Education & Training:



The LincolnNet now includes pages for all higher education institutions,
libraries, and public schools in the region. As these institutions come
online with their own websites, we will be ready to link to them. We have
also consulted with several institutions regarding grant proposals, and
are assisting Kirby School District #140 in Tinley Park, Illinois with
the implementation of their technology initiatives. Similarly, we have
consulted with seven communities regarding their technology plans. We also
sponsored a statewide "Education Summit" which served as a significant
step in moving Illinois forward on education funding reform
See Funding
Reform.



Environment & Resource Use:



The South Metropolitan Regional Open Space Alliance held its second
annual conference. The current focus of the alliance has been on identifying
and prioritizing open space projects throughout the region that would make
most efficient progress through regional action and support. At the Congress,
the OSA presented a 17 point agenda for action
See Congress 
and Open Space Alliance. In addition,
we are
working with the Will
County Forest Preserve and a local high school to place an interactive
website on LincolnNet for environmental education, and on a planning initiative
related to the Thorn Creek Macrosite.



Jobs & Economic Development:



We have initiated work for a regional economic development profile with
linkages to local economic development organizations and involved institutions.
Obviously, a regional profile and data book is precisely the sort of "hard
copy" material that is out of date very quickly. By placing this information
online in a comprehensive and regularly updated webpage, LincolnNet grows
in value as an important information resource for the region.



During the first 18 months of the Lincoln Project, we have been primarily
focused on the public sector. One of our main objectives has been to communicate
to the public institutions in our region the value of these emerging information
and interaction technologies, and to begin to raise technological comfort
levels. As we look toward the next phase of Lincoln, however, we realize
that in order for our community network to continue to be viable and comprehensive,
we must now focus on establishing a business friendly climate and an infrastructure
that meets the needs of businesses in the region as well. With this in
mind, we are exploring the possibility of implementing a business incubator
where businesses can learn about the World Wide Web and begin to use it
without great capital expenditures. A free enterprise cyberzone can meet
the needs of business and help our regional network to survive and grow.



Other Initiatives:



We have recently started an initiative with the South Suburban Police
Chiefs’ Network The group has established a six member technology committee,
and we have been working with them to develop a website and email capabilities
for their network. See Police
Chiefs



We also continue to work with community groups in the Village of Park
Forest on developing a model electronic village.
See
Park Forest



In addition, we are experimenting with webcasting with the two innovative
initiatives mentioned earlier: 1) Webtide, a webcast with audio and visual
content from around the world, developed with GSU faculty members.
See Webtide;
and 2) CyberSight, a youth operated online tabloid/webcast that is allowing
us to train "apprentice webmasters" about telephony and Internet
technology, and is also allowing us to experiment with "tele-mentoring,"
a means to use technology to provide guidance and support to our young
participants in the technology, and in their oral/written communication
skills. See CyberSight




Back to the report
menu