Venture Café Presents Milton Irving, Executive Director of the Timothy Smith Network, which is working to bridge the digital divide in the greater Roxbury area. In his conversation with host Christine Dunn, he outlined the importance of partnerships in providing technology education and support to help prepare local communities for economic advancement opportunities.

Timothy Smith was a merchant of Roxbury in the late 1800s. When he died, he gifted the city $30,000, with the purpose of benefitting the people of the local community. In 1996, Mayor Menino, with the approval of the Smith Fund Trustees and other community leaders, dedicated the money to be used to bring the benefits of computer technology to as many people of the community as possible.

Currently, the network has 29 computer labs in non-profits throughout the greater Roxbury area, including the Roxbury Innovation Center. Equipment is updated every three years and stipends are provided to help with operational costs. In addition, organizations such as Microsoft offer further support and guidance.

“We don’t tell the centers what to run. They already do a phenomenal job. We say, ‘Here is something that can help leverage the work you are already doing, and blend it in,’” said Milton. As companies like General Electric begin to move into the Boston area, there is a greater sense of urgency for workforce development. “We are pushing a little bit, being able to increase the knowledge level of technology so people are truly prepared for the opportunities.”

There are many different applications for using the technology, and the Timothy Smith Network works to understand where people are at the moment, and then begin to map out ways forward while incorporating technology into the space. They also help to connect people they have trained to opportunities for continued education at places like Bunker Hill Community College. “It’s all about partnerships,” continued Milton. “What we tend to do is to see where we can bring added value and also bring that blended experience. We are great at being able to reach the lower level individual, in terms of their expertise of technology.”

In an effort to develop a true ecosystem of partnerships and relationships, bringing added value and bridging gaps, the Network has a similar connection with the Roxbury Innovation Center, where there will be 28 pieces of technology in a flexible space. “The way we eat, the way we use our vehicles, everything has changed, except for teaching,” continued Milton. “We want to change that, and this space is a part of that change. We really understand how people are learning and we want to give them a different atmosphere for learning, bring real creativity.”

“We have a social contract with the community, whereas we say to them we see who they are as individuals. It’s not just about checking the box,” concluded Milton. “We are vested and invested in their lives for the betterment of the community. We are not here today and gone tomorrow.”

Related Links

For more information on the Timothy Smith Network visit www.timothysmithnetwork.org.

To find out about programming at the Roxbury Innovation Center, see www.roxburyinnovationcenter.org.

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