The Big Purple Truck
What is "the big purple truck?"
It's twenty-four work stations, equipped with the latest computer technology,
and the American PC PRO* License computer-training and certification tool. It's
an instructional classroom, a presentation boardroom, a mobile satellite dish
providing internet access to America's Career InfoNet, America's Learning
eXchange, America's Job Bank and other online career services, and it's all on
eighteen wheels!
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Minnesota Department
of Economic Security?with the help of ISEEK, MobileForce, and
LearningFast?created the Mobile Career Development Van to close the digital
divide for working Americans.
The initiative's ultimate goal is to help more people, especially those in
technology-poor areas, get the computer training and career counseling they
need to get better, higher paying jobs.
Mobility is the essence of the program, as seen in the traveling demonstrations
of the pilot project throughout the country.
Accessibility is a counterpart to the mobility theme, as all clients, including
those with physical disability, are able and encouraged to come aboard the
platform. The "big purple truck" has made recent appearances at JETT*CON2001
(July 16-18, 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland), the Tri-State Region Exhibit (July
20, 2001 in Cincinnati, Ohio) and the Joint International Summit on Community
and Rural Development (July 23-25, 2001 in Duluth, Minnesota).
Future exhibits are being planned, including one in September at The National
Association of State Workforce Agencies conference, in Oklahoma City. Contact
the Mobile Career Development Van now for possible slide show presentations or
even actual exhibitions of "the big purple truck" at your conference or in your
state.
<< Back to 2001 News
Archive