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Our Mission

Poplar Grove Community Technology Center is a project of Summum Welfare Industries (SWI), an organization for the service of people in less fortunate circumstances. SWI shares with Summum, its founding 501(c)(3) non-profit, spiritual organization founded in 1975, a recognition that in an increasingly technologically dominated society, people who are socially and/or economically disadvantaged will become further disadvantaged if they lack access to computers and computer-related technologies.

SWI is committed to providing opportunities whereby people who are already socially or economically disadvantaged and who typically lack access to computers and related technologies can learn to use these technologies in an environment that encourages exploration and discovery. Through this experience, they develop personal skills and self-confidence.

In an effort to increase technology awareness and reach a larger, broader group of people, SWI has formed a steering committee for the Poplar Grove Community Technology Center as an advisory committee to the organizations existing governing structure in collaborative agreements with other community agencies currently engaged in Computer Technology Centers, Poplar Grove Community Counsel, representatives from the local business community and representatives from the educational community.

By lessening the gap between those who have access to computer technology and those who do not in our community, SWI intends that each individual benefits from the Poplar Grove Community Technology Center by learning or enhancing existing job skills and gaining access to employment information and opportunities.

Poplar Grove Community Technology Center will offer the following programs:

• Introduction to Windows
• Fundamentals of Word Processing - Microsoft Word
• Using the Internet and Navigating the World Wide Web
• E-mail Fundamentals
• Internet Streaming Media (Radio/Video Webcasting)
• StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology) - Students assembling, repairing, and refurbishing computers to be used within the community
• Child Care to children of participants
• Hot Meals to children of participants in Child Care

Members of SWI’s governing board have met with staff of Faith and Community Works program to receive technical assistance and to discuss possible avenues of funding for the Poplar Grove Community Technology Center. Currently SWI receives 100% of its funding from its founding organization Summum. Summum receives 100% of its funding from member tithing and private donations. SWI will be seeking grant funding for the Poplar Grove Community Technology Center for parking property, buildings, and equipment and as leverage to request matching funds from other donors.