The Objective Observer
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When I walked into the Devcorp office for my appointment with Rene Camargo, I was early and had a few minutes to kill so I decided to look around a little. The space is large and airy with a high ceiling and oversized artwork on the east wall, like lofts I’ve been in. And there are the usual padded office dividers that created semi-private offices, conference room and the like.
People were talking on the phone and busy at computer stations: the normal office activity you would expect to find in any normal office setting. It was a comfortable space and as I walked back to the waiting area after my tour, I noticed that the cubicle that I had first passed was fast filling up with people. Not Devcorp employees but just regular people. I took a good look this time and saw it was a room filled with computer stations and every one of the computers was being used.
So I asked Sandi about it and she told me. I was impressed so I’m writing about it. I didn’t plan to, because having not stepped into Devcorp’s new office since they moved here to 1557 North Howard, I didn’t know this even existed. And the reason I’m writing about it is that is filling an obvious need, is very successful, others should know about it and there is a synergy with another community based project I have been working on. Actually, it might be the missing link and I am pursuing that project now with Daniel Butt, who is the project coordinator for this program. And as I said I would, I am finding common ground where I can.
So I am asking that you go to your hat rack or wherever you keep your objective hat and put it on for a few minutes as you read this. I like giving credit where credit is due and this is a program and an effort that deserves some recognition. Lots of people had a hand in its inception, its initial and ongoing funding and the day to day management. The program is so successful there is now a waiting list that has about a hundred names scribbled on it.
Rogers Park Computer Lab and Technology Center
The program grew out of a survey done by Devcorp headed by Rene Camargo to find out how the primarily Hispanic merchants on Clark Street were utilizing computer skills and internet access to help their businesses become more efficient. The study found that between 70 and 80% of the businesses that responded, did not use computers at all. So the need for computer education was obvious and a program that was borne from this data in 2003 to help these business people become more computer proficient, has now expanded to include Gale School Parents, EarnFare Workers, small business owners and anyone who needs and wants to learn about Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel and Access and Web Design for Small Businesses. In addition to the regularly scheduled classes during the week and on one Saturday a month, there is ample “open” computer time available.
For a 10 week course, the Registration Fee is $40.00. It is free for the Gale School Parents and EarnFare workers and anyone who can demonstrate a financial need. If you are between jobs and need help with your resume or want to develope some additional marketable skills, go to the office and talk to Daniel Butt. The instructor is Ricardo Bustamante and he has been the bilingual teacher since 2004. I have not met him, but by all accounts and judging by the graduation rate of the students, which is quarterly performance based data needed for ongoing funding, he is well liked and good at what he does.
The initial $50,000 grant was awarded by then SBC, now AT&T in 2004 and lobbied hard in Springfield by State Representative Harry Osterman and State Representative Willie Delgado, President of the Department of Human Services, Kimberly Bares and Rene Camargo. Sandi Price was instrumental along with Kimberly and Rene in writing up the initial proposal. The ongoing funding is from D.C.E.O. and as stated earlier, is performance based. Devcorp pays monthly for the AT&T DSL service.
Objectively speaking, this is a great program in a great location. If you or anyone you know needs some low cost computer help like I do, I suggest you check out this program. There is a growing waiting list and an expanding curriculum that is offered on a weekly basis. If you want to call and get some more information, the number is 773 508 5885 and ask for Daniel.
When I walked into the Devcorp office for my appointment with Rene Camargo, I was early and had a few minutes to kill so I decided to look around a little. The space is large and airy with a high ceiling and oversized artwork on the east wall, like lofts I’ve been in. And there are the usual padded office dividers that created semi-private offices, conference room and the like.
People were talking on the phone and busy at computer stations: the normal office activity you would expect to find in any normal office setting. It was a comfortable space and as I walked back to the waiting area after my tour, I noticed that the cubicle that I had first passed was fast filling up with people. Not Devcorp employees but just regular people. I took a good look this time and saw it was a room filled with computer stations and every one of the computers was being used.
So I asked Sandi about it and she told me. I was impressed so I’m writing about it. I didn’t plan to, because having not stepped into Devcorp’s new office since they moved here to 1557 North Howard, I didn’t know this even existed. And the reason I’m writing about it is that is filling an obvious need, is very successful, others should know about it and there is a synergy with another community based project I have been working on. Actually, it might be the missing link and I am pursuing that project now with Daniel Butt, who is the project coordinator for this program. And as I said I would, I am finding common ground where I can.
So I am asking that you go to your hat rack or wherever you keep your objective hat and put it on for a few minutes as you read this. I like giving credit where credit is due and this is a program and an effort that deserves some recognition. Lots of people had a hand in its inception, its initial and ongoing funding and the day to day management. The program is so successful there is now a waiting list that has about a hundred names scribbled on it.
Rogers Park Computer Lab and Technology Center
The program grew out of a survey done by Devcorp headed by Rene Camargo to find out how the primarily Hispanic merchants on Clark Street were utilizing computer skills and internet access to help their businesses become more efficient. The study found that between 70 and 80% of the businesses that responded, did not use computers at all. So the need for computer education was obvious and a program that was borne from this data in 2003 to help these business people become more computer proficient, has now expanded to include Gale School Parents, EarnFare Workers, small business owners and anyone who needs and wants to learn about Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel and Access and Web Design for Small Businesses. In addition to the regularly scheduled classes during the week and on one Saturday a month, there is ample “open” computer time available.
For a 10 week course, the Registration Fee is $40.00. It is free for the Gale School Parents and EarnFare workers and anyone who can demonstrate a financial need. If you are between jobs and need help with your resume or want to develope some additional marketable skills, go to the office and talk to Daniel Butt. The instructor is Ricardo Bustamante and he has been the bilingual teacher since 2004. I have not met him, but by all accounts and judging by the graduation rate of the students, which is quarterly performance based data needed for ongoing funding, he is well liked and good at what he does.
The initial $50,000 grant was awarded by then SBC, now AT&T in 2004 and lobbied hard in Springfield by State Representative Harry Osterman and State Representative Willie Delgado, President of the Department of Human Services, Kimberly Bares and Rene Camargo. Sandi Price was instrumental along with Kimberly and Rene in writing up the initial proposal. The ongoing funding is from D.C.E.O. and as stated earlier, is performance based. Devcorp pays monthly for the AT&T DSL service.
Objectively speaking, this is a great program in a great location. If you or anyone you know needs some low cost computer help like I do, I suggest you check out this program. There is a growing waiting list and an expanding curriculum that is offered on a weekly basis. If you want to call and get some more information, the number is 773 508 5885 and ask for Daniel.
The Objective Observer
15 Comments:
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thanx for the spell check tom.
craig-
OBJECTIVE:
a : expressing or dealing with facts or conditions as perceived without distortion by personal feelings, prejudices, or interpretations an objective history of the war, an objective judgment b of a test : limited to choices of fixed alternatives and reducing subjective factors to a minimum
synonym see MATERIAL, FAIR
- ob·jec·tive·ly adverb
- ob·jec·tive·ness noun
- ob·jec·tiv·i·ty /"äb-"jek-'ti-v&-tE, &b-/ noun
> The initial $50,000 grant was awarded by then SBC, now AT&T in 2004 and lobbied hard in Springfield by State Representative Harry Osterman and State Representative Willie Delgado,
Today's headline in the Sun-Times: corruption in the SBC Foundation grants:
Critics blast SBC-Rush relationship
April 25, 2006
BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON -- An Englewood community center founded by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a key player on telecommunications legislation, received a $1 million grant from the charitable arm of SBC/AT&T, one of the nation's largest phone companies.
The chief of a congressional watchdog group says Rush's ongoing association with the Rebirth of Englewood Community Development Corporation and his role in shaping telecommunications law as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee is a conflict of interest. Using charitable giving as a backdoor way to curry favor with lawmakers is coming under increasing scrutiny ...
The Barton-Rush measure gives phone companies a national television franchise and avoids the need to get approval from 30,000 local governments.
More...
hugh-
while appreciate and encourage everyone to weigh in with thier opinions as i used to, my focus is a little different these days.
i'll be trying to present as objectively as i can programs and events that residents of rp can take advantage of or participate in, no matter who the sponsor happens to be. in this case, it happened to be devcorp. next post, might be another organization that has no such political affiliation.
i guess the analogy i would make is this: i don't happen to agree with a lot of what mr. bush does or says but does that mean i'll not take advantage of the programs the federal government sponsors? probably not.
big business has it's hands everywhere, hugh. sometimes it works out well for everyday citizens, sometimes it doesn't.
DevCorp North is leasing space from one of their Vice Presidents and a member of their Board of Directors, Aldermanic Pal Rich Aronson.
Aronson and his partners in CRP XIX LLC purchased the one-story commercial building at 1557 W Howard, PIN 11-29-300-002, just east of the soon-to-be-demolished historic Wisdom Bridge Theater, on 6/23/2005 for $480,000.00. See Cook County Recorder of Deeds document number 0518653000.
DevCorp North held an open house at their new location on Wednesday, November 9, 2005. See "OPEN HOUSE."
The Official Realtor of the 49th Ward (R)
Richard M. Aronson is a realtor with Camelot Realty of America, Inc. and a member of DevCorp North's standing committee to promote real estate development, which also serves Alderman Moore as his "community" Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee (ZALUAC). Aronson abuses his role on Moore's real estate committee to secure listing agreements for condo projects in Moore's ward. Aronson is one of Moore's most generous supporters.
$500.00 on 10/24/2002 (Richard M. Aronson, realtor, Camelot)
2 contributions of $100.00 each for a total of $200.00 on 11/5/2001 (Richard M. Aronson)
$250.00 on 3/25/2004 (Richard M. Aronson)
$1,000.00 on 6/14/2002 (Camelot Development)
$1,000.00 on 1/24/2001 (Camelot Realty)
$500.00 on 8/11/1999 (Camelot Realty)
$100.00 on 8/3/1999 (Camelot Realty)
$1,000.00 on 2/28/2004 (Camelot Realty)
$1,000.00 on 2/12/2004 (Camelot Realty)
$1,000.00 on 1/13/2005 (Camelot Realty)
$500.00 on 12/9/2002 (Scott A. Sinar, President, attorney, Camelot)
$250.00 on 3/25/2004 (Scott A. Sinar)
Camelot Realty of America, Inc., Camelot Development, LLC, their officers, and employees have contributed at least $7200 to Moore since 1999, according to Moore's disclosures to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
The exact magnitude of DevCorp North's largess toward one of their own is not known at this time, but we can estimate the value of DevCorp North's lease from recent years. DevCorp North discloses their rental expenses on their annual legally required financial disclosures.
Part II: Statement of Functional Expenses: Line 36: Occupancy
2001 $14,400.00
2002 $14,400.00
2003 $14,615.00
2004 $14,947.00
DevCorp North's financial disclosures are available upon request from DevCorp North, from the IRS, or from GuideStar.org.
Moore supported DevCorp North in raising taxes on Howard and Morse to support themselves, in a program they call "Special Service Areas." DevCorp North's payments to Aronson is DevCorp North doing what they do best: transfering public resources to private hands.
Join DevCorp North. Be in with the in crowd. Feather your nest.
Gary -- I appreciate that this looks to be a good program but I'd like to know total enrollment/hrs. those computers are being used vs. cost (cost of the computers, the teachers, the dsl time, the building overhead allocation). And, are there other programs in the community that already fill the need such as, say, the library (where there are also free computers)? Are there other, more important programs, that DevCorp might be providing but is not because they've spent so much on this program? The other thing is that most of the businesses on Clark are retail/service businesses, and most of those sorts of businesses don't need computers to grow. That's not to say that these business people won't benefit from becoming computer proficient but that computer use may not have a measurable impact on their businesses. The woman who cuts my hair started with a chair at a salon about 10 years ago. She now has her own salon with 5 employees, and bought a building in Andersonville. She barely knows how to turn her computer on, doesn't know how to email, and there is no computer on site.
It is nearly impossible to look at anything DevCorp does, even that which may be commendable, without prejudice. DevCorp is a non profit that takes taxpayer money on many levels -- SSA tax (which is undue burden on those operating in those zones), tax breaks, and subsidies. Everyone pays for these from large corporatations to you, me, the bartender at Poitin Stil, and all those between. Yet the benefits of DevCorp, sans a few folks using computers, accrue almost entirely to the nicely paid staff and developers. This is not to say that Rene, or anyone else there, doesn't mean well or have a good heart. Nor does this preclude them from coming up with a program or two that is good. But a few good programs don't override the fact that the organization largely benefits a few, mostly middle class people, and has done damn little for the community. The larger community most certainly has not benefited from them thus far unless you consider a fairly empty strip mall that a developer made good money on a benefit to RP.
If a mugger steals my purse,gives $10 of the stolen cash to his sick grandmother for her meds but spends the rest on himself, does that one action of giving (stolen) money to the sick granny excuse the rest? Do we forget/forgive that the $10 was stolen in the first place because it was spent on humanitarian efforts?
Objectively, it seems to me, that we need to stop excusing those taxpayer boondoggle programs and entities, and start saying "no." When we say: yes, but they are here and so we have to work with them, we sell out. When we say: yes, it's wrong to take this taxpayer money but since it provides a freebie to me, I can't turn it down, we sell out. When we say: but if I don't sell out, my compeitors will, so I have to, we sell out. 1+1 will never = 3 and two wrongs will never make a right. Maybe I am idealistic; maybe I am dreaming. But what the hell happened to the Woodstock generation that said they'd never sell out? They not only sold out, they re-wrote the book on how to make a lot of money while creating sell out programs, particularly if you cloak it in "good works." Meanwhile, the truly needy, the children born into rotten environments who have little chance of rising up, are left hurting. Sorry, but I fail to see how DevCorp, for all the money they get, gives back much. And I fail to see how a few free computers and computer programs really benefit those in need.
pamela-
thanx for your well thought response and i will try and respond with what i know because you've raised a few issues i may not have the answers to.
if the program only possibly benefitted the merchants on clark street and no one else, there would be less incentive for me to write about it. but the focus is much broader than that, free classes for the Gale School parents, free classes for the EarnFare workers and anyone else who has an obvious financial need.
i'm not aware of any local program that offers such a curriculum, a 10 week course, for so little money. it is true that the library has computers, but what good are they to people who are intimidated and who don't know how to use them?
the people who are most benefitting from this program are the ones who are truly in need and that is what my particular focus is. there are elderly people, people who have lost their jobs and who are trying to get back on their feet and especially the Gale School parents, where there is a real need.
i have been to the Gale School and spoken with the vice principle about this area of concern. while there is a computer lab in the school for the children and they are learning those skills, the parents don't possess any such skills and they should, in order for them to help with the childrens homework. there is more to this than i can write about just yet and it involves other initiatives that i am working on that will hopefully make sense once i am finished.
i realize this is unpopular and on the face of it it doesn't seem to make sense, except to look at as a sellout of some sort. i understand your point and agree with you that those in our generation have profitted from such a sell out but there is no "profit" in this for me. this is totally a free time volunteer effort on my part to try and connect the dots with what is available and what real needs are, especially NOH. the people who are learning and taking advantage of this particular program don't care about the politics or devcorps past performance. they are just trying to learn a skill that they need to learn in todays job market and to help their children.
the Gale School parents computer education is the primary focus for me and as i said earlier, this will hopefully make sense once i've laid it all out. but others are using this class too. the retail merchants on clark have taken advantage and have benefitted from this class. i've spoken with some of them and that was part of what i was doing on clark street that day with rene. many of the merchants are importers and would routinely travel by car or plane back to mexico to order goods. now some are utilizing the internet to travel the web and become more efficient.
pamela. i realize i've put myself in a tough spot and i am not forgetting or asking anyone else to forget what i've disagreed with devcorp about or what anyone else thinks about the subject. as a stand alone program, outside all the other issues, this one, in my view is benefitting the community more than anything else i've seen and that's why i wrote about it.
if it wasn't filling a need, there wouldn't be anyone using it but it is and they are. this is not an endorsement of past decisions it is merely a recognition of something that is working to help those in need and who need help, especially NOH.
Gary -- Thanks for the thoughtful response. You really didn't need to defend or explain your actions/decisions. I am so big on getting the power of technology to those who don't have it that I've donated one very nice Dell laptop to a local charitable group (that does train children) and have two others (hopefully!) that I can give shortly. I have also been in discussions with an acquaintance in NYC who has a FABULOUS program for children that doesn't maintain people (teaching someone how to turn on a computer and use the internet and Word is, frankly, maintenance at this point) but gets them up and out and teaches them how to be leaders and about the world of available opportunities. I prefer to work with private groups, and, like everyone, may be forced to plug my nose if they are also receiving public funding (I figure the tax breaks for non-profits are the functional equivalent of my mortgage interest deduction, which I also don't like but admit to taking which means that I'm a sell out too!), but I won't work with groups like DevCorp because their benefits accrue to too few. That's my personal line in the sand. I may disagree with someone else's alignment with DevCorp but to each his own whether I like it or not.
There are many charitable groups in RP that do the computer thing, particularly for children. I'd be happy to share what I know and have a larger conversation about outreach efforts and what is statistically proven to work vs. that which doesn't work.
pamela-
thanx a lot, i really appreciate your willingness to understand and help and i think i'll need it as do my neighbors noh.
craig-
the classes are free to the Gale School parents and anyone in this vicinity who demonstrate a need. on howard, it is within walking distance for the people who most likely lack transportation.
thank you for informing us of another program that is loclly offered and convenient to people who live in that area.if anyone else knows of any, please feel free to post it.
in the future, you will find your comments deleted if you cannot restrain from the ridicule and personal attacks you seem to find so amusing.
Pamela,
Thanks for posting Your thoughts.
One quibble...
> the organization largely benefits a few, mostly middle class people,
I think you may have been thinking of the staff here. Of course you understand that the primarly beneficiaries of DevCorp North are firmly upper class. DevCorp North' main impact on our neighborhood has been to greatly concentrate wealth and to foster the growing economic disparity in our society.
DevCorp North actively promoted Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to make a few insider pals of the Alderman, including James DiMatteo (Gateway Mall), Rudy Muldar, Paul Roldan, John Terzakis, Jay Johnson, and John Conrad (S&C) very, very wealthy. By acquired land in our neighborhood and turning it over to a few chosen insiders, the TIFs sponsored by DevCorp North expanded the "real estate mogul" sector at the top of the economic pyramid in our neighborhood. Since none of these Elect reside in our neighborhood, the TIFs also serve to siphon wealth out of our neighborhood to more fashionable zip codes.
DevCorp North sends dollars out of our community by displacing locally-owned businesses with multi-national corporations and national chain stores.
DevCorp North drove out office jobs (North Shore Bank), replacing them with check-out clerks (Dominick's); drove out manufacturing jobs (Schumaker Electric), replacing them with towel dispensers (Bally's); drove off job training in cosmetology (Powder Puff), replacing it with job training in street sweeping (Special Service Areas).
At the bottom of the economic pyramid, DevCorp North serves as the official supplier of officially-sanctioned below-minimum-wage workers in our neighborhood. DevCorp North maintains a staff of workers paid in food stamps and makes this staff available to local corporations for jobs like street sweeping and snow shoveling.
Hugh -- I requested an annual report from DevCorp. Here is what I got in response:
We don't have a written annual report. We do present an oral annual report at our annual meeting which is held in June. We don't have an exact date yet, but I can let you know when it is scheduled if you are interested in attending.
Sandi Price
Director of Operations
DevCorp North
So where do I go to see the financials since they claim they don't put it in writing?
Than you for yoru efforts to hold DevCorp North accountable. I'm sorry to hear you are having problems with them.
> We don't have a written annual report.
This claim is not tenable. Presumably, their Board approves their budget, and it is impossible to beleive they do it after an oral presentation.
Making half-million dollar budgets of taxpayer money disappear without an annual report is deeply disturbing.
You may have better luck if you are more specific in your request. You are legally entitled to their disclosure forms to the IRS for the last three years. For more information on your rights, please see:
FAQs About the Exempt Organization Public Disclosure Requirements
If you request these disclosures and are denied, it is a serious violation of federal law, and should be reported to the IRS (see FAQ #12).
Many legitimate not-for-profit organizations with web sites choose to fulfill their legal requirement to share their disclosures with the public by posting them on their web site.
Sandi at Devcorp wrote back that I can get copies of their Form 990. I have to mail a check for the copying cost (under $5) or I can swing by and pick it up, which I will do, but not til late next week. Will follow up then.
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