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The ABCD's of Internet Knowledge

In 2001 Access LaPorte County was granted $37,000.00 from the Michigan City Enrichment Corporation. This grant is for a project called "The ABCD's of Internet Knowledge". We are currently seeking additional funding to complete our goal of $85,500.00 needed.

The ABCD's (A Better Community by Developing citizens’) of Michigan City with Internet knowledge will focus on the senior citizen population with an increased participation of Hispanic, and African-American adults. The ABCD Program is designed to provide the constituencies with a greater opportunity to access community and educational resources by developing Internet knowledge that focus on three key areas of understanding. Accessing the educational resources found at emichigancity.com, the Michigan City Enrichment Corp site, or alco.org would be one example.

The Census 2000 data indicates that senior citizens, Hispanic, and African-Americans, are traditionally in the lower end of the economic scale thereby limiting their ability to access Internet resources, limiting their workforce and community involvement. The first key area recognizes those who want to start exploring but are fearful of cultural, economic, and social barriers. They will find that they can start building confidence with something as simple as accessing a library card catalog online. The second key recognizes users who are confident but want hands-on practice with one-on-one training. Finally, the third key recognizes the more advanced user who wants to help others in building nonprofit and community project web sites. The ABCD project embodies the spirit of Michigan City which serves as the educational lighthouse, lighting the way to bridge the digital divide.

Some of our goals will be accomplished through educational programs and hands-on workshops using tools already in place in Michigan City. ALCo will be adding an interactive portion to our already site which will allow users to log on and begin building their own web site - and with the help of instructors and online tutorials, they will learn the basics of the web and build a web presence at the same time.