Open Source Opens Doors for Youth: a professional/nonprofit/foundation collaboration builds a youth social enterprise

Few youth in the "underserved, low-income" category get exposure to the practices, ethics, and expectations of contemporary high-tech businesses. Come hear how a group of sharp and feisty youths from East Palo Alto are leaping over the digital divide.

The youths from EPA.net are gearing up to own and operate a for-profit business providing professional Drupal services to their community.

Their first client: themselves.

The youths’ social enterprise mission has been funded by Zero Divide Foundation’s Pipeline grant and 360 degree support. CivicActions provided Drupal and professional services training.

At this session the youth staff, EPA.net, ZeroDivide and CivicActions will:
• showcase the new EPA Creative website and service offerings
• map the development and training process with which the site was built
• promote the emergence of the youth social enterprise model
• gaze into the youths’ bright future (bring your shades!)

EPA.net is an online community resource center that provides East Palo Alto with relevant, up-to-date, and general information. The goal of EPA.net is to be a real voice for the community by providing families, businesses and community-based organizations with online tools that increase their capacity to serve their local community.

CivicActions (http://civicactions.com) are internet professionals empowering social change. We span 6 time zones, 8 countries and 12 languages, working in real-time 24/7 with the latest in social media, open source and emerging technologies.

ZeroDivide (http://www.zerodivide.org/) invests in community enterprises that leverage technology to benefit people in low-income and other disadvantaged communities.