(1/10/98 Baltimore AFRO-American Newspaper)
by Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
"Mr. Cummings, I want a decent job, but most of the ones that I hear about are in the computer field. I don’t have computer skills, and I can’t afford to pay for school. "
I have often heard these words. Whether I am in a Town Hall meeting, standing in line at the supermarket, or sitting in my church, people frequently talk to me about their desire to find a decent job that will allow them to pay their bills and spend quality time with their families.
Throughout this country, many of our most pressing social problems can be directly attributed to a lack of employment opportunities. Baltimore’s law enforcement officials have told me that the rising crime rate, increased drug use, and reported spouse and child abuse cases are many times the result of the frustration people feel with not being able to provide for their families or find employment which pays a livable wage.
One of the things that we often do not stress enough is the relation between education and employment. How does the young man without computer training get a decent job in the field? Simple, by getting training. Oftentimes roadblocks to that training, usually of a financial nature, obstruct the path of those most in need. It always occurs at the same time--the inopportune time!
As a member of Congress, I have supported legislation and programs which encourage new business creation, fund highway and transportation projects, and assist minority and women-owned corporations in their efforts to compete in the global marketplace. All of these initiatives share the common goal of creating and sustaining jobs with livable wages. Among the most successful are those that have come about from community partnerships. These partnerships bring businesses within the community together with local governments, and citizens to create a "win-win" situation for all.
Last week the Baltimore branch of the National Urban League celebrated such a partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and Bell Atlantic. The League announced plans to open a technology center at its Baltimore headquarters which will enhance employment opportunities for a number of Baltimore’s citizens by providing them with the educational tools they need to secure jobs in information technology.
This state-of-the-art technology center slated to open next year will be equipped for a wide range of uses. It will include networked computer workstations with access to the Internet and other information services for online research and programs. The center will also offer video conferencing and distance learning programs. Program participants will receive training in word processing, database management, spreadsheet applications and the Internet. Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation and self-taught resume writing courses, will also be available to students of all ages. Without this program, many of these citizens may have missed their opportunity to ride on the information superhighway.
It is imperative that those who seek employment in the area of information technology yet lack skills in the field, take advantage of the new Urban League program. If they do not care to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, they should pass the information along to someone who would like to do so. It pains me to see people who "choose" not to seek out, or participate in information technology programs like the Urban League’s, yet they wallow in despair, or complain about the lack of good paying jobs. If only they would realize that their African brethren around the world would be ecstatic for such an opportunity of this magnitude! It’s practically a treasure waiting to be taken!
Larry Irving, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Commerce made an interesting remark during the announcement of the center’s opening. He mentioned that African-American youngsters should note the many opportunities available in computers in lieu of professional sports. There is a stark contrast between opportunities with companies like Microsoft which are full of growth potential, employ thousands of people, and provide numerous stock options for their employees; and organizations like the National Basketball Association (NBA), which have limited growth potential, provide fewer jobs, and substantially less stock options for their employees.
I truly believe in the old adage, "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime." Programs like this offer men and women opportunities to live up to their potential, travel the information superhighway, and provide for their families.
-The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings represents the 7th Congressional District of Maryland in the United States House of Representatives.