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A World of Possibilities
At the forefront of bridging the digital divide, Dallas-based
Business Access provides computers and training to help historically
disadvantaged communities advance and succeed. Business Access partners with state Workforce Commissions to provide
participants (known as @chievers) with free computers and Internet-based
classroom training. The program is supported by Federal Workforce
funds distributed by local workforce boards. Business Access donates
the computers, while the workforce board pays for software, testing,
installation, and customization.
The company strives to introduce technology as a tool for lifelong
learning. Participants gain immediate work skills to increase pay
levels and improve job retention. There is no cost, but participants
must first register with their Workforce Center, commit to use
their Personal Computer, and agree to stay active in the program.
They earn ownership of the PC when they complete their customized
individual curriculum. The entire family is encouraged to use the
PC, get e-mail accounts, and access the BA site.
The company’s In-Home Learning
Communities have been highly successful. More than 1,500 people
participate in the program throughout
Texas. The first 1,200 @chievers produced the following results:
90% - have either kept their jobs or advanced to better jobs
31% - increased their income in nine months or less
84% - met their welfare program requirements
65% - no longer have the need for government assistance / welfare
for themselves or their children
< 1% - computers lost or stolen
One Community’s Story
In Cameron County, Texas, access to a better education got easier
for 199 low-income families who received free computers and Internet-based
classroom training.
Officials at Cameron Works, which funds the cost of software,
testing, installation, and customization of the In-Home Learning
System, recently announced that 151 systems have been placed in
homes. Business Access donated and installed the computer systems.
When Cameron Works puts a computer in someone’s home, the
family is instantly connected to a world of possibilities, said
Daylan Beamon, Business Development Manager at Business Access. “They
can take an online class, look for a higher-paying job, help their
kids with homework, and keep in touch with friends and family.
The Internet is for everyone, and once people learn to use it,
the computer is no longer a scary machine: It's a tool they can
use to realize their dreams."
An @chiever’s Story
Alma Castaneda hates getting disconnected. “You’re
right in the middle of a conversation, and you have to start all
over. I hate that, but I’m a computer freak, you know, so
that’s just me.”
Alma admits to being a bit of a computer
addict. She began using her friend Mary’s computer only
a few months ago, and she was hooked as soon as she started.
Alma has been a prolific user of Business Access Training. She
has completed 24 classes online -- admittedly with a little help
from her 16-year-old son. She is now using her Aztec disk and completing
GED preparation classes.
“I need help with my spelling and writing,” she says.
She hopes to pass the GED test soon. Her enthusiasm for the computer
hasn’t been lost on her children. When her four youngest
were asked who could use the computer, they all raised their hands.
They gathered around their mom and the computer and called out
answers as questions came up from one of the Aztec training classes.
“The computer is like a game to me, that I have to figure
out, that makes learning and completing classes fun,” says
Alma.
Business Access
Started in 1998, Business Access is led by CEO and President Kimberly
Bunting, a nationally recognized innovator in diversity employment
and training. Bunting developed her vision for the company while
working as a consultant for large corporations that hired upwards
of 40,000 employees per year.
For eight years, Bunting evaluated the skills businesses were
looking for in potential employees, the frequency of hires through
government training programs, and the integration of government-trained
workers into the general workforce. Her rich knowledge of what
businesses need from U.S. government sponsored training programs
resulted in the Business Access program, which is designed to position
@chievers with the highest potential for gaining employment and
moving up the career ladder.
Participants who utilize the program
to its fullest extent demonstrate self-motivation and self-interest
in learning, Bunting contends.
In addition to becoming comfortable with computers, various software
programs, and exploring the Internet, in-home access allows @chievers
to better compete in the workplace. When there is unfinished work,
and they don’t have the flexibility to remain in the office
after hours, they can complete the job at home.
Bunting also points out that @chievers have a ready resource of
training if their job, or a possible promotion, requires skills
they don't currently have. Beyond preparing for today's workforce,
Bunting's vision includes the whole family. For people to feel
successful, both their work life and their family life need to
be addressed, she says. Children of @chievers utilize the in-home
system for schoolwork, to find scholarships, to learn about people
and places outside of their local areas, and more. A Pew Internet
and American Life Study says students with easy Internet access
believe they have a clear advantage over peers with little or no
access.
According to Bunting, the Business Access philosophy is basic:
Believe in yourself, believe in your ability to learn new things,
and utilize all the tools available to you to take charge of your
own and your children's personal growth. It may be a government
program that got you the computer and Internet, but the rest of
the success story is yours to make.
For more information about the In-Home Learning System, visit
www.business-access.com.
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