Michael McCarthy

Personal Biography:

Michael McCarthy is an independent consultant who has spent the last 15 years working with low-income families and communities. He has created welfare to work and technology training programs at Compass Family Center and Homeless Prenatal Program.

Michael has been an IT Director, employment specialist, technology curriculum developer, counselor, successful fund raiser, and program manager. He recently managed OpNet Community Ventures a workforce development program that trained young adults for jobs in the IT industry. He is currently assisting several San Francisco non-profits in developing community technology programs. For the past two years he has created wireless networks in low income communities in San Francisco. He was an active member of the San Francisco Mayors Digital Inclusion Task Force. He is on the steering committee of the Bay Area Community Technology Network and on the board of directors of Compass Community Services. He lives near Golden Gate Park with his wife and two young children. He holds a B.A. from Earlham College in Richmond, IN.

Goals:

Goals for the Fellowship

One of my main goals for this fellowship is to learn about community technology projects outside of San Francisco. I have spent many years working in San Francisco and want to see what others in the State are doing. I also want to share my work in creating low cost and easy to manage wireless networks with others. I am very excited to meet and to learn from the other Fellows. I hope that we can work together to increase technology access for all Californians.