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Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the unincorporated community of East Palo Alto has not shared in the wealth of the high-tech boom that has transformed neighboring communities over the past decade. Plugged In, a local non-profit organization established in 1992, works with area high-tech companies to bridge the gap by bringing the benefits of computer technology to the entire community. At Plugged In, more than 200 community members of all ages use state-of-the-art computers each week to do online research, complete homework assignments, or participate in more than 30 classes presented in partnership with local agencies. Plugged In hopes to use its facility as the nucleus of a broader, community-wide network. A project in the City of Compton in Los Angeles County offers similar services through the City's Blue Line TeleVillage project. Funded by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Caltrans, the Federal Department of Transportation, and the City of Compton, the TeleVillage provides residents with access to advanced computers, computer training, videoconferencing, e-mail, and the Internet that most otherwise wouldn't have-all for nominal annual membership fees ranging from $5 for students to $50 for companies and organizations. |