This three week summer institute is a collaboration between the School of Education (Center for Urban Youth and Technology)- information technology, the Department of Geography and Planning- geographical information systems at the University of Albany, One Hundred Black Men of the capital region, and the partners of 100-NET 2000. The program will introduce students and partners to aspects of these fields of study and the Clinton Avenue corridor in Albany, where the One Hundred Black Men Technology Center resides.

_{Urban and Environmental Action}

This reinforces our other components and integrates them under a basic philosophy of  "think globally, act locally." It seeks to enable students in the program to use math, science and computer technology to better understand their local environment and to visualize themselves as active participants, capable of studying, conserving and improving that environment. All students will participate in the preparation of a neighborhood study, the preparation of a web page  and a design project for a major local improvement that they choose after analyzing neighborhood conditions. All students will also research pertinent information on a major local planning issue, and present arguments or questions in a structured debate on that issue. Finally, all students will participate in a series of site visits and seminars in which different professions and projects will be discussed and demonstrated, and in which different applications of math, science and technology will be used.

This component will raise students' civic awareness, and their interest in professional careers relating to the natural and built environments. Particular prominence will be given to engineering, architecture, surveying, environmental testing, construction, landscape architecture, landscaping, and city planning as fields which apply math, science and technology, require proficiency and imagination in design, and must comply with budgetary limits and with numerous federal, state and local laws. Students will learn some of the technical skills and develop some of the self-confidence, persuasive abilities and social networks necessary to identify, prepare and execute projects. They will learn the old maxim that "planning is the art of the feasible" - the selection of specific projects which can attract support and funding necessary for implementation.

Program participants will canvas the Clinton Avenue area to determine what resources exist in this community. They will gather field notes and take pictures of the community around Clinton Avenue. Small teams (3-4) students and university staff and Community volunteers will go into the community each day to gather data for this research. Students will learn how to use maps, air photos, census data, real property data, digital cameras, other computer technology and software. Students will have an introduction to the concept and use of geographic information systems (GIS).

[Students] [Trips] [Guest Speakers] [History] [Pictures]   
[Mayor Jennings InterviewPart1]   [Mayor Jennings Interview Part2]
[Clinton Avenue Facelift] 

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