The TallyCast

Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum speaking at news conference on the Digital Harmony project. Photo credit: Rick Oppenheim

OK folks, it’s time to give.  Thanks to our local economic base:  government, education and a growing high technology sector, we live in one of the most wired cities in the southeast. Computers are a part of almost everybody’s job in Tallahasse these days.

Computers are a tool for learning yet not every Tallahassee family can afford to give their child the head start in life that a computer can provide.  Children growing up in homes without computers are at a big disadvantage in school and perhaps in life. The Digital Harmony project is attempting to provide that head start to 240 Nims Middle School (map) 6th graders.  The project provides a computer, internet access, software, training and support for the student and their family.

The program was initiated in 2007 by City Commissioner Andrew Gillum and is sponsored by the City of Tallahassee and a whole host of government agencies, educational institiutions, community organizations, businesses and citizens.

When the Digital Harmony project started in 2007, Nims Middle School was an “F” school and had approximately 100 children in the 6^th grade.  While Nims no longer is a failing school, the Digital Harmony project is successfully completing year two and will grow dramatically in year three due to the closing of Bellevue Middle School.  Enrollment is expected to increase nearly 50% to 240 incoming 6^th grade students.

The upcoming 2009-2010 school year is promising to be the biggest and most challenging of the three-year Digital Harmony project at Nims Middle School. Concerned Tallahassee-area businesses, civic groups, churches, parents and citizens can help the organization meet their goal of continuing to provide computers at Nims by “adopting” one or more students and contributing to the purchase of their computer and program costs.

At a news conference yesterday, Eileen Self, executive director of the Go Beyond Foundation, a co-sponsor of the Digital Harmony program said that the  2009-2010 school year will be the biggest and most challenging in the three years that the program has been in existance.  “Now, more than ever”, Self said,  “we need the support of partners in the community so that we can continue to provide students critical tools to help them succeed.”

Campaign contributors include Hewlett Packard, which has donated 50 new computers, and Comcast, which has committed to provide free Internet access in the homes of recipients for the third year in a row.  However, with a price tag of $700 per computer, this year’s estimated costs will total approximately $168,000 – money that will have to be raised from the community.

The Go Beyond Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to promoting leadership and programs that improve access to advanced technology and technical education experiences by providing enhanced educational opportunities to students identified as being adversely affected by the “digital divide” between those that have access to technology and those that do not.

That’s where you come in Tallahassee.  The project needs churches, community groups, business associations, civic clubs and you to step up and help fund this important project.  Contributions to the Digital Harmony Project are tax deductible and will make huge difference in the lives of these young people, and will help make our community smarter and stronger.  This is a project that has already proven it’s worth and one that we should all be proud to support.

You can contribute to the Digital Harmony  program by visiting either of these websites:

• www.digitalharmonyleon.com
• www.gobeyondfoundation.org

Checks can be mailed to: Digital Harmony, c/o Go Beyond Foundation, 1342 Timberlane Rd., Suite 201-A, Tallahassee, Fla. 32312

Thanks to Allan Stamm and Rick Oppenheim for the letting us know about this important project.