City Mission

Technology Helps Kids Realize Their Potential

City Mission's goal is to help Detroit youth develop academically, giving them the opportunity to graduate and achieve their career goals. City Mission started tutoring 7 children with 7 volunteers in 1998. Today, it works with over 100 kids and 65 volunteers.

According to Joe Follick, City Mission's Facilities Manager, "Prior to donations from TechSoup Stock, computers were for staff only. We were unable to offer technology options in our programs for youth because of technology issues."

Joe describes the impact of improved technology for the students: "We usually measure impact by increased test scores in reading and math. However, there is a great amount of impact not measured in these tests. For example, all of our students are now comfortable using a computer and have a basic knowledge of how to use age-appropriate programs. Younger students use reading and math tutorials, while our older students have been using career development software."

As a growing organization, City Mission staff faced a number of technology challenges in the past. "We had desktop computers running different program versions (Windows ME, Windows 98, and

Windows XP)," explains Joe. City Mission upgraded their desktop computers with donations of Microsoft Windows XP and Office 2003. "All staff now has access to the same software applications. No need to move from computer to computer to accomplish routine tasks," notes Joe. Document compatibility issues have been mostly eliminated, and less time is spent troubleshooting desktop problems.

City Mission received several donated Cisco networking products (including a firewall, router, switch, and wireless access point) and installed Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition. Their network is now more robust with much less downtime, and Internet access is faster. Joe observes, "It is much easier to add and network PCs, with much less troubleshooting needed. And staff can now access data remotely." Now, City Mission can also push AntiVirus updates to workstations

automatically instead of manually updating individual computers. "Now we can concentrate on providing services to the students instead of focusing our energy on maintaining the technology."

Cisco recently hosted the NetSquared Conference in San Jose and Symantec was the platinum sponsor.

"The students were very eager to try the new technology; most of these kids use our facilities since they don't have computers at home."

Joe Follick

Facilities Manager