Building Community Through Technology:Early Results from the Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project

March 22, 2002

Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D.BCT Partners, Inc.

Urban Affairs Association32nd Annual Meeting

AgendaAgenda

I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context

II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results

III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations

AgendaAgenda

I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context

II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results

III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations

Project ContextProject Context Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Camfield Estates-MIT Creating

Community Connections ProjectCommunity Connections ProjectINFRASTRUCTURE:INFRASTRUCTURE: - State-of-the-art computers & software- State-of-the-art computers & software - High-speed Internet- High-speed Internet - Comprehensive training- Comprehensive training - Neighborhood technology center- Neighborhood technology center - Web-based community building system- Web-based community building system

AgendaAgenda

I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context

II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results

III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations

Research Methods (Mixed)Research Methods (Mixed) Quantitative DataQuantitative Data

– Survey via Interviews (i.e. multiple-choice) Survey via Interviews (i.e. multiple-choice) – Web Server LogsWeb Server Logs– Proxy Server LogsProxy Server Logs

Qualitative DataQualitative Data– Survey via Interviews (i.e. open-ended)Survey via Interviews (i.e. open-ended)– Direct ObservationDirect Observation– Case StudiesCase Studies

DemographicsDemographics Heads-of-household Heads-of-household

from 26 familiesfrom 26 families 68% African-68% African-

AmericanAmerican 84% female84% female 21% high school 21% high school

diploma/GED and diploma/GED and 21% 4-year degree 21% 4-year degree or moreor more

74% parents74% parents 53% single and 53% single and

26% married26% married 63% below 63% below

$30,000 annual $30,000 annual income income

Early ResultsEarly Results Reinforced and expanded local tiesReinforced and expanded local ties Heightened awareness of community Heightened awareness of community

resourcesresources Improved communication and Improved communication and

information flowinformation flow Positive shift in participants’ Positive shift in participants’

attitudes and perceptions of attitudes and perceptions of themselves as learnersthemselves as learners

Question 2000 2001 t pResidents recognized by name 29.7 39.5 -1.108 0.283Residents talked to on a regular basis 10.2 9.2 0.604 0.553Residents invited into your home 4.4 4.5 -0.043 0.966Residents invited into their home 3.4 4.2 -0.790 0.440Residents telephoned 2.4 4.6 -1.542 0.141Residents e-mailed 1.3 3.0 -1.978* 0.063

* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05)

Reinforced and Expanded Local Reinforced and Expanded Local TiesTies

Social Network DataSocial Network Data

N=26

Resource 2000 2001 t p

Skills and abilities of other residents atCamfield Estates 11% 32% 3.284* 0.004*

Associations and organizations thatserve the community 26% 58% 1.278 0.217

Volunteer opportunities in thecommunity 0% 42% 3.684* 0.002*

Institutions located in the community(e.g., schools) 74% 84% 0.809 0.429

Social services and programs providedfor the community 26% 63% 3.240* 0.005*

Community projects, activities, andevents 11% 58% 4.371* 0.000*

Businesses located in the community 53% 63% 0.224 0.826Products and services sold by localbusinesses 32% 32% 0.357 0.725

Employment opportunities in thecommunity 5% 37% 1.924 0.070

*Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05)

Heightened Awareness of Community Heightened Awareness of Community ResourcesResources

“Very Well Informed” and “Well Informed”“Very Well Informed” and “Well Informed”

* Denotes statistical significance (|t| > 1.96 ; p < 0.05) N=26

Improved Communication and Information Improved Communication and Information FlowFlow

Web Server LogsWeb Server Logs

Improved Communication and Information Improved Communication and Information FlowFlow

Proxy Server LogsProxy Server Logs

Rank Domain Rank Domain1. blackplanet.com 11. musicmatch.com2. yahoo.com 12. nick.com3. msn.com 13. wwf.com4. launch.com 14. gohip.com5. espanol.yahoo.com 15. peoplelink.com6. camfieldestates.net 16. shockwave.com7. oneplace.com 17. uproar.com8. boston.com 18. microsoft.com9. aol.com 19. simmons.edu10. collegeclub.com 20. nbci.com

Shift in Perception and Shift in Perception and AttitudeAttitude

Qualitative ResponsesQualitative Responses

“[The project] has changed my life in more ways than one. A good example of this is that I found enough courage to teach myself HTML. Had I not had this opportunity, I might still be looking to muster up the courage. I know that technology is key to the future and I know that I could personally do anything with it that I put my mind to.”

- Participant C33

AgendaAgenda

I.I. Background and ContextBackground and Context

II.II. Early ResultsEarly Results

III.III. Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations

Challenges and Challenges and OpportunitiesOpportunities

Coordinating multiple, interrelated Coordinating multiple, interrelated activitiesactivities

Developing a “curriculum” that Developing a “curriculum” that supports community-defined supports community-defined outcomesoutcomes

Conducting assessment and Conducting assessment and evaluationevaluation

Sustaining the initiativeSustaining the initiative

Lessons Learned and Lessons Learned and RecommendationsRecommendations

Understand the social and cultural Understand the social and cultural environmentenvironment

Understand individuals, families, and Understand individuals, families, and the communitythe community

Demonstrate relevance clearlyDemonstrate relevance clearly– Emphasize outcomes instead of accessEmphasize outcomes instead of access

Acknowledge and support process and Acknowledge and support process and productproduct

Integrate community technology and Integrate community technology and community building holisticallycommunity building holistically

Building Community Through Technology:Early Results from the Camfield Estates-MIT Creating Community Connections Project

March 22, 2002

Randal D. Pinkett, Ph.D.BCT Partners, Inc.

Urban Affairs Association32nd Annual Meeting

http://www.camfieldestates.net