Mission
The
mission of the Houston Information Technology Empowerment Consortium (HITEC)
is to coordinate, promote, and implement innovative, citywide initiatives
that ensure Houston’s communities share equal access to technology,
equipment, training and services, and to enhance opportunities for
residents, businesses, and community organizations to benefit from
established and emerging information technologies and initiatives.
Organization
HITEC is an
emerging non-profit organization comprised of a diverse group of non-profit
organizations, corporations, small businesses, local and state government
entities, local special interest groups/clubs, individuals, and other
partnerships. Member organizations each currently engage in programs,
volunteer efforts, and other activities that attempt to enable Houston’s
communities to benefit from information technology. This dynamic network
serves to further empower the community by coordinating partnerships between
Houston community organizations, government agencies, educational
institutions, and businesses, and help provide access to the tools, material
resources, and other opportunities available through information
technology.
History
In 1999, the City of
Houston Mayor’s Office hosted several meetings with community based
organizations to discuss the growing gaps in the use of digital technologies
based upon socio-economic, ethnic, and educational lines popularly referred
as the “digital divide.” Out of those discussions, the group agreed that
Houston needed a community technology advocacy coalition that served as a
clearinghouse of information to support both technology and community groups
in addressing the technology needs in Houston’s underserved communities. By
2001, the loose collaboration was formerly named the Houston Information
Technology Empowerment Consortium (HITEC). HITEC received a $250,000 grant
from the Ford Foundation through the Houston Community College System
Foundation in 2003 to launch CD-TIP and establish HITEC as a viable 501
(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving to better integrate technology and
community development efforts in Houston.
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