several centuries old. The
2005 Native American Family Technology Journey (The Journey), launching on
November 1, will offer Native People across the United States a chance to
explore what technology and innovation can mean for their families as they
embrace the full potential of the Internet.
A study released by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, titled Falling Through The
Net: Defining The Digital Divide, found that Native Americans "are not
able to access the important information resources via computers and on
the Internet that are quickly becoming essential for success."
"With studies indicating that access to computers among many Native
American households lags behind the national average by 15% and access to
the Internet by roughly 19%, it's clear that more has to be done to make
Native American families aware of the advantages and opportunities that
are associated with bringing technology into their lives," said Terry
Braun (Seneca Hawk), Director, Americas Solution Design Center, IBM Global
Services and Native American Family Technology Journey national co-chair.
"The Journey is providing American Indian families with an opportunity to
not just hear about technology, but also to experience it. I've seen
children delight in constructing bridges out of steel on a computer, and
adults marvel at how easily they can access information on the Internet.
Technology can make a tremendous difference in the Native community. As we
reach these young people, IBM is hoping to inspire them to not only learn
about the benefits of technology but to also consider careers in
technology," Braun finished.
"We are truly honored to work with IBM and Career Communications Group on
The Journey," said Marcella Perrano, a member of the Ramapough-Lenape'
nation and director of Title VII Indian Education. "We are very excited
and believe that the events comprising this national initiative will
provide a fun-filled learning experience for all of the participants. Our
goal is to increase technical education and computer literacy among Native
American Families, by assisting them in incorporating science and
technology into their daily lives. With this in mind, it is our hope that
these events will encourage our Native American students to pursue
university degrees in science, technology and/or business."
Sponsored by IBM and Career Communications Group (CCG), The Journey will
play host to computer and Internet workshops, educational and career
seminars, and interactive demonstrations, which will provide Native
Americans residing in urban centers, rural areas and on tribal lands
technology access and training.
The Journey will also establish a forum in which Native people can learn
more about technology's potential to help pass the languages, stories and
customs that distinguish their tribes from one generation to another.
IBM, for example, is partnering with the Indigenous Language Institute to
establish a Language Materials Development Center that will assist various
tribes in preserving, teaching and sharing their language.
The company has also developed the Native Keyboard Input Method Editor,
which allows a user to switch from English to another language with a
simple "hotkey" or command. In addition, IBM is partnering with the
Abenaki Tribe in Swanton, Vermont to offer Native American families
classes covering basic to intermediate computer skills, including Windows,
the Internet, web page creation and using business productivity software.
The classes will take place in the computer lab IBM gifted to the
community.
At least 15 events will be held during the month of November, in cities
ranging from Tucson, Arizona to Nenana, Alaska. To learn more about the
Native American Family Technology Journey, please visit www.nativeamericanfamilynet.net
or call (410) 244-7101.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years
of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from
across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services,
solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take
full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about
IBM, visit www.ibm.com
About CCG
Career Communications Group, Inc. (CCG) is a minority-owned media services
company, headquartered in Baltimore, MD. The company was founded 20 years
ago to promote significant minority achievements in engineering, science
and technology. For more information about CCG, visit www.ccgmag.com.
NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY TECHNOLOGY JOURNEY EVENT FACT
SHEET
Among the activities scheduled to take place during The Journey are:
November 1st and 2nd: Dallas, Texas. Computer workshops for
dozens of adults and children will be held at the Urban Intertribal Center
in Dallas. Beginner and intermediate-level computer classes will provide
tips for navigating the Internet, accessing on-line forms for college
applications, grants and scholarships, and attaching and forwarding
resumes, biographical profiles, etc. Hands-on Lego robotics activities
will show children that math and science can be fun. Urban Intertribal
Center of Texas, 6-8 p.m., 209 E. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas, TX, (972)
263-0313
November 14-15th: Tucson, Arizona. A two-day technology event
for students from the Navajo Preparatory Academy will take place at the
IBM facility in Tucson. The students will form teams to participate in a
variety of technology related projects and demonstrations, and they will
also tour the facilities and have an opportunity to speak with IBM Master
Inventors and engineers about careers in technology. Marriott
University Park Hotel, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., 880 E. Second Street, Tucson, AZ,
85719, (520) 792-4100
November 17th: Boulder, Colorado. An "Evening of Technology"
will be hosted by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA),
National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Boulder Valley School
District and IBM employee volunteers. Dozens of Native Americans living in
the Boulder area will take part in the program. Students will participate
in technology demonstrations and a NOAA "Science on a Sphere" tour where
they will see a huge globe of the earth studying its elements and how it
has changed over billions of years. National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration, 5-9 p.m., 325 South Broadway, Boulder, CO, (303)
497-6000.
November 18th: Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, North
Carolina. Eighth graders from the Cherokee Middle School will take a
North Carolina Museum of History tour and will participate in activities
such as the "Who Wants to be an Engineer" game, a tour of the IBM Retail
Store Solutions Lab and a tour of the IBM Executive Briefing Center. IBM
Research Triangle Park, 10 a.m. -3 p.m., Employee Activity and Fitness
Center, 3039 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 (919)
486-1648
November 19th: Tri-State Area. A technology workshop for more
than 200 Native Americans will be hosted by the Ramapough-Lenape' Nation
and IBM in conjunction with the Indian Education Services of Mahwah and
Ringwood, New Jersey, American Indian Community House, and Nitchen, an
organization that provides health, training and educational services to
American Indian families in the Tri-State area. Children participating in
the program will collaborate on programming a LEGO robot and creating
technology presentations while parents and other guests attend a seminar
highlighting the educational, career and other opportunities that can be
leveraged by building technological skills. Ramapough-Lenape' Tribal
Council, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 189 Stag Hill Road, Mahwah, NJ, (201)
529-1171.
THE JOURNEY -- OTHER FACTS AT A GLANCE
Native American Family Technology Journey 2005 (The Journey), is a
national public awareness program, launching November 1st, that will
encourage Native People to consider the advantages and opportunities made
possible by bringing computer technology into their daily lives.
The Native American population in the United States is approximately
4.4 million. There are 562 federally recognized tribes in the U.S.,
including 225 village groups in Alaska.
A study released by the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce found that Native Americans
rank far below the national average in their access to telephones,
computers and the Internet. At 76.4%, telephone penetration for rural
Native American households is about 18% lower than the national average.
The study also says that access to computers among rural Native
American households at 26.8% lags behind the national average by more than
15%. Internet access among Native Americans overall also trails the
national average.
In an online information guide entitled Digital Divide Frequently
Asked Questions, the Rural Assistance Center, a product of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services' Rural Initiative, says that
programs that promote or create expanded access to the Internet could
"enable tribes to enhance their workforce development, economic
development and social service delivery efforts. Internet access would
allow workers on reservations to receive job training and job referrals
via online access, increasing their ability to compete for better jobs.
Human services often located in distant locations would be more readily
available to families on the reservation through online access."
Established in 2004 by IBM and Career Communications Group, The
Journey is designed to assist native people in weaving today's computer
technology with their traditions in a way that will enable them to take
advantage of the educational, career and other opportunities that can be
leveraged by building technological skills.
In its inaugural year, The Journey co-hosted activities in several
cities and towns across the U.S., including: a technology workshop for
Native American families at the Smithsonian National Museum of the
American Indian in New York City; robotics exercises and technology
presentations by middle school girls visiting the University of North
Carolina Pembroke and a technology fair at the Tohono O'odham Community
College in Sells, AZ, provided technology training and access for
thousands of Native Americans.
According to The National Department of Education, National Center
for Statistics nearly 90% of Native American schools and libraries have
computers connected to the Internet.
26,000 Native Americans, ranging in age from 17 to 70, are enrolled
in 34 tribal colleges.
Over 90% of tribal college graduates become employed or seek a higher
degree.
Approximately 5% of minorities enrolled in engineering school are
Native American.
Of the 3.4 million scientists and engineers who were employed in the
traditional science and engineering occupations in 1999, only about 10,000
or .03% were Native Americans.
The high school dropout rate for Native Americans both on and off
reservations is 30% or twice the national average.
Median income in 1999 for a Native American family was $30,800.
In 2004, Native Americans controlled roughly $48 billion a year in
disposable income.
There are approximately 200,000 Native American businesses in the
United States, generating $34.3 billion in revenue.
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