Antonia Stone
Encyclopedia
Antonia "Toni" Stone created the United States' first community technology center
s. In 1980, Toni Stone set up Playing to Win (PTW). Playing to Win, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to countering inequities in computer access. PTW looked to serve inmates and ex-offenders by teaching them computer skills and offering technical assistance to prisons and rehabilitation agencies. In 1983, Stone and PTW Corporation opened the Harlem Community Computing Center. This center was located in the basement of a Harlem
housing project it provided the neighborhood with public access to personal computers. Taking advantage of the success of PTW, Stone created a network of centers known as the PTWNet.
Playing to Win Network went on to form alliances with six other technology access programs in Harlem
, some parts of Boston
, Washington, D.C.
, and Pittsburgh, by 1990. In 1992, Playing To Win was given a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation
in order to provide neighborhood technology access to the northeastern United States. Three years later Stone changed the PTWNet name to the Community Technology Centers’ Network. The newly named network was a national membership organization of community technology centers.
Today, the CTCNet includes more than 600 member sites connected by the Internet. The network is an independent organization that provides services to 1,000 community technology centers around the country. PTW is still working to provide computer literacy
programs in Harlem.
In 1997, Stone left CTCNet but continued working and advising in the area of technical literacy. Stone received the Norbert Wiener Award from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
in 1994 and the Eugene L. Lawler Award from the Association for Computing Machinery
in 1999 for her work in humanitarian application of computers. In 2001, Stone was awarded an honorary doctorate
from DePaul University
. Stone also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Harvard chapter of Women in Technology.
Antonia Stone died in 2002 due to complications from myelodysplastic leukemia
.
Community technology center
A community technology center or CTC offers resources to help bridge the digital divide, primarily through the public accessing computers and the internet. These centers are a key part of what is now being referred to as digital inclusion programs. Many centers provide training that ranges from...
s. In 1980, Toni Stone set up Playing to Win (PTW). Playing to Win, a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to countering inequities in computer access. PTW looked to serve inmates and ex-offenders by teaching them computer skills and offering technical assistance to prisons and rehabilitation agencies. In 1983, Stone and PTW Corporation opened the Harlem Community Computing Center. This center was located in the basement of a Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
housing project it provided the neighborhood with public access to personal computers. Taking advantage of the success of PTW, Stone created a network of centers known as the PTWNet.
Playing to Win Network went on to form alliances with six other technology access programs in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, some parts of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Pittsburgh, by 1990. In 1992, Playing To Win was given a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
in order to provide neighborhood technology access to the northeastern United States. Three years later Stone changed the PTWNet name to the Community Technology Centers’ Network. The newly named network was a national membership organization of community technology centers.
Today, the CTCNet includes more than 600 member sites connected by the Internet. The network is an independent organization that provides services to 1,000 community technology centers around the country. PTW is still working to provide computer literacy
Computer literacy
Computer literacy is defined as the knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with a range of skills covering levels from elementary use to programming and advanced problem solving. Computer literacy can also refer to the comfort level someone has with using...
programs in Harlem.
In 1997, Stone left CTCNet but continued working and advising in the area of technical literacy. Stone received the Norbert Wiener Award from Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility
The Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility was established in 1987 in honor of Norbert Wiener to recognize contributions by computer professionals to socially responsible use of computers...
in 1994 and the Eugene L. Lawler Award from the Association for Computing Machinery
Association for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
in 1999 for her work in humanitarian application of computers. In 2001, Stone was awarded an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
. Stone also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Harvard chapter of Women in Technology.
Antonia Stone died in 2002 due to complications from myelodysplastic leukemia
Myelodysplastic syndrome
The myelodysplastic syndromes are a diverse collection of hematological medical conditions that involve ineffective production of the myeloid class of blood cells....
.
External links
- http://main.edc.org/Newsroom/features/stone.asp
- http://archive.cpsr.net/issues/astone.html
- http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/dictionary/detail.asp?guid=&searchtype=&DicID=16379&RefType=Encyclopedia
- http://listserv.uh.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9410b&L=pacs-l&T=0&P=682