Public Computing Services Democratizing Information

PCS has technical partnerships with other 501c3 nonprofits that provide similar services. Where possible, we 'distribute' their services to the public through our public charity clients. We do not sell software. Whenever we develop a software module (i.e., feature) that integrates with a partner project, we contribute that module to that project. In other words, we give the source code for our software to the other projects so that other members of those projects can use what we've developed.

Currently, PCS uses and also contributes software modules to these projects:

• We use the Apache HTTP Server to host web sites. Apache provides an open-source HTTP (web site) service for modern operating systems including UNIX and Windows NT.
• The Drupal project provides the content management system PCS distributes. Drupal allows an individual or an organization to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a website.
• We use the CiviCRM constituent relationship management solution to distribute an address book for nonprofits and their clients. CiviCRM is web-based, open source, internationalized, and designed specifically to meet the needs of non-profit groups.

PCS distributes its services to the public indirectly through these nonprofit clients:

• Southern Minnesota Alcoholics Anonymous distributes a Meeting Locator that PCS built on CiviCRM that allows its records chairs to publish data about Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-anon meetings. The Meeting Locator gives members a single source to look for meetings near them that meet their needs. They also publish a tool that connects alcoholics recently released from correctional facilities with temporary sponsors. They hope to provide computing services to alcholics so they can securely share documents with their sponsors relating to their recovery. Alchoholics can also use these computing services to share, e.g., resumes and other documents to get back on their feet.

• The Center for Hmong Arts & Talent (CHAT's) mission is to nurture and develop Hmong artists to enhance the community. CHAT's vision is to create a substantial Hmong arts community with a network of diverse professional artists and a supportive audience that understands and values the benefits of the arts.

  CHAT provides computing services to artists by using software customized by Public Computing Services (PCS). CHAT can give artists a web account and email that they can use from CHAT's common computers or any public internet connection: libraries, coffee shops, etc.

  With that in place, they can create their own 'sub' websites, e.g., http://aboutchag.org/xxx/XiongPao, for promoting their work. They can use the e-commerce module CHAT/PCS provides to sell tickets to performances. Each can use the contact management module to create and manage his own database of promoters, actors, sponsors, etc.

  The software that PCS provides to CHAT helps them share their under-utilized resources with their artists. Each individual artist can (virtually) operate almost as a separate organization, building their careers with public computing services through existing CHAT resources.