Urban Technology Center Newsletter

From the President

Dear Friends:

As we culminate our 15th year of providing technological resources and educational curriculum to low-income communities to help bridge the digital and achievement gaps, we reflect on the successes that we have had because of your support and the many challenges tha still need to be addressed.

We believe that technology is crucial in preparing individuals for jobs and career opportunities in the 21st century and to ensure the financial viability of our institutions. We do this through our range of educational programs for youth and adults, as well as by providing professional development of teachers and technological support to schools and community-based organizations throughout the United States.

Since 1995, Urban Tech has successfully established technology centers for computer training, academic enrichment, career development and financial planning in 700 communities across the country. Graduates, many of whom are former welfare recipients, are finding jobs with a living wage and buying homes for the first time. The sustainability and success of these centers are accomplished through Urban Tech’s franchise approach and “community of trainers,” which ensure that these technology resources meet industry standards and the continuing demands of residents and businesses in the community.

This year, these centers will provide free tax preparation and immediate cash returns to those taxpayers who have been hit hard by the current economic downturn and may risk losing their homes. These programs will play a vital role in financial stability by delivering tax benefits and money management classes to residents and additional dollars to invest in the local economy.

Through the contributions of our donors, Urban Tech has also been able to integrate its technology-rich programs in schools, capturing the creativity and inspiration of youngsters who are more likely to drop out of school. Our Youth Leadership Academy has demonstrated huge gains in academic achievement and social skills, providing an important lifeline for graduation and post-secondary education. Many more computers are being installed at home, and family members, formerly isolated from resources, are now networked to job banks, community resources, and on-line services for personal development.

With your help, we will continue to expand our reach into communities that need our services in 2010 and beyond, to “lift all boats” with widespread and effective use of technology to stimulate learning and empower communities to address the academic, economic and societal needs of our nation.

Urban Tech Honors Community Leaders at its Annual Gala

On June 22, Urban Tech paid tribute to Ambassador Carl Spielvogel for his lifetime of public service at our 2010 Gala Dinner.

The incomparable Patti LaBelle received the 2010 Humanitarian Award.

Proceeds from the gala work to expand our “Adopt-a-School Program", offering individuals and corporations the opportunity to personally connect with schools and have a significant impact on the education of our youth!

Browse event photos by Patrick McMullan, Wire Images, Manhattan Society, and Getty Images.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Continues Partnership to Expand Health and HIV / AIDS Awareness
Program experiences continued growth across New York City


	Sir Elton John cites his foundation and Urban Tech's innovative partnership at the Bio International Conference, 2009.

“It is unfathomable and unconscionable that we are not making a bigger effort to educate the demographic about HIV/AIDS with creative materials and up-to-date information. That is precisely the reason that my foundation provides funding to organizations such as Urban Tech, an outstanding nonprofit that has developed web-based programming for students on issues such as relationships, substance abuse, and reproductive health." - Sir Elton John, 2009

Since 2007, Urban Tech has partnered with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to bring awareness and prevention of sexually-transmitted diseases to schools in New York City to stem the alarming spread of these diseases among minority youth. The Foundation's generous funding has allowed Urban Tech to increase its reach from 11 schools in Harlem 2007-08, to 40 schools and approximately 6,000 students in Central Harlem and Bushwick in 2008-09. Close to 50 schools and 10,000 students participated in 2009-10.

African-American youth between the ages of 13 and 19 account for 66% of new HIV infections and almost half of the 19 million new STD infections that occur each year are among youth between the ages of 15 and 24. The National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech) has taken its attack on HIV and AIDS to elementary, middle and high schools in New York City on a level that urban youth can understand.



Mr. Oyefusi and an 8th-grade student from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Middle School 172 in Harlem, NY with bulletin board project for school-wide AIDS Awareness Week, a program component of Urban Tech’s Get Healthy, Get Smart! YLA curriculum.

“Urban Tech’s dynamic web-based programs teach students necessary life skills and help them work through difficult situations,” said Scott Campbell, Executive Director, Elton John AIDS Foundation. “Students learn sexual health terminology and strategies for making positive, life-affirming choices as well as develop constructive attitudes and behaviors with respect to HIV/AIDS and other STDs,” he continued.

Urban Tech has created interactive online computer courses – coupled with intense discussion and workshops – that utilize animated scenarios starring characters that students can relate to. Contemporary language, music and life experiences are dramatically portrayed by Urban Tech’s characters, followed by instilling life lessons through interactive follow-up and discussions.

Urban Tech’s HIV and AIDS awareness module teaches students about the facts of sexually-transmitted diseases and how to identify, prevent and treat different types of STDs. Students learn how the diseases are transmitted, the consequences of each type of STD and the importance of getting tested.

“We are creating a forum in which students feel more comfortable talking about their private affairs. Hopefully, through this reality-based education technique, students will be more apt to talk about these sensitive issues with their sexual partner. Our goal would be to help them move towards getting regular STD and HIV testing,” said Pat Bransford, President and Founder of Urban Tech, “and to understand each person’s role in the spread of these diseases.”

The “Prom Night” module is one of the many courses that are offered through Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). Other courses offered through YLA are conflict resolution, team building, self discovery, personal appearance, interpersonal relationships, substance abuse prevention, budgets and banking, educational planning, and healthy habits.

Student leadership activities include writing and delivering public service announcements to their student bodies, and designing and constructing outreach booths for dissemination of AIDS information during lunch periods.

We are extremely pleased that the Elton John AIDS Foundation has generously donated this grant to Urban Tech to help build leadership and increase HIV/AIDS awareness,” continued Bransford.. “Until we find a cure for this devastating disease, education is the key to protecting our youth,” she concluded.

Monthly professional development workshops hosted by Urban Tech and Bank Street College assist participating teachers and principals to implement Urban Tech’s curriculum with their students. Guest speakers have included C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and the NYC DOE Health Directors, Dr. Fred Kaeser and Norberto Perez in Manhattan and Dr. Delia Loney in Brooklyn.

Youth Leadership Academy Targets Childhood Obesity
Get Healthy, Get Smart! Continues its Expansion

Urban Tech is dedicated to removing the barriers that our young people face today in achieving their academic goals and becoming healthy, self-fulfilled adults. In Central Harlem and across New York City, an alarming 28% of children are obese, causing an increase in cases of diabetes, hypertension and cancer. These diseases are costly to treat and diminish the lives of our children, interrupting their education and social and emotional development.

In 2008, Urban Tech partnered with First Lady Michelle Paterson to increase public awareness of childhood obesity and encourage students to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. The initiative provided health education to 3,000 fifth, sixth and seventh graders in 11 schools in Central Harlem, the training of 75 classroom teachers and support to families to sustain healthier attitudes and behavior. Students used pedometers to log the number of footsteps they walked to reach the equivalent distance to Albany, and the class from each school that completed the distance first, traveled to Albany for a healthy meal and a visit with the Governor and First Lady Michelle Paterson. Winning students also enjoyed a lesson about farm life and organically grown food at the Hawthorne Valley farm, located in Harlemville, New York.



	Student contest winners from the Get Healthy, Get Smart! program begin their tour of the Hawthorne Valley Farm with First Lady Michelle Paige-Paterson.

Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), an engaging, multimedia-based program, was integrated into the daily academic curriculum to look at habits and routines that lead to overeating and sedentary lifestyles, examine the consequences of unhealthy choices and encourage students to adopt new ways to increase physical activity and make smart nutritional choices. By making exercise “cool” and fun for kids and “no sweat” for teachers, Urban Tech was successful in getting kids to embrace new ways to be healthy, challenging the attitudes and environmental conditions in their community that are causing this public health crisis. Beginning in January 2009, Urban Tech will increase the number of schools implementing the program in Harlem and expand to the Bushwick community in Brooklyn offering Get Healthy, Get Smart! to more than 8,000 elementary, middle and high school students.

Findings from the program reveal:

Student Outcomes:

7 out every 10 teachers felt that the students they taught had shown growth in the following areas: knowledge about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, ability to critically analyze the influence of culture and media on health attitudes and behaviors, and an appreciation of the benefits of exercising.
60% saw a heightening in students’ awareness of how their peers and media influence their behaviors; and almost 50% found that their students’ self-esteem had improved.
Students were greatly motivated by the program as reflected in the following quote from a teacher: “I thought it was a worthwhile program that provided a positive learning experience to the students and staff that participated in it. Urban Tech’s Youth Leadership Academy was particularly valuable in that it really motivated students to take a look at their eating and overall health habits, and it galvanized them to take responsibility for changing some of their unhealthy behaviors.”

Professional Development:

8 out of every 10 teachers believed that as a function of participating in the project they now have a better understanding of health standards.
90% of the teachers in the project indicated that the YLA curriculum materials were useful for promoting their students’ learning.
80% of the teachers believed that they acquired new pedagogical strategies that they could employ with their students.
More than 80% percent of the teachers stated that they now understood issues related to student development.



	Students participate in Get Healthy, Get Smart! at the Academy of Collaborative Education, Harlem, NY.

Urban Tech will continue its research this year with the approval of the New York City Department of Education Division of Assessment and Accountability to conduct an evaluation of the program utilizing pre/post surveys of students and staff to demonstrate to what extent students have adopted healthier attitudes and behavior about their bodies as a result of their participation in Get Healthy, Get Smart!

Get Healthy, Get Smart! is funded by Urban Tech’s Adopt-a-School Program, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Pfizer, AIG, HIP/GHI, Verizon, NY Mets, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Green Magazine, Wachovia Bank, The Metro-Manhattan Community Foundation and Burson-Marsteller Public Relations.

Urban Tech continues to work with its corporate partners and schools to lift awareness in the community about the root causes of childhood obesity and provide outlets for physical activity and healthier meals. There is nothing more important than eradicating this public health demon that is harming the lives of our children … and we believe that education is the key!

Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation and Urban Tech Join for After School Program

Urban Tech is pleased to announce a partnership with Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation, which will provide Urban Tech's Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) as part of a comprehensive after-school program in four Turn 2 Foundation-sponsored New York City Parks and Recreation Centers in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Bronx.

Beginning Fall 2010, students ages 6-13 will be able to access YLA after school from computers in each of the four centers, receive engaging life skills and computer skills instruction, and receive homework tutoring and academic support to ensure that they are leading their peers in academic readiness and success. Urban Tech is working with Turn 2 and the Parks and Recreation Department to ensure quality training and support for all qualified instructors and coordinators who will be involved in this exciting program.

Click here to learn more about the Turn 2 Foundation.

Click here to learn more about Urban Tech' Youth Leadership Academy.

Urban Tech Welcomes New Team Member



	Urban Tech welcomes Jessica LaMotta to the team.

Urban Tech is pleased to announced its latest new team member, Ms. Jessica LaMotta. Jessica is Urban Tech's Education Programs Coordinator, responsible for managing the Get Healthy, Get Smart! initiative, working with Urban Tech and its partners to help bring technology, essential life skills, and awareness of obesity and STD/AIDS to youth in New York City schools. She also coordinates the provision of instruction for NYC teachers, assisting them to effectively implement the Youth Leadership Academy curricula through coordinated group professional development workshops and one-on-one teacher training. She works with Urban Tech's professional team members to expand the initiative and forge new alliances with schools in the New York City Metro area and beyond. In addition to the Get Healthy, Get Smart! initiative, Ms. LaMotta is also using her talents and skills to help Urban Tech continually develop and refine its life skills and computer skills curricula.

"Urban Tech is happy to have someone with Jessica's certifications and work ethic on board to help us with our vital work in New York City and beyond," says Craig Patches, Urban Tech's Multimedia Development Manager. "Jessica demonstrates a knowledge and commitment to teaching and learning that is hard to match."

Ms. LaMotta has an M.A. in Secondary Education from the College of New Jersey and a B.A. in History.

To learn more about Jessica and her involvement with Urban Tech, please read her recently featured article in the Hopatcong Patch Newspaper.

Urban Tech in the News

Check out the latest news on Urban Tech and see what the media is buzzing about its many accomplishments!

New York Times, June 17, 2010: Nicholas Kristof Op Ed

Contribute to Adopt-a-School

Another successful year of our Adopt-a-School program is under way. Across the country, individuals and corporations give directly to a local school and see immediate results from their investment. The program is proven to improve reading, writing and math scores and increase school attendance and graduation rates.

By supporting Urban Tech’s Adopt-a-School program, your dollars will give students the chance to have a life-changing experience through life lessons from the Youth Leadership Academy, which teaches leadership, conflict resolution, team building, healthy habits, financial literacy and college planning.

Click to learn more about Adopt-a-School and to make a difference:

You can also send a check payable to Urban Tech, c/o Adopt-a-School
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 606
New York, NY 10038

All donations are tax deductible. The IRA Rollover provision has been extended through 2009 allowing for qualified charitable distributions of up to $100,000 per taxpayer per year that will not be subject to income tax. If you need any assistance, please contact Tom Bransford at 212-528-7350 or at tbransford@urbantech.org.

Urban Tech Expands VITA Capacity in 50 Centers for 2010 Tax Season
$34 Million in Tax Credits and Refunds for Low Income Communities



	Urban Tech’s John Udseth teaches Financial Literacy at the Visitacion Valley community VITA Center.

Urban Tech is thrilled to announce that it will once again partner with the Department of Justice’s Weed & Seed communities and the IRS to expand capacity in 50 sites.The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) allows individuals from the most vulnerable low-income communities access to their tax refunds in as few as 10 days, and teaches budgeting, managing money wisely and the value of saving and investing for the future.

The VITA program provides free personal tax counseling and preparation using the IRS-supplied software “Tax Wise,” speedy filing and refunds using e-filing services, access to IRS-trained tax advisors,
and financial literacy training using on-line training tools, Money Smart (FDIC) and Budgets & Banking (Urban Tech). Urban Tech will supply state-of-the-art hardware and software to equip the sites, capacity development, and “train the trainer” workshops for financial literacy for members of the Weed & Seed communities.

Since 2005, Urban Tech implemented more than 100 VITA centers in Weed & Seed communities nationwide in partnership with the IRS and volunteers, including site coordinators, trainers, bankers, and tax preparers. These sites were successful in processing more than 34,000 returns worth $34,500,000 in tax credits and refunds. They saved their residents $10,000,000 in tax preparation fees equating to a total benefit of $44,500,000.

Urban Tech President Appointed to NYS Hospital Review and Planning Council

Pat Bransford was appointed by Governor David Paterson in July 2008 with the advice and consent of the Senate as one of 31 members of the State Hospital Review and Planning Council for a term to expire on April 14, 2011.

The State Council makes recommendations and decisions concerning health care facilities, policies and regulations in New York State. Ms. Bransford will help the Council in its objective to improve the quality, efficiency and economy of health care. She sits on the Technology and Planning subcommittees.

Urban Tech Thanks its 2010 Gala Supporters

Urban Tech would like to thank the following individuals and corporations for their support of our 2010 Gala:

Benefactor Table

Ambassador Carl & Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel
BTIG
National Black United Fund / Bob Williams
Pat and Tom Bransford

Patron Table

Apollo Investment Management
The David Bohnett Foundation
Goldman Sachs / Val Carlotti
Intel
Latham & Watkins / Sharon Bowen
MetLife Foundation / A. Dennis White
MIKEDP Ventures / Michael DePaola
Donald E. Newhouse
Nielsen Media / Don Lowery
Pfizer
The Verizon Foundation

Friend Table

Betsy & Edward Cohen / Arete Foundation
Emblem Health
Executive Leadership Council / Jessica Isaacs
Harlem Vintage / Eric Woods
Lazard Freres & Co.
Liberty Electric / WESCO
Paul Steiger
The Starker Family Foundation /
Farrel & Steven Starker
Tigres Group
Wells Fargo
Violy & Co.
Kathy & Jeff Zukerman

Gala Benefit Committee

Honorary Chairs
Senator Thomas Daschle
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Senator Charles Schumer
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
Hugh B. Price

Benefit Committee
Richard Bilello
Sharon Bowen
Scott Campbell
Valentino Carlotti
J.T. (Ted) Childs, Jr.
Bobbie Crosby
Michael DePaola
David N. Dinkins
Maurice DuBois
Helena Durst
Toni Fay
B. Keith Fulton
Patrick Gaston
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Dawn Hankin
Jessica Isaacs
Richard Kind
Gary Knell
Loida Nicolas Lewis
Don Lowery
H. Carl McCall
Dr. Joyce Brown McCall
Carlotta G. Miles, MD
Bruce Mosler
Carol A. Nacy, Ph.D.
Paula Nailor
David Perlin
Bill Powers
Marilyn Lloyd Price
Cynthia Rowley
Richard Rubenstein
John Starks
Honorable Scott Stringer
Dr. Louis & E. Ginger Sullivan
Dr. Elgin & Gena Davis Watkins
Bob Williams
Tracy Jenkins Winchester
Eric Woods
Kathy and Jeffrey Zukerman

Auction and Gift Donations

51 Buckingham Gate
Alia Jones
Allied Live
Arthur F. Backal
Bantry Bay
Bermuda Department of Tourism
Bobbie Crosby
Eric Woods
Flywheel Sports
Grandstand Sports & Memorabilia
Harlem Vintage
Heather Hill Farm
John Starks
Judith Ripka / The Helping Hand
Keith Lloyd Couture
Kooba
Laura Mauer
Madison Square Gardens
Maurice Dubois
Moët Hennessy USA
Nectar Wine Bar
Noel Hankin
Organic Avenue
Patsy’s Italian Restaurant
R. C. Baker ~ Courtesy of Zone: Contemporary Art
Rao’s
Ric Cherwin / Cherwin & Cherwin
Robert Lenz
Roundabout Theatre
Shawn Warren
Shutters on the Beach
T-Bar Steak & Lounge
Pat and Tom Bransford
The Carlyle Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel
The Empire Room
The Martha Stewart Show
The Studio Museum in Harlem
Weatherproof
William Goldberg Diamonds
Yooah Park ~ Courtesy of Zone: Contemporary Art
Yves Durif

Patrons

William M. Backer
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Block
Bloomberg
J. T. (Ted) Childs
Stuart Clark
Dr. Stephen Coan
Dr. Elgin & Gena Davis Watkins
Dawn Hankin & Eric Cliette
Jed Johnson Associates
Robert Lenz
Loida Nicolas Lewis
Ambassador & Mrs. Earle I. Macke
Hassell McClure
Paula Nailor
Nancy & Morris W. Offit
The Edward John and Patricia Rosenwald Foundation
Charles Rutman
Sea Research Foundation
Bernard & Anne Spitzer
Dr. and Mrs. Jan T. Vilcek
The Williams Capital Group / Christopher Williams
Janice S. Williams

Supporters/Contributors

Stephanie Dawson
Hazel N. Dukes
Michael M. Dwyer
Jill B. Fastenberg
Joseph Godwin
Alyson & Wesley Gradone
Lynelle C. Granady
Darold Hamlin
Dulany & Fredrika Hill
John W. Icke
Peter Kettle
Fern Khan
Herman Lo
Dr. & Mrs. James G. Mann
Danny R. May
H. Carl McCall
Cynthia & Walter Morris
John & Ellena O’Toole
James S. Polshek
Joan S. Reppert
LeAnn Shelton
Carol & Raymond Stolz
Tracy Jenkins Winchester

Friends

Barbara Bertozzi Castelli / Leo Castelli Gallery
Berger & Webb LLP / Steven Berger
Richard Bilello
Campus Coach
Ambassador & Mrs. Edward E. Elson
Dr. Hector Estepan & Hope Surpris
William T. Ethridge
Toni Fay
Casey Gard
Godfrey Gill
Sanjeanetta Harris
Michael Haverland Architect PC
Joyce K. Haupt
Claudine B. Malone
Pete McCormick
Gladys Nelson Piper
Anne Randall
Sotheby’s
Charlotte Weber
Oliver W. Wiener
The Y. A. Istel Foundation / Yves-Andre Istel

Urban Tech has made every effort to recognize all contributors to the Gala and would like to apologize in advance for any unintentional omissions to this listing.

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