Hi!

I'm currently a first year masters' student at the University of Michigan, specializing in Human Computer Interaction and Community Informatics. Before moving to the mid-west, I was a Youth Development Worker at a public charter school in Spanish Harlem. In fact, the reason I am pursuing graduate studies is to honor the relationships I formed with my students by working to bring attention and to offer potential solutions to the structural issues that marginalized communities face. In particular, I want to reflect on two major aspets of information seeking behavior in ethnic communities. First, how can information resources contribute to community development; second, what types of information are specific communities looking for? Perhaps, most importantly, what type of information do they need? I believe these are important questions to ask as the information sciences become even more immersed with technology and communicating large amounts of data through online networks.

I am so excited to be part of the Alternative Spring Break program to work with communities and organizations to address some of these issues. This year, I will be interning in the Correctional Services Division of the New York Public Library, helping people in these facilities get access to the materials they need, providing library services, as well as research and analysis.

I have set a goal to raise $1000 for this program -- the money I raise does not go directly to me, but the entire ASB project. ASB sends around 110-120 graduate students to over 75 non profits and educational and government institutions in Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Washington D.C. If you want to take a look at the impact some of the past projects have made, look here: http://si.umich.edu/pep/asb/history.html

Each donation makes a huge difference in being able to apply our unique skills to fulfill a need that many of these organizations might not have the resources to meet otherwise. Thank you for partnering with me to positively and intentionally impact our communities.

Many thanks!
Tiffany