INNOVATIVE URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE OF 60 PARTICIPANTS ON AUG. 17

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13, 2009 —Twin brothers Timothy and Matthew Mistalski are in their third year of service as computer support specialists in the city’s public schools, and recently earned journeymen, information technology certificates from the state.

The certificates qualify the 19-year-old brothers from Northeast Philadelphia to work as network administrators, computer technicians or help-desk support. Both brothers say it would not have been possible without The Urban Technology Project-a collaborative of the School District of Philadelphia and Communities in Schools of Philadelphia, Inc., with academic support from Community College of Philadelphia.

"This is a great program for anyone who has an interest in computer and information technology," Timothy Mistalski said. "They can earn a little money and get access to Community College of Philadelphia to complete their certifications.”

The Mistalski brothers are among 60 participants in The Urban Technology Project’s Digital Service Fellows (DSF) and Computer Support Specialists (CSS) programs. A celebration of the participants’ achievements will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 in the Main Atrium at the School District of Philadelphia Education Center, 440 North Broad Street.

DSF and CSS are the core components of The Urban Technology Project, which prepares recent Philadelphia high school graduates for employment in the field of information technology. The Project also provides undergraduate class work at Community College of Philadelphia that can lead to an associate’s degree, and possibly, to transfer into a four-year college or university.

The DSF and CSS programs are complementary. DSF is a one-year, AmeriCorps apprenticeship in which participants provide technology services and are mentored by information technology professionals in the School District of Philadelphia. The participants assist teachers and students in designing technology-related activities and projects that infuse technology into the educational process.

After a year in DSF, some participants are chosen to enter CSS, a state Department of Labor and Industry-registered information technology, apprenticeship program.

CSS apprentices provide on-site, computer-tech support to more than 31 public schools and offices. They serve approximately three to four years and receive a small stipend. During the summer, participants from both the DSF and CSS programs attend information technology classes provided by Corporate Solutions at Community College of Philadelphia, where they can earn credits toward an associate’s degree and their state certifications.

Five of the 38 apprentices currently enrolled in CSS have earned their journeymen certificates. Twenty-two DSF/AmeriCorps participants are completing their required service.

Now that they have earned their journeymen certificates in information technology, the Mistalski brothers hope to find permanent jobs at Apple Computer. Matthew, who describes himself as hands-on, wants to be a computer technician. Timothy plans to write computer programs.

Launched seven years ago, The Urban Technology Projects’ DSF and CSS programs have a head start on President Obama’s Advanced Technological Education initiative, aimed at utilizing community colleges to provide access to basic information technology skills. Studies project that the number of jobs requiring at least an associate’s degree will grow twice as fast as the number of jobs that do not require any college experience.

Naomi Levine, program manager for The Urban Technology Project, said the Project’s programs are a perfect example of the innovation President Obama has called for in his technology initiative. "Our CSS trainees go on to work for Apple Computer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, the School District of Philadelphia and a variety of other smaller companies and non-profits," Levine said. "They work as server administrators, network administrators, digital media specialists, helpdesk supervisors and field technicians."

The Mistalski brothers are not the only ones who praise the Project’s programs.

Tiani Jones, 18, a DSF participant from South Philadelphia, hopes that she will be chosen to fill one of the nine current openings in the CSS program; short of that, she would like to be retrained to be one of two team leaders who will continue to work with DSF. She eventually plans to pursue a career in digital media and graphic arts.

The oldest of seven children, Jones said her parents cannot afford to help her pay for college. "If I were not in this program, I’d probably be working at a fast-food joint and going to Community College of Philadelphia part-time," Jones said.

Danette Gonzalez, 19, a DSF participant from North Philadelphia, also wants to advance to CSS. "I want to go to college and get a degree, dealing with computer technology," Gonzalez said. "I know it is a field that will keep growing and I want to be a part of that."

Levine said the participants are encouraged to continue their education beyond the information technology courses required by the program. As an incentive, each of the DSF trainees is eligible to receive a $4,725 Segal Education Award towards college.
"It is the program's expectation that everyone will achieve at least an associate degree, which is why we subsidize part of their education at Community College of Philadelphia," Levine said.

The Urban Technology Project, a School District of Philadelphia Service Learning initiative, empowers urban youth to better themselves and their communities by providing them with meaningful experiences in technology and with opportunities to use their skills to solve community needs.

Communities In Schools of Philadelphia, Inc. (CISP) is an independently incorporated local affiliate of Communities In Schools, Inc., the largest stay-in-school network in the country. CIS has more than 200 affiliates. Since its inception in 1986, CISP has grown to annually serve more than 13,000 public school students attending Philadelphia's high schools and kindergarten through 8th grade schools.

Community College of Philadelphia enrolls approximately 34,000 students annually at its Main Campus, three Regional Centers and various locations throughout Philadelphia. The College offers day, evening and weekend classes, as well as classes on the Internet. Visit the College at www.ccp.edu.