The first digital divide Youth Summit adjourned in San Francisco last Tuesday and the consensus of the mostly African-American and Latino children in attendance presented a strong message to the tech industry, Wired News reports.
The youth said there will be no shortage of workers in the high-tech industry if the private sector continues to provide access to computers and training to "the workers of tomorrow."
"Computers are important no matter what," 11-year-old Kevin James told Wired News. "Kids won't go as far if they don't have computer information."
Most of the young people agreed on the methods needed to ensure the prosperity of world populations - making computers affordable for everyone, teaching computer skills to students in primary school, and having companies donate desktop computers to public schools.
They also believe the world's leading technology companies should provide jobs to local residents, rather than recruiting out of state or abroad. That way, minorities living in Silicon Valley -- where, arguably, the digital divide reaches its deepest point -- could launch their own technology-based businesses.
Most of the children in attendance are already involved in technology jobs through volunteering, or have become familiar with basic computer programs by using them at school, but many of their family and friends are not.
One student said he thinks the digital divide is "a joke," and that before students are pushed to concentrate on technology training they first need to master reading, writing, arithmetic and critical thinking skills.
"Are you going to water the petals or are you going to water the roots?" said Alameda high school senior Jewel Love. "I think the digital divide is watering the petals."
Summit organizers Youth Radio, KQED public television, San Francisco, the Television Race Initiative, the Columbia Park Boys & Girls Club and OpNet, a Bay Area training and development program for low-income young adults, have not yet announced plans for a second summit.
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