Biography

• She was born in Lumberton, North Carolina and grew up in Washington, DC.
• In 1961, she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
• From 1982 to 1986 as a senior planner for IBM, Ms. Bransford restructured procurement and distribution programs to achieve more efficient operations across IBM's worldwide business units. She created the first "1-800" direct marketing and distribution channel in the U.S. for personal computers.
• In 1994, she obtained a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the N.Y.U. Stern School of Business Administration.
• In 1995, at age 55, Patricia Bransford founded the National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech), a nonprofit corporation providing training and consulting services in the use of technology and telecommunications for education, employment, and business development in low-income communities. Its primary focus has been “to promote learning, academic performance, and workforce preparation among disadvantaged young people …” As the President of UTC, Ms. Bransford has pioneered the concept of community-based computer learning centers; forged key relationships in communities across the United States; and designed and developed innovative curriculum products and training materials for the under-served inner city market.

Awards

• Freedom Hero Award for innovation, involvement and intervention that provides options and opportunities for education for disadvantaged at-risk youth and “for working as a catalyst for change and encouraging others to learn, grow and contribute.” 2007
• Dr. Gardner C. Taylor Humanitarian Award, Concord Family Services for “outstanding vision and commitment to opening up the world of computer technology and telecommunications to our children and families, increasing educational, employment and economic opportunities and fostering empowerment in our urban communities.” November 2003
• Granville T. Woods award given by the National Association of Black Telecommunications Professionals to “the outstanding CEO of a corporation with the greatest impact in the community.” March 2000
• Beacon Award by the Morehouse and Spelman New York Alumni Scholarship Fund “in honor of her distinguished accomplishments and work in disadvantaged communities.” May 1998
• Los Angeles Urban League Technology Award. March 1998

Highlighted Bibliography & Curriculums

As sent to me in her emailed document

• Sustainable Urban Preservation: Developing A Model Program for New York in 1997, funded by the World Monuments Fund in cooperation with the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, November 1997

• The National Urban Technology Center and the Bronx Community Technology Centers Network, Education, Volume 122, Winter 2001

• The Youth Leadership Academy: Self-Discovery, Team-Building, Conflict Resolution, Personal Appearance, Community Awareness, Healthy Habits, STD/AIDS Awareness, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Personal Relationships

• CTC Teacher Toolkit: Courseware

Areas of Interest

• Developing educational products that use technology to transform the conventional classroom into a more stimulating environment for teaching and learning in order to address the achievement gap and high risk, unproductive behavior among youth.
  For an example, refer to "Interesting Links" below.
  
• Using technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering services in both corporate and public sector communities.
• Breaking down barriers in society that lead to low utilization of the nation’s human resources.

Summary of Contributions

• Author of nine (9) educational curricula that transform the conventional classroom into a multi-disciplinary, interactive and experiential learning environment for teaching and learning focusing on computer literacy, higher order thinking abilities and leadership training skills for youth 10 to 17. Called the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), this product has been instrumental in transitioning youth from a life of crime to academic achievement and community service and youth in foster care and special education programs to post secondary education and employment.
• Chief architect of the community technology center movement; advisor to Department of Education oninvestment requirements; recipient of major grants from the Ford Foundation, the Department of Commerce, AT&T, the Enterprise Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation, the Kauffman Foundation, Microsoft and several community partnerships to build technology infrastructure and transfer skills to communities for computer literacy, job training, youth development.
• Developer of a “franchise” approach and “turn-key” process for building state-of-the-art computer training centers allowing for easy and expeditious replication in multiple locations across the country. This process, called SEEDTECH®, has been adopted by the Department of Justice, Weed and Seed, for transferring technology skills to inner-city communities. Urban Tech has built more than 200 centers in 40 major cities serving 400,000 low-income residents. Innovation in American Government, Department of Commerce, PBS, Kellogg Foundation

Interesting Links

Look at the video or try the demo

• The National Urban Technology Center
• Youth Leadership Academy in the Classroom (Video)
  
• Youth Leadership Academy 2008 Catalog
• Youth Leadership Academy (Demo)
• 2009 Urban Tech Newsletter

Most Important Facts

• Patricia Bransford’s organization has developed ways to use technology to engage youngsters in activities that will change their lives: group discussions, problem-solving, creative thinking, peer-to-peer learning. It provides teachers with a tool — a creative, multimedia curriculum, complete with teacher-training — that helps them reach children in ways that lectures no longer can.
• Urban Tech works in partnership with community-based organizations such as schools, youth development centers, religious organizations, and social services agencies to prepare community members for full participation in the information age.
• Urban Tech has served more than 460,000 individuals over 12 years. Urban Tech has built more than 500 Computer Training Centers across the country, and 200 Youth Development Programs.

Resources Used

Emailed document from Patricia Bransford

http://www.urbantech.org/staff.cfm

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/TOP/conferenceworkshops/NFP2000/nfp2000_bransford.html

http://www.mwib.com/women_who_make_a_difference_1.htm

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=4&ved=0CBgQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.broadband.gov%2Fdocs%2Fws_diversity%2Fws_diversity.doc&ei=BivfSv_iMIXd8Qb4lahg&usg=AFQjCNHk-sAbdIbtcdoNp9j__TRs3eMWGw&sig2=NWhH8xtlYFcHZP0cVMzGxA

http://www.123people.com/ext/frm?ti=person%20finder&search_term=patricia%20bransford&search_country=US&st=person%20finder&target_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc-plus.com%2Fnyc28%2Fpatriciabransford.html&section=weblink&wrt_id=217