Access To Software For All People

Programs: History and Purpose: Founded in 1994 to bridge the divide for people without access to the economic benefits that technology and computer skills can bring, ASAP operates technology businesses with student interns (called "student-employees") comprising the entire employee base. In fact, 55% of ASAP student-employees are students of Berkeley High School's Computer Academy (BHSCA); the other 45% are high school students from other programs or schools. Since 1996 ASAP has run a real-world data management business with employment-and-training in data entry, database management and database design as the core work for student-employees. In 1999 ASAP launched a Web Enterprise with the hiring of a full time Web Enterprise Manager. In addition, ASAP student-employees have run a number of summer and after-school technology access programs for children and seniors. The goal for each student-employee is the acquisition of technology skills as a tool for successful participation in the economic life of the community and the region. The bridge to economic self-sufficiency, using technology as the tool, is the real-world work executed by ASAP's student-employees. This earning-while-learning business/program design is successful because technology and employment skills are honed in a business with real workplace dynamics including deadlines, quality control, customer interaction, project management, quantity of product, attendance, teamwork and, of course, wages and incentives for high-skill, high-quality work. Since inception, more than 100 business clients have contracted with ASAP to accomplish data management, database design, web maintenance and web design work. Among the businesses, institutions, and organizations that have agreed to subcontract data management and web development work are: the State of California, Family Court Services; several local law firms; UC Berkeley; Consensus Health, Alameda County; Adept Enterprises, Alphabet Media, Corporation for Supportive Housing, RH Solutions, Downtown Berkeley Association, BTW Consultants, CAL-Research, Contra Costa County, numerous retail stores, and many others. Other business support includes a variety of large and small businesses that volunteer speakers, tours, job shadowing and some services free of charge to ASAP.