CMAP gets stimulus funds to train SBC students

Community Media Access Partnership announced today that it will
receive federal stimulus funding through a partnership with
ZeroDivide, according to a statement from CMAP.
Community Media Access Partnership announced today that it will receive federal stimulus funding through a partnership with ZeroDivide, according to a statement from CMAP.

ZeroDivide was awarded $1.38 million by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration to create a new generation of youth technology users within underserved communities in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington states, according to CMAP’s statement.

CMAP will develop a youth media and technology program enabling San Benito County youths to become skilled media creators and consumers, and increase civic involvement and communitywide adoption of new media tools.

CMAP will partner with the Hollister Youth Alliance, the San Benito County Free Library, the Community Foundation, Si Se Puede Community Center, and other local nonprofit organizations to engage youths and the community in this new program.

ZeroDivide, a public foundation that supports technology adoption and capacity building in underserved communities, received the $1,384,242 in funding through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, according to the announcement.  

The “Generation ZD Digital Literacy Program” targets low-income, minority, disabled, and otherwise underserved youths between the ages of 5 and 25 who have limited or no access to digital and information technology in the home. These young people will be served through a three-prong approach of a digital literacy skills curriculum; an online content creation and distribution program; and capacity building and sustainability efforts at community anchor institutions within each participant state.

“Our increasingly complex and technology-driven world exacerbates the social and economic inequalities that affect underserved young people,” said Tessie Guillermo, President and CEO of ZeroDivide, in the statement. “Access issues like cost and lack of relevant content combine with social issues such as race and cultural incompetence to create huge barriers to broadband adoption. We are proud that the Federal Government has chosen ZeroDivide as a partner in lifting these barriers and opening up opportunity to the young people who are in greatest need.”

Working in partnership with seven community anchor institutions across six Western states, ZeroDivide will train new broadband users, build replicable best practices digital media curricula, and provide technical assistance and capacity-building support.

Kathy Bisbee, executive director of CMAP, was thrilled to get the news.

“We are extremely excited to partner with ZeroDivide and bring this program to underserved youth in San Benito County,” she said in the statement. “We look forward to working with our community partners on this program to bridge the digital divide, and provide media and technology training in San Benito County.”

Bisbee mentioned in the statement that support from U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel; Congressman Mike Honda, D-Campbell; and Assemblymember Bill Monning, D-Monterey, was “critical in bringing stimulus funding to San Benito County.” All of those politicians are up for reelection in November.

The youth to be served reside in Humboldt and San Benito counties; Maui County, Haw.; City of Santa Fe, N.M.; Multnomah and Washington counties, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and King, Snohomish, Skagit Island, and Pierce counties, Wash.