Services

Ongoing Programs and Services

The Ohio Community Computing Network provides its CTC affiliate members ongoing support the OCCN Annual Conference, the distribution of potential grant resources via the OCCN listserv and website, the OCCN VISTA Program, and connections to other programs.

Eighty individuals participated in the 2004 OCCN Annual Conference, representing 58 organizations from around Ohio. OCCN Conferences focus on resources the CTCs can utilize, networking between the CTCs and discussion of programmatic ideas.

In addition, OCCN administers its AmeriCorps*VISTA program, funded by the Corporation for National Service (a federal agency). OCCN coordinates the placement and training of 20 VISTAs in Ohio CTCs. VISTAs are Volunteers in Service to America, often referred to as the domestic Peace Corps. OCCN VISTAs strengthen and expand current community technology centers or help create new community technology centers. The VISTAs do so by expanding open access programs, strengthening the organizational structure of the centers, researching additional resources for the centers, creating resources (such as web pages or databases), creating or expanding training programs, and recruiting volunteers and users. Most of the VISTAs’ activities involve developing resources to help sustain the centers.

Advocacy and public policy are current priorities for OCCN. Digital Divide Working Group.

OCCN has also developed VISTA project to workplan training and social enterprising training.

OCCN extends its gratitude to all its partners throughout the years that have facilitated bringing these services to the community. As OCCN continues to accommodate the changing, diverse needs of Ohio’s Community Technology Centers, you can expect new exciting programs and services in the next decade to come.