Jordan Forum looks at digital divide

The "digital divide"--the rift between those who have access to and benefit from new technologies and those who do not--was the theme of the sixth annual Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy.

Organized by LBJ School students, the event took place on February 21-23 and drew about 200 people from state agencies, community organizations, libraries, and the university community. Individuals from such states as Massachusetts, Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee, and Louisiana also came to the forum to share in the dialogue.

According to Cassius Johnson--who, along with Charmane Hayman, spearheaded the forum's planning committee--the scope and mission of the annual forum changed this year. "The focus is national and has moved beyond (being) just a recruiting function," he said. "Our desire is to convene policymakers, scholars, practitioners, and community leaders annually around a vital issue of public policy."

As part of this overhaul, the forum has a new name (previously it had been called the Barbara Jordan Memorial Forum on Diversity in Public Policy). Although the forum's focus has moved away from advocating a cause and recruiting students, it will continue to commemorate the legacy of former LBJ School Professor Barbara Jordan, Johnson said.

As has been done in previous years, the forum included a number of speeches, workshops, and other activities. This year's keynote speaker was Shirley Malcom, director of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In her speech, Malcom made an effort to get past the myth and metaphor of the digital divide, using statistics and her own research to talk about such issues as the need to address rural connectivity.

Addresses were also made by Luci Baines Johnson, chairwoman of the board, LBJ Holding Company; Texas Southern University Professor Thomas Freeman, who was Barbara Jordan's college debate coach; and Thurmond Woodard, vice president of global diversity at Dell Computer Corporation.

Workshops and panel discussions included focus groups that discussed such topics as access to the web for people with disabilities, cities online, technology and the elderly, gender in technology, international perspectives, and technology and economic development. Students and faculty directors involved in two 2001-02 LBJ School policy research projects ("Evaluating Community Technology Centers" and "Telecommunications and Economic Development in Texas") made presentations during the forum.

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May 13, 2002

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