FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Partnership Helps to Bridge the Digital Divide in City Heights
CONTACT: Renee Hix, (619) 594-5204, Rhix@mail.sdsu.edu
SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, October 10, 2000 - Efforts to bridge the "digital divide" in San Diego's inner city took a major step forward today with the dedication of Room 405 at Hoover High School in City Heights. Room 405 is a "smart classroom" filled with 40 new computer workstations, one instructor station, Internet access and other state-of-the-art technology. Funding and technical support for the classroom was made possible by the City Heights Digital Bridge, a partnership that includes San Diego State University, Cox Communications, QUALCOMM, Gateway, Pacific Bell and the San Diego Communications Council.
"The dedication is a key milestone for the City Heights Digital Bridge, which aims to provide greater access to information technology in a community with some of San Diego's highest crime and poverty rates and lowest test scores," said Doug Williams, principal of Hoover High School.
The vision of the City Heights Digital Bridge (CHDB) is to make the resources of information technology (IT) an accessible part of everyday life for the residents of City Heights. The CHDB seeks to enable children of City Heights to have access to the latest computer technology. SDSU provides project direction, architectural services and networking design to help execute the Digital Bridge.
"The City Heights Digital Bridge enables community members in City Heights to gain access to education, employment, job training, and communication resources through technology," said SDSU President Stephen Weber. "As part of the overall community revitalization efforts being implemented through SDSU's City Heights Educational Pilot, access to IT and to the skills to fully utilize its potential not only levels the playing field but also empowers a 'smart community.'"
The City Heights Educational Pilot represents a partnership among SDSU, the San Diego Education Association, San Diego City Schools, and the administration, faculty, students and families of Hoover High, Monroe Clark Middle and Rosa Parks Elementary schools. The Pilot has the mission to change the way SDSU prepares and supports educational personnel and improve the teaching and learning methods and services in the three City Heights schools by providing leadership, coordination and financial resources.
"Thanks to members of the San Diego Communications Council, a university/industry association located in SDSU's International Center for Communications, new "collaboratories" like this are helping San Diego make the transition to the new knowledge-based economy vital to San Diego's success as a high-tech region," said John Eger, Van Deerlin Professor of Communications and public policy and chairman of San Diego's City of the Future Committee.
Encompassing schools and community, organizations and services, and residents of this inner city neighborhood, the CHDB creates a model that helps teach others to succeed. It encourages a new organizational synergy among public, private and community interests to utilize technological resources for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Building 1100 at Hoover High School, the primary computer lab facility at the school, will be the next step of the CHDB. The plan is to create one multi-purpose lab with movable furniture and wireless technologies, one "smart" classroom, and two computer classrooms for computer applications courses. The final step is a Community Technology Center in the recently purchased and renovated Lloyd's furniture building. Plans are in development for 110 computers for community members and groups to create a multi-use, technology rich center where student and members of the community will have access to a variety of IT services, equipment and training.
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the University has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 59 areas and doctorates in 13. SDSU's more than 30,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, log onto www.sdsu.edu.
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