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Overview

The Blue Springs-Hoke County Community Development Corporation (BS-HC CDC) offers a comprehensive technology initiative through Hoke Initiatives for Linking Community through Information and Telecommunications Technology (HILCITT). HILCITT's mission is "to foster broader communication and resource sharing, enhance life-long learning opportunities for undeserved residents and citizens at technology equipped community-based learning centers, and help create viable economic development opportunities through computer and telecommunication technology."

Hoke County, like many rural communities, finds itself struggling to overcome urban-rural technology disparities. The community is faced with critical issues related to the absence of telecommunications infrastructure. The infrastructure void includes the absence of high speed broad band network access points, local T-1 Trunk lines, and personal computers in households or strategically located community access centers. Even while these issues are being approached  from a community-wide perspective, and fully supported by an increasing value for technology matched with a vision to address these voids, there are basic steps toward creating a computer literate citizenry in a digital economy.  They also must be able to access coordinated online information of local agency and organizational service providers critical to improving the quality of their lives.   HILCITT seeks to ultimately address some of these concerns through participation with local stakeholders; designing and maintaining a central online hub of information, and providing training space for local residents.

History

During 1997 and 1998, the BS-HC CDC collaborated with NCexChange of the North Carolina Justice and Policy Center (now, the North Carolina Justice and Community Development Center, commonly referred to as the North Carolina Justice Center) to host a series of internet access training sessions and events. The Hoke Schools Audi-Visual Deparment and Hoke County Public Library served as local partners to provide space for meetings and computer terminal access. The goal of those sessions involved bringing nonprofit and government service agencies together in the interest to create online opportunities for sharing current information and processes, which might more effectively serve our county client bases utilizing integrated technologies. Collaborating agencies included the Cooperative Extension Services, the Hoke County Health Center, Hoke County Public Schools, the Hoke County Partnership for Children and Families/Smart Start, the Hoke Reading and Literacy Council, and the Department of Social Services. Discussions included performing technology assessments of each organization; hands-on interaction with internet browsers and search engines; and exploration of distance learning and communication processes through live-chat and white boards. A significant outcome of the assessments was that appropriate infrastructure was (and is) needed countywide and particularly by local government.  While agency   representatives involved in the project felt the resources and information provided in those meetings vitally enhanced their personal knowledge, there was overwhelming agreement that commitment was a long term vision infused with concerns for agency/client confidentiality on shared platforms, along with meeting the challenges related to staff interests and skills and organizational-cultural values surrounding computer technology.

The Present and Future

Beginning in 1999, HILCITT has addressed more short-term, immediately attainable goals of  working with young people and interested adult community residents to increase computer skills and broaden community access to computers. This has been very successful and we stand firmly committed to helping develop a computer literate citizenry in Hoke County who improve their employability and entrepreneurial opportunities and the ability to attract new business to the county as pot.  And we have now re-embraced the long term goal of the centralized online information.  HILCITT also provides fee-for-service technical assistance to local organizations and agencies and, depending upon the nature of hardware and software problems, will visit local non-profits and provide assistance free-of-charge once per month upon request using the "Circuit Rider" concept.   Partnerships are expanding and the intiative also relies on many state and national technical resources--such as TechSoup, RTPnet, GCF, CTCNet, Making the Net Work, CompuMentor, SPINnc, E-NC, AFCN, and many more--for assistance and guidance in actualizing the vision.

For more information:

• Email or call 910-904-6547

Donate to HILCITT