"building the capacity of public media and technology organizations"
I have something to show for my time with the Transmission Project so far. Today I published an article on past Corps members' experiences working with Salesforce databases. I would like to thank Billy especially for creating the graphics and prepping the document for PDF format.
So it begins again.
My VISTA position here at Chicago Access Network Television (www.cantv.org) is actually my second year as a VISTA? Why did I sign up again? Did I just enjoy living in poverty THAT much? Let's just say that the combination of public service and media work was just too tempting for me to resist.
Comment from Bill Brown on August 4, 2010 - 2:21pm
Welcome Mike! You worked at a place called the Volunteer Center for your first VISTA year? Where was it and what did you do? Did you know about the DASCorps last year?
Comment from Michael Ewing on August 4, 2010 - 4:32pm
Hey Bill-
Last year I worked at The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago (or TVC, in abbreviation-speak)as a VISTA. As you may have guessed, TVC is a non-profit located in Chicago's northwest suburbs, with a service area that encompasses some 53 communities in the region. My job as a VISTA and "Communications and Outreach Coordinator" (a title I invented myself) was to help develop TVC's marketing and communications activities. As a small non-profit, they had no marketing to speak of, so I spent my time doing everything from developing their social media and redesigning their website to leading the production of a print insert in the local newspaper and press releases. Let's just say I was a little bit busy last year.
I found out about DASCorps through one of my late-night job searches through Google. Google really is the go-to for all the best things in life. I was really impressed to learn about DASCorps, especially since I'd been thinking of starting a similar organization myself. When I saw the position here at CAN TV, right in my backyard, I couldn't resist.
Comment from Bill Brown on August 5, 2010 - 10:32am
Cool - it sounds like you were doing some DASCorps-like projects last year as well. Well, I'm excited to hear how your year develops - and I'll try to connect you with other DASCorps members that might be working on the same type of projects as you.
Comment from Ben Sheldon on September 2, 2010 - 11:03am
Hi Michael, I hope your first month with the Digital Arts Service Corps was better than your first month without us :-) I hope we're able to share our knowledge and community with you and better support you in your second year of service. Also, if you're interested in nerding out, I have some friends who run a community computer recycling program and they are always looking for volunteers: http://freegeekchicago.org
In late October, I flew out to San Jose to attend the MuniWireless '07 Silicon Valley conference. As a VISTA I run a project that provides free wireless Internet access to low-income residents of subsidized housing in Boston's South End neighborhood.
Comment from Morgan Sully on November 7, 2007 - 10:20pm
Hey Gabriel,
Morgan here from NAMAC. this is a great write up of your experiences at the MuniWireless conference. Do you have any pictures to accompany your post? are there any links to some of the reports you mention?
When I was a VISTA the San Diego community technology coalition, I compiled some reports on the digital divide and municipal broadband.
You can view the reports here: http://del.icio.us/sdctc
In the meantime, would you be interested in submitting your field report to either NAMAC or the next VISTA newsletter (or both)?
I think some accompanying pictures could be helpful for illustrating a bit of what you're talking about too.
Comment from Gabriel Fishman on November 7, 2007 - 11:07pm
Thanks for the compliment.
I'd be happy to submit it to either NAMAC or CTC VISTA, or both, whichever you think is appropriate. I didn't take any photos at the conference, but I'm sure that I can find appropriate pictures or graphics to illustrate. I didn't really know how to footnote the blog post, so I didn't bother, but I can definitely do that for publication.
Just let me know what the process and the deadline is.
The 3rd week had more updating for the www.4people.org website. I completed updating the county listings for Eastern Washington and started on the county listings for Western Washington (Clark, Clallam, Grays Harbor got done -- started on Island county on Friday).
It is Friday afternoon, and I am about to conclude my first *official* week as a CTC*VISTA at Cambridge Community Television. To sum it up: I feel like I have been given the key to a secret door that leads to the land of 21st-century innovation.
Comment from Morgan Sully on July 13, 2007 - 11:44pm
Hey Julie,
that's awesome to hear and read. Starting a VISTA year is always exciting. I'm doing it a second time and really loving it. I was just asked to join a virtual community of media policy reformists all working towards democratizing media structures to the best of their ability using the power of networks. Very cool for my first week of work.
In going through their database, NAMAC realized that CCTV is NOT a member. Surely I would have though y'all were!
We're kind of an 'organization of organizations' and throughout the next year I'll be looking out for 'stories from the field' of independent media practitioners and indy media centers. I look very forward to hearing more about your work with CCTV.
sweet,
m
Hey Everybody,
This is my first Field Report. I have to give one of these every two week--biweekly, it's called--so I'll try to make them bastions of quality information for the masses. See you in two weeks.
Yours,
Karl
The Intel Computer Clubhouse conference is a time for Clubhouse Coordinators, Assistants, Executive Directors, and Staff within the network to reconnect and be inspired within their perspective clubhouses. This year the windy city was honored to host the Annual Intel Computer Clubhouse Conference from April 23-27, 2007 at the Orrington Hotel in Evanston.
In March of 2006, the Intel Computer Clubhouse Annual Conference was held in Mexico City, Mexico. I had been involved with WYTEC Clubhouse in Chicago for about 6 months during that time and was still familiarizing myself with the technoloy as well as the learning model of the clubhouse. Last year's conference exposed me to new people and creative ideas to implement at my clubhouse, from Flash animation ideas to using a Green Screen in digital photography and video.
Comment from danielle martin on April 18, 2007 - 12:33pm
I'm coming to Chicago, ready or not!
-Danielle
In March of 2006, the Intel Computer Clubhouse Annual Conference was held in Mexico City, Mexico. I had been involved with WYTEC Clubhouse in Chicago for about 6 months during that time and was still familiarizing myself with the technoloy as well as the learning model of the clubhouse. Last year's conference exposed me to new people and creative ideas to implement at my clubhouse, from Flash animation ideas to using a Green Screen in digital photography and video.
Comment from David Beaton on August 24, 2010 - 8:06pm
What is the link to the article?
Comment from Howard Fisher on August 25, 2010 - 10:22am
Sorry about that, Dave. I've added the document as an attachment for your convenience.
Comment from Philip Dahl on August 25, 2010 - 6:56pm
Woot! that's the same reason I like the field reports. So i can learn things that other people learn through their real life experiences. Nice post Ward, keep em coming! You still have to post the old ads for DAS Corps! :-P