If you combine the best talent of Silicon Valley with a lot of creativity, collaboration and dedication, you've got a formula for something great in Oakland.

The Oakland Digital Arts Literacy Center (ODALC) provides computer literacy skills training, educational resources and professional networking services in a free, comprehensive program. They have taken some giant steps forward, using this formula, towards helping Oakland become a thriving center for job creation.

ODALC's model is inspired by Andreas Weigend, an internationally known consultant and ODALC advisor, who regularly brings influential entrepreneurs such as Reid Hoffman (CEO of LinkedIn) to his popular classes at Stanford and UC Berkeley.

ODALC hopes that companies from all over the San Francisco Bay Area will see the tremendous upside and donate similar talent to provide computer training services to under-trained Oaklanders.

Earlier this month, the IRS determined that ODALC is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Code. ODALC will launch its first classes in 2010. Now volunteers are busily assessing needs, lining up great instructors, building alliances and getting the word out.

ODALC enjoys the advice and support of Ben Hazard, the former curator at the Oakland Museum and former director of Oakland's Cultural Arts Department. Renowned business and non-profit attorney Donald K. Tamaki, who co-founded the Asian Heath Services while still a student at Cal, is ODALC's attorney.

ODALC's board represents Oakland with members of diverse cultural backgrounds and ethnicity. They have a passion for bringing the benefits of technological and entrepreneurial know-how to people of all ages and history.

"The amount of support we’ve received is amazing," says founder Shaun Tai. "People from a multitude of groups are showing interest: war veterans and immigrants originating from all around the world, to name a few. My goal is to shine more light on the hidden talent in Oakland. There's a lot of work to do here, so we're focusing on the heart first."

ODALC is now accepting tax deductible donations [secure payments via PayPal] at www.odalc.org/give. For more information visit www.odalc.org or email info@odalc.org. The blog www.inspireoakland.com includes a network of organizations, current events and stories of exciting visionaries.