3 May 1999

Carnegie Mellon Will Host Public Meeting on Community Technology Problems and Solutions

Community Technology Partnerships, a group of 16 organizations that have been collaborating with Carnegie Mellon students and faculty on technology issues, including e-commerce and computers in communities, will present their findings and demonstrate an e-commerce Web site at a public meeting Tuesday, May 4, in Rangos Hall, second floor, University Center on the Carnegie Mellon campus.

Presentations will take place from Noon to 4 p.m. Students will describe their work at locations like Vintage Senior Center, where they opened a computer laboratory and designed a curriculum to teach senior citizens. Other students developed a system to keep better information on residents~ interests and needs at New Pennley Place, a public housing community in East Liberty.

At 4:30, BlacXpressions, an entrepreneurial youth program started by 100 Black Men of Western Pennsylvania, an organization that mentors teenagers, will demonstrate an e-commerce site for selling T-shirts that was developed with students from Carnegie Mellon~s Department of Engineering and Public Policy.

The projects are the results of a course titled Computer Science in the Community, run by the Center for University Outreach. The class was first offered last yeaar. In three semesters, the class size grew from two to 17 students who consult with 15 community organizations.

"The goal of the program is to help local organizations like senior centers, and YMCAs get a jump start in using technology for their own operations--i.e. tracking and using information" says Joseph Mertz, associate director, Carnegie Mellon Center for University Outreach. For information on 100 Black Men in Pennsylvania, check the Web site: http://hillhouse.ckp.edu/~100blkmn/home.htm. For more detailed information on the event, and a list of participating organizations, contact Joseph Mertz, 412.268.2540

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