Latino Microenterprise Tech Net Launch!

ZeroDivide President and CEO Tessie Guillermo, California Emerging Technology Fund Director of Emerging Markets Luis Arteaga, and UC Berekely Center for Latino Policy Research Coordinator Blanca Gordo were featured speakers at the Latino Microenterprise Tech Net Project launch on June 2nd. 

LMTN is funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.  Spearheaded by the Mission Economic Development Agency and a collaboration of organizations from the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, LMTN will equip 17 computer centers across the country with the equipment, software, and training resources to provide digital literacy training to low and moderate income Latinos.  LMTN's ultimate goal is to bring necessary technology skills to Latino entrepreneurs, to power job creation in Latino communities through entrepreneurship.

The launch ceremony was hosted at Plaza Adelante, the first and only community-based asset development center in San Francisco.  Home to MEDA, the Mission Asset Fund, CAMINOS Pathways Learning Center, and Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, this 21,000 square foot family resource center brings asset development, workforce development, and family supportive services to the Latino communities of San Francisco.

The evening's featured speakers talked about the importance of technology in creating vibrant, sustainable communiities - and the challenges which technology helps to overcome.  During her remarks, Ms. Guillermo highlighted and praised the work of a special member of the attending audience - Sister Petra Chavez, whose work at Caminos in partnership with ZeroDivide funding has enabled unemployed and underemployed Latina immigrant women to move from manual and service labor to higher skilled technology-based work.  CAMINOS' use of technology training skills interrupts the cycle of poverty and social isolation that is so common to Latina immigrants.

The evening was underwritten and hosted by Gwyneth Borden of IBM, who has been a pioneer in demonstrating how technology-based corporations can leverage financial and in-kind philanthropic resources in partnership with community-based organizations to create lasting social change.