The rapidly developing role of information technology has significant impact on communities. Technology is changing the way we interact, communicate and get information - in effect the way we live our lives. The Internet is no longer a cool new development, but an integral tool for everyday life. The Internet is bigger than the phone which only brought a new way to communicate, it is bigger than the television which brought information and entertainment. The Internet is all of this, but in an interactive and customizable format.
With such monumental change there lies the risk for the disadvantaged in this country to become further isolated from being contributing members of society. The City of St. Louis is struggling for prosperity. We have high rates of poverty and limited resources for social capital developments. The St. Louis Community Information Network, like other electronic community networks around the country, strives to make available the opportunities of Internet technologies to residents, City government, and not-for-profit organizations.
II. Technology Gap
National Perspective
Internet technology and skills are of vital importance to the United States. In order for this country to remain competitive in a global economy, businesses must utilize and develop information technologies. This requires that the American work force be skilled in using computers, specifically the Internet. Many businesses are already facing scarcity in finding people to fill information technology positions. The Information Technology Association of America reports that almost 200,000 information technology jobs in mid- and large- sized U.S. companies are vacant due to a shortage of qualified workers (AND, p. 1). This lack of a skilled work force is not only detrimental to individual businesses, but also it has an effect on the country's economic prosperity.
Even non-technical occupations are requiring an increasing amount of computer competency. According to Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, technology skills will be required for 60 percent of jobs by the year 2000 (Goslee, 1998). Computers are being used for many aspects of business operation. Individuals lacking computer and Internet literacy will find most living-wage jobs beyond their reach. A study conducted by economists at Harvard and Princeton (Auto, Katz and Krueger) in March 1997 indicates that as much as half of the increase in demand for skilled workers is due to the expansion of computer technology (Goslee, 1998).
In addition to effecting the competitiveness of the U.S. with other countries, the lack of technology skills will lead to further social and economic stratification within this country. According to James Katz, a researcher at Bellcore who conducted an Internet usage survey, more corporations, governments and community organizations are relying on the Internet as a primary method of communication (Goslee, 1998). People that traditionally do not have access to computers, especially Internet technology will be at an increasing disadvantage both economically and socially.
Not surprisingly people with higher education levels and higher income levels are much more likely to have computers and Internet access. A survey conducted in April of 1998 shows that people with high school education or less comprise 52 percent of the population but only 19 percent have Internet Access. On the other hand people with a college education or more are only 23 percent of the total population but 53 percent of them have Internet access (Goslee, 1998). Although this seems logical as computers and Internet access are an expense, the significance is that the Internet, once a novelty, is now an integral life tool, and a significant part of the population does not have access to it.
A study conducted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration called Falling Through the Net II: New Data on the Digital Divide (1998) shows that there is a growing disparity between income levels, demographic groups and geographic areas in the use of computer and the Internet. Despite the fact that ownership of computers has increased for all racial groups between 1994 and 1997, whites have increased at a greater rate than blacks and Hispanics causing the gap to grow. Central cities, especially Midwest cities such as St .Louis, are well below the national average for computer ownership and Internet access.
St. Louis Perspective
The information technology crisis facing the nation is magnified in the City of St. Louis. St. Louis has experienced significant decline and urban sprawl. Unlike other large city, St. Louis is a separate entity from the surrounding counties, consequently suburban flight has had a devastating effect on population. While the St. Louis bi-state region prospers, the City of St. Louis has been in decline.
St. Louis has lost two-thirds of its population since 1950. The 1990 Census recorded the City of St. Louis's population as 396,000 down 13 percent from 1980. An estimated further decrease of 10 percent has occurred since 1990. In 1990 the poverty rate was 24 percent of the total City population. Clearly, when a quarter of a city's population is living in poverty, the city has great challenges. Consistent with other cities, St. Louis has areas of high distress and other areas of prosperity. Due to the local funding structure for both public schools and libraries and the drastic drop in tax-paying population, these institutions have very limited budgets. Computers and Internet access are often simply impossible financially to provide.
The St. Louis region was rated second worst for urban sprawl for large metropolitan areas in a recent report conducted by the Sierra Club (Simun, 1998). The report also says that from 1990 to 1996 urbanized land in the St. Louis region grew by 52 percent, but the region's population only increased one percent. This indicates that the population is spreading out and leaving vacant buildings behind. Access to living-wage jobs has become increasingly difficult as businesses follow the people into the outlying parts of the region. Information technologies make dislocation from a central business district even more likely because the need for face to face interactions are reduced (Goslee, 1998).
Access to technology and even the understanding of its growing role are limited in the City of St. Louis. Don Tapscott (1997), social scientist, has written about the significant social changes information technology are bringing about. Children growing up with computers and the Internet are completely comfortable with using technology for every aspect of their lives. If poor children and families do not have access to these resources then the growing socio-economic gap will continue to increase.
III. The Emergence of Community Information Networks
The staggering growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web in the early 90s convinced many local leaders and activists of the need to establish electronic communication networks in their communities. These individuals recognized that telecommunications and information technologies represented the key to many future social and economic opportunities for local communities. A failure to act would foster a growing stratification between information "haves" and "have-nots". This understanding engendered the Community Networks movement. Commonly called community networks these initiatives bear many different names -- freenets, civic networks, community bulletin boards, community information networks, CivicNets, and many others. Although their names may be different, these networks share similar distinguishing characteristics.
According to the Association for Community Networking (AFCN) "community networks are locally-based, locally-driven communication and information system" and community networking is a phenomenon that "occurs when people and organizations collaborate locally to solve problems and create opportunities, supported by appropriate information and communication systems" (AFCN, 1998). AFCN has identified and summarized many of the distinguishing characteristics and goals of community networks.
Nationwide community networks have participants from many civic groups such as libraries, universities, K-12 schools, local government, businesses, media organizations, and individuals. The focus is particularly on including communities and groups (e.g., low-income, minorities, senior citizens) that have been traditionally left out of community decision making.
Community information networks (CIN) projects usually develop web sites that describe their organization and services, as well as local relevant community information. Services offered through CIN's usually consists of free or low-cost internet access, training on the use of the Internet, general computer skills, and basic research skills. Most projects provide public access sites in libraries, schools, businesses, or not-for-profit organizations. Many CIN's provide free or affordable web page development and hosting for small local organizations and electronic discussion groups or forums.
Overall most CIN's strive toward similar goals. Generally most CIN's want to: (a) increase communication between local residents, between citizens and local government, and between residents and service providers; (b) promote universal access to current and emerging technologies; (c) promote active participation and contribution to the Internet; (d) foster diversity in views, and (e) assist with economic development activities and facilitate access to new opportunities (AFCN, 1998).
Although no rigorous analysis is available that quantifies contributions of CIN's, AFCN's writings indicates that CIN's empower participating communities, individuals and organizations. CIN's make it possible for many people to pursue lifelong learning, seek new employment opportunities, and establish new relationships with the limitations of an individual's socio-economic circumstance.
Some benefits of community networks are different for urban and rural communities. Larger, urban areas have been able to bring together people, organizations and institutions that would not have otherwise come together. They have also succeeded in centralizing large amounts of information about the region. Smaller, rural areas have found that some of the most powerful benefits have been in the area of economic development. Rural businesses, through the Internet, have eliminated the barrier of distance and are able to compete more effectively. New industries and employment opportunities have spurred from CIN's activities. The tourist industry has been bolstered by these communities' presence on the World Wide Web (AFCN, 1998).
Missouri's Response
Missouri has been in the forefront in the implementation of the community information network concept. In 1996, the Missouri General Assembly approved a $6 million proposal for the creation of up to eighty self-sustaining community information networks across the state during Fiscal Years 1997-1999. Based on this appropriation, the Missouri Express Project has been assisting Missouri communities in creating sustainable community information networks (CIN) that serve as readily accessible sources of locally-based public information, electronic communications, and global information (MOREnet, 1996).
The statewide initiative was designed to build on the work of the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet) which had already assisted in the development and support of several CINs. The Missouri Express Project addresses information access and content. MOREnet's role is to provide extensive technical support and the basic equipment needed to provide internet access and services at no cost to the CINs. Under this project, Missouri communities can apply for a "Basic Services" package or an "Enhanced Services" package. The first option is appropriate for communities which need to establish Internet access in their region, the second option is for communities that want to focus primarily in providing comprehensive information content using the latest technologies. Currently Missouri has a total of 29 active community information networks. Twenty-two are funded through the Missouri Express Project, seven were developed independently from the State project. The St. Louis Community Information Network is a Missouri Express Project.
IV. The St. Louis Community Information Network
Who We Are
The mission of the St. Louis Community Information Network (CIN) is to foster collaboration of information sharing among City government, neighborhood-based groups, not-for-profit organizations, via the Internet. Our philosophy is to enable people to access and post important community information on the Internet. To accomplish this goal we host the official City of St. Louis web site and provide email and web site accounts, Internet-related training, technical support, and access to Internet-connected computers.
America On-Line's Digital City Webguide described the St. Louis CIN as an indispensable community resource. Over 130 organizations, city departments, and neighborhood groups are now actively posting and maintaining content on the CIN's web site. Through the growing number of contributors, the St. Louis CIN web site has extensive information about City government, neighborhoods, housing, community resources and many other topics of relevance to citizens, businesses and visitors. The web site address is http://stlouis.missouri.org.
History and Implementation
The St. Louis Community Information Network grew out of three activities during 1994:
In June 1994, St. Louis submitted a grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish an Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community to bring new opportunities to the most economically distressed parts of the City. The proposed initiatives included the CIN project. In December 1994, St. Louis was designated a Federal Enterprise Community.
In August 1995, the Enterprise Community staff launched the St. Louis CIN home page. Internet server space and Internet access was donated by Washington University in St. Louis.
In November 1995, a series of meetings, led by a consulting firm and funded by a local foundation, were held to solicit community input. Dozens of community groups, governmental agencies, and neighborhood organizations participated. The initial project guidelines grew out of this process. With support from the academic community, student interns from Washington University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology a prototype of the St. Louis Community Information Network was developed. An Internet-based demonstration was created.
In June 1996, a contract was signed with MOREnet, a division of the University of Missouri, to manage the web server and provides Internet access. A web server was purchased. This enabled the St. Louis CIN to become an Internet provider for neighborhoods, nonprofit groups, public agencies, and individual citizens.
In August 1996, St. Louis CIN successfully competed for grants available through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the U.S. Department of Justice for civic networking and geographic information systems, and youth service provider support.
From January through May 1997, planning for the first annual Neighborhood Web Fair began. A project steering committee is formed to direct planning for the Neighborhood Web Fair. A total of 77 community meetings were held to prepare for the Neighborhood Web Fair.
In March 1997, St. Louis CIN received a Missouri Express grant from the State of Missouri to fund Internet access and related telecommunications costs. Additional partnership with City Mental Health Board enabled Internet access for not-for-profit organizations and neighborhoods. St. Louis CIN offices moved and now provides dial-up access to users.
In May 1997, the Neighborhood Web Fair attracts 120 neighborhood participants, 60 volunteers and results in the creation of 62 neighborhood web pages.
In August1997, five-tier training curricula and helpdesk support were implemented for St. Louis CIN users.
In November 1997, St. Louis CIN strategic planning process is launched. Results in five areas of focus and 19 specific goals for the next three years. Monthly "hits" on CIN reach 30,000.
In Spring 1998, new partnerships were initiated with St. Louis Public Housing Authority and Caring Communities, an integrated social services delivery program in 20 City schools. Presentations made at Missouri GIS Conference, Missouri CIN Conference, Missouri Community Development Academy, St. Louis University "Tech Talk," and MIT symposium on Information Technology and the City promotes St. Louis CIN's strategy.
In April 1998, the second annual Neighborhood Web Fair brought the number of neighborhood pages maintained by residents to 69.
In May of 1998 the Web Fair concept was broadened and planning for a Fall Not-for-Profit Web Fair was initiated. St. Louis CIN, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, and University of Missouri Outreach and Extension all join to host the event.
In September 1998, the Not-for-Profit Web Fair took place with more the 40 organizations registering, 20 organization developing their web pages, and entering their organization's information in a statewide database of community services.
Community Involvement Strategy
It is of integral importance to the St. Louis Community Information Network (CIN) that the community be involved in information sharing. A significant part of our work involves outreach and education about the use of the Internet. Many of target participants have never seen or used the Internet and have no understanding of its growing role in education, business and personal life.
The St. Louis CIN believes strongly that many people need to be involved in making information available about a community. Communities are made up of a diverse group of people and organizations, each with their own interests and knowledge. By providing email and web site accounts and training we not only allow St. Louisans to expand content available on the CIN web site, but there is also the benefit of individuals learning new skills that are valuable in both their personal and professional lives.
A strategy that the St. Louis CIN has developed to increase community participation is the Web Fair Concept. A Web Fair is an event that brings together people to learn about the Internet and to develop a presence on the Internet.
We held our first Web Fair in May of 1997, although the preparation began in January. We targeted neighborhoods with the goal of replacing the brief, CIN-staff-created web pages with ones developed and maintained by people who live and work in each neighborhood. Prior to this initiative only five of the 79 City neighborhoods had web pages. Today 69 have web pages and five of the remaining 10 are industrial.
The significance of this achievement was not simply the number of pages that were developed at the Web Fair. Neighborhood residents gained computer and Internet literacy. There was discussion amongst participants and a feeling of connectedness with other residents that had come to the event. Many people from diverse neighborhoods were able to see that the Internet is accessible and important to them. Perhaps most important, neighborhood leaders felt a sense of accomplishment and being able to do something positive for their community.
Due to the success of our first Web Fair we have held two more. An additional Neighborhood Web Fair held a year later to help neighborhoods update their information and for additional neighborhoods to develop a web presence. In September 1998, we hosted a Web Fair for not-for-profit organizations.
Components of a Web Fair
Challenges
The most significant obstacles encountered thus far have been:
The rapid growth of information technology is affecting every aspects of society and is requiring of individuals, businesses and institutions to prepare for a knowledge-based society. Because meaningful participation in this new society requires the ability to acquire the means of participation as well as the know-how, many segments of society, namely rural and inner-city communities, are unable to keep up and become technologically deficient.
In recognition of the fast growing "technology divide," federal, state, and local governmental entities have taken steps to help disadvantaged communities and individuals to obtain improved access to information technology. Although adequate funding from governmental sources is essential, innovative approaches that are locally driven are key to developing electronic networks that address the unique needs of communities. Electronic community networks provide an essential services to communities in helping them find creative ways to meet the demands of the 21st Century.
The St. Louis CIN Web Fair initiative grew from that insight. Much of its success came from the recognition that a new approach was needed to assist the 79 distinct St. Louis neighborhoods in establishing a presence on the Internet. Since its implementation, the Web Fair initiative has been recognized as an effective tool to empower organizations and neighborhoods in the City of St. Louis. St. Louis CIN members and Web Fair participants are now using the Internet to become information providers as well as information users.
America On-Line. DigitalCities. http://webguide.digitalcities.com/stlouis (1998, June 17).
Association for Community Networking. (1998, Jan./Feb.). Community Networking, 1(1).
Goslee, S. (1998, June). Losing ground bit by bit: Low-income communities in the information age. Benton Foundation.
MOREnet. Community Information Networks. http://www.more.net/projects/mo_express (17 Aug. 1998)
National Telecommunications and Information Administration. (1998, July). Falling through the net II: New data on the digital divide. http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/net2/ (3 August 1998).
Simun, A. (1998, Sept. 10). Sierra club ranks city second in urban sprawl 'greener pastures' are vanishing, report warns. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. http://archives.stlnet.com/ (17 Sept. 1998).
Tapscott, D. (1997, Oct. 30). Net generation shakes
windows and walls. The Globe and Mail.