Kalihi Community Technology Centers

With high levels of unemployment and its attendant poverty, crime, and low educational attainment, Kalihi Valley closely resembles a Federal Empowerment Zone. To improve these outcomes, Kalihi Community Technology Centers seek to bring technological access to all area residents. Major ethnic groups are Filipino, Samoan, Caucasian, and Hawaiian; 40% speak English as a second language.

First, we are creating/consolidating viable Centers “within walking distance” of all Kalihi residents. Our consortium of project collaborators includes schools, agencies, and non-profit organizations with strong commitment to improve access to quality technology education for their neighborhoods. Existing computer labs in six facilities have computers and other technology of variable quality, available during limited hours, and supported by staff with limited expertise or conflicting job demands. We are upgrading equipment and software, improving internet access, and (re)training personnel. We are also moving to ensure physical, sensory and linguistic accessibility.

Next, we are bringing expertise into the area from experienced professionals with proven resources. The consortium will focus the experience and resources to develop curricula and training for staff, establish on-going paid internships (Americorps, Vista), implement appropriate new software, and create organizational sustainability.

Our third emphasis is to unify and rationalize all the different efforts in Kalihi to provide open-access technology labs that teach computer and English literacy and work/employability skills. We are collaborating to minimize duplication of services, making referrals to each other’s facilities when appropriate. Many of the agencies in the consortium have been able to match needs and resources amongst themselves.

Finally, we are building capacity locally to sustain the viability of the Centers. Our mandate is to develop networking, to train local community partners, and to establish other self-sustaining resources, such as college credit opportunities, paid internships, agency budgets, saleable product development, and innovative legislation. We are producing self-guiding manuals, videos, webpages, and protocols for future trainers and coordinators. 

Principal Investigator: Peter Dowrick