Low-Income Communities: Technological Strategies for Nurturing, Community, Empowerment and Self- Sufficiency at a Low- Income Housing Development Richard.

Low-Income Low-Income Communities: Communities: Technological Technological Strategies for Strategies for

Nurturing, Community, Nurturing, Community, Empowerment and Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency at a Self-Sufficiency at a Low-Income Housing Low-Income Housing

DevelopmentDevelopment

Low-Income Low-Income Communities: Communities: Technological Technological Strategies for Strategies for

Nurturing, Community, Nurturing, Community, Empowerment and Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency at a Self-Sufficiency at a Low-Income Housing Low-Income Housing

DevelopmentDevelopmentRichard L. O’BryantRichard L. O’BryantDepartment of Urban Studies and PlanningDepartment of Urban Studies and Planning

Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of [email protected]@mit.edu http://web.mit.edu/obryant/www/ http://web.mit.edu/obryant/www/

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline Research ProblemResearch Problem Research Question (s)Research Question (s) HypothesisHypothesis Prior Research and Theory BasePrior Research and Theory Base Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community

Connections ProjectConnections Project Research MethodsResearch Methods FindingsFindings DiscussionDiscussion

ResearchResearchProblemProblem

Research ProblemResearch Problem Policies for assisting low-income Policies for assisting low-income

communities have moved from effecting communities have moved from effecting social change to understanding personal social change to understanding personal capacities of Low-income individuals and capacities of Low-income individuals and familiesfamilies

Isolation, dislocation and alienation of Low-Isolation, dislocation and alienation of Low-income individuals and families from income individuals and families from mainstreammainstream

Information based economy and how Low-Information based economy and how Low-income individuals and families participateincome individuals and families participate

Research Research QuestionQuestion

Research Question(s)Research Question(s) Can information technology and Can information technology and

Internet access play a role in building a Internet access play a role in building a sense of empowerment for low-income sense of empowerment for low-income residents to strengthen and build their residents to strengthen and build their community toward becoming more self-community toward becoming more self-sufficient?sufficient?

With a personal computer and Internet With a personal computer and Internet access does an increase occur in human access does an increase occur in human capital and social capital? capital and social capital?

Research Question(s)Research Question(s)

What is the nature of today’s low-income What is the nature of today’s low-income community challenges that makes the community challenges that makes the presence of personal computing presence of personal computing technology and Internet access so technology and Internet access so promising?promising?

Can realizing this promise be Can realizing this promise be accomplished by simply having public accomplished by simply having public access at local technology centers or is it access at local technology centers or is it necessary to have it in the home? necessary to have it in the home?

Research Question(s)Research Question(s)

What technology implementation paths What technology implementation paths have been suggested or tried to bridge have been suggested or tried to bridge the “digital divide” or assist in the “digital divide” or assist in community building and empowerment community building and empowerment efforts? efforts?

What are possible strategies for using What are possible strategies for using technology to strengthen families and technology to strengthen families and communities? communities?

HypothesisHypothesis

HypothesisHypothesis

Using community technology to Using community technology to support building Human Capital and support building Human Capital and Social Capital are necessary to build a Social Capital are necessary to build a sense of Empowerment and self-sense of Empowerment and self-sufficiencysufficiency

Prior Research Prior Research and and

Theory Base Theory Base

Prior ResearchPrior Research

Evolution of information technology Evolution of information technology and planningand planning

The Emergence of Community The Emergence of Community TechnologyTechnology

Federal Efforts to Assist Low-income Federal Efforts to Assist Low-income CommunitiesCommunities

Information Technology and Information Technology and PlanningPlanning

1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s

OperationalTasks

ManagementNeeds

ExecutiveDecision Making

CollectiveDesign

Evolving Concerns of Planningand Information Technology - Klosterman, 1997

Community Community MeetingsMeetings

Individual Individual Plan ReviewPlan Review

Human Human ProxiesProxies

Letter and Letter and Newspaper-Newspaper-

based based discoursediscourse

Same Time Different Time

Same Place

Different Place

Collaborative Collaborative Planning Planning SystemsSystems

Media-Media-assistedassisted

ReviewReview

Community Community GISGIS

Cable TV Cable TV access video access video conferencingconferencing

E-Mail ListsE-Mail Lists

Internet Internet Discussion Discussion

GroupsGroupsSame Time Different Time

Same Place

Different Place

Advances in inform

ation

technologies

ImplementationImplementationEnvironment of Environment of Public DiscoursePublic Discourse

Managing PublicDiscourse – Shiffer, 1997

Information Technology and Information Technology and PlanningPlanning

The real potential for capitalizing on IT The real potential for capitalizing on IT is in shaping the planning processesis in shaping the planning processes

To capitalize on IT it is crucial to To capitalize on IT it is crucial to improve local governance through improve local governance through reduced bureaucracy and devolution of reduced bureaucracy and devolution of authorityauthority

Give the local communities control over Give the local communities control over information about themselves making it information about themselves making it less necessary to deal with downtownless necessary to deal with downtown

Information Technologies that change Relationships between Low-income Communities and the Public and Nonprofit Agencies that serve them – Ferreira, 1999

Community TechnologyCommunity Technology

Individual, Family and/or Community

CommunityContent

CommunityContent

Community Technology

Centers

Community Technology

Centers

CommunityNetworks

CommunityNetworks

Using technology to support and meet the goals of a community - Beamish, 1999

Using technology to support and meet the goals of a community - Beamish, 1999

CommunityContent

CommunityContent

CommunityTechnology

Centers

CommunityTechnology

Centers

CommunityNetworks

CommunityNetworks

Relevant Information and data Latent vs. Evident Personal vs. Social

Publicly accessible technology (digital divide) Technical vs. Social Quantity vs. Quality

Technology augmenting existing social networks Online communities (public vs. private) More relevant with community content and centers

Federal Efforts to Assist Low-Federal Efforts to Assist Low-income Communitiesincome Communities

Historical Patterns in Federal Policy: Continuity Historical Patterns in Federal Policy: Continuity amidst changeamidst change

Foundations of Federal Policy: The New Deal and Foundations of Federal Policy: The New Deal and BeyondBeyond

From Slumless Cities to Area Redevelopment: Aid to From Slumless Cities to Area Redevelopment: Aid to Communities in Postwar ProsperityCommunities in Postwar Prosperity

Community Action, Model Cities, and the Special Community Action, Model Cities, and the Special Impact ProgramImpact Program

The Roots of Retreat: Community Policy in the The Roots of Retreat: Community Policy in the 1970’s1970’s

The end of the New Deal EraThe end of the New Deal Era Revising the Past: Clinton’s Community PolicyRevising the Past: Clinton’s Community Policy Creating a New Policy EnvironmentCreating a New Policy Environment

Swimming against the Tide: A Brief History of FederalPolicy in Poor Communities – O’Connor, 1998

Prior Research and Theory Prior Research and Theory BaseBase

Human Human CapitalCapital

Social Social CapitalCapital

EmpowermeEmpowermentnt

Skill development Skill development for confidence and for confidence and

sense of ability sense of ability

Using IT extends Using IT extends concept beyond concept beyond

individualindividual

Self-Self-SufficiencySufficiency

Repeatable skills Repeatable skills and abilities for and abilities for sustainabilitysustainability

Support systems Support systems and networks for and networks for resource sharingresource sharingFramework Relationship TableFramework Relationship Table

Analytical Framework

ConceptualFramework

Human CapitalHuman Capital

KnowledgeKnowledge: : Command of a body of facts SkillSkill: : Facility, developed through practice,

with the means to carry out a task TalentTalent: : inborn facility for performing a task BehaviorBehavior: : observable ways of acting that

contribute to accomplishing a task

Human Capital Metaphor: What’s in a name? – Davenport, 2001

Social CapitalSocial Capital

Social Capital

Knowledge

Talent Activism

Skill

Social capital connecting Human Capital containers

Social Contact: Social Contact: frequency of social contact with friends, relatives, and workmates. Civic Engagement: Civic Engagement: Participation in voluntary organizations and political activism Sense of Community: Sense of Community: strong attitude toward community – a motivated and responsible sense of belonging

Capitalizing on the Internet Social Contact, Civic Engagement, and Sense of Community – Haase, Wellman, Witte, Hampton, 2002

Empowerment ModelEmpowerment Model

Individual Empowerment

Organizational Empowerment

Community Empowerment

Individual Empowerment

1. – Sense of Control

2. – Critical Awareness

3. – Participatory Behavior

Empowerment Theory: Psychological, Organizational and Community Levels of Analysis –Zimmerman,1999

Self-SufficiencySelf-Sufficiency

Healthy Healthy Community Community

ElementsElements

Income/ Income/ AssetsAssets

Education/Education/SkillsSkills

Housing/ Housing/ FoodFood

Safety/ Safety/ EnvironmentEnvironment

Human Human ServicesServices

RelationshipsRelationships Personal Personal AttributesAttributes

Strong/StableStrong/Stable+2+2

+1+1

-1-1

-2-2High RiskHigh Risk

LONG-TERM SELF-SUFFICIENCY: A Practice-Based Anti-Poverty Analysis – Asian Neighborhood Design Network, 1996

Camfield Camfield Estates-MIT Estates-MIT

Creating Creating Community Community Connections Connections

ProjectProject

Project SiteProject SiteProject SiteProject Site

Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MACamfield Estates, Roxbury, MA Member of Demonstration DispositionMember of Demonstration Disposition Predominantly African-American (75%)Predominantly African-American (75%) 102 units and 400 residents102 units and 400 residents All residents classified as “low income” All residents classified as “low income”

according to HUD’s guidelinesaccording to HUD’s guidelines Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC)

on the premiseson the premises

Camfield Estates, Roxbury, MACamfield Estates, Roxbury, MA Member of Demonstration DispositionMember of Demonstration Disposition Predominantly African-American (75%)Predominantly African-American (75%) 102 units and 400 residents102 units and 400 residents All residents classified as “low income” All residents classified as “low income”

according to HUD’s guidelinesaccording to HUD’s guidelines Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC) Neighborhood Technology Center (NTC)

on the premiseson the premises

Research ProjectResearch Project Goal to use information technology and Goal to use information technology and

Internet access to empower residents Internet access to empower residents to make informed decisions about to make informed decisions about issues and events that affect their lives issues and events that affect their lives

Personal computer (HP), two years of Personal computer (HP), two years of cable modem Internet access (RCN), cable modem Internet access (RCN), 8-week training (Williams Consulting), 8-week training (Williams Consulting), Microsoft Office ProfessionalMicrosoft Office Professional

Research Research MethodsMethods

Research MethodsResearch Methods

PHASE I: PHASE I: Pre-Survey and Understanding PHASE II: PHASE II: Community Technology -

Introductory/Specialized Courses and the Creating Community Connections (C3) System

PHASE III: PHASE III: Building Community, Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency

PHASE IV: PHASE IV: Post-Survey and Analysis

Phase IPhase I

Relationship building and Relationship building and acculturationacculturation

Survey instrument development Survey instrument development (community interests and satisfaction, social networks (strong and weak ties), neighboring, awareness of community resources, community satisfaction, community involvement, empowerment, self-sufficiency, computer experience, hobbies, interests and information needs, assets and income, and demographics)

Outreach and recruitmentOutreach and recruitment COUHES Review Board ApprovalCOUHES Review Board Approval

Phase IIPhase II Creating Community Connections (C3) System - Creating Community Connections (C3) System -

ArsDigita Community System (ACS), open-source software platform comprised of TCL (scripting language), AOL Server (web server), and Oracle Enterprise Server (database) running on Redhat Linux (operating system) (Creating Community Connections - Pinkett, 2002)

Hewlett-Packard Brio BA400 Minitower Hewlett-Packard Brio BA400 Minitower computers computers

( specifications: Intel Celeron 500 MHz processor, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB

HD, 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC), Windows 2000,

and a HP 71 17” color monitor )

C3 System

GIS Component

ARC Ims

Linux Machine

IPlanet

Windows NT

AOL 3.0 Oracle

Connection of C3 System Located at MIT

Internet

Internet

CoaxialConnectiondownload 10 Mbs and 2Mbs upstream Computer and Internet

connection in the home at Camfield

Phase IIPhase II 8 Week Basic Training8 Week Basic Training

Specialized On-line trainingSpecialized On-line training ( educational services, financial services, shopping and retail services, government services and housing services )

C3 System Training C3 System Training ( news and announcements, organization and business database, geographic information system (GIS) maps, job and volunteer opportunity postings, surveys and polls, online résumés, personalized web portals, and site-wide search capabilities ) ( Creating Community Connections - Pinkett, 2002)

Phase IIIPhase III

Develop Asset BaseDevelop Asset Base Personal Profiles Community Resources

Mapping ResourcesMapping Resources ( 757 businesses, 178 organizations, 67 churches, and 29 schools )

Phase IVPhase IV

Post Survey Post Survey ( Training experience, General & Local Computer and Internet Use, Empowerment & Technology Use )

Data Analysis Quantitative (Human capital, social capital,

community involvement, empowerment, and self-sufficiency)

Qualitative (one-on-one semi-structured and open ended interviews, direct observations)

ResultsResults

Intellectual InfrastructureIntellectual Infrastructure Connectedness to Camfield boardConnectedness to Camfield board Expanded Local TiesExpanded Local Ties Heightened Awareness of Community Heightened Awareness of Community

ResourcesResources Renewed Confidence and Willingness to LearnRenewed Confidence and Willingness to Learn Staying Informed Locally, Nationally and Staying Informed Locally, Nationally and

InternationallyInternationally Addressing Basic NeedsAddressing Basic Needs

Low-Income Low-Income Communities: Communities: Technological Technological Strategies for Strategies for

Nurturing, Community, Nurturing, Community, Empowerment and Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency at a Self-Sufficiency at a Low-Income Housing Low-Income Housing

DevelopmentDevelopment

Low-Income Low-Income Communities: Communities: Technological Technological Strategies for Strategies for

Nurturing, Community, Nurturing, Community, Empowerment and Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency at a Self-Sufficiency at a Low-Income Housing Low-Income Housing

DevelopmentDevelopmentRichard L. O’BryantRichard L. O’BryantDepartment of Urban Studies and PlanningDepartment of Urban Studies and Planning

Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of [email protected]@mit.edu http://web.mit.edu/obryant/www/ http://web.mit.edu/obryant/www/