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In the January issue of dacs.doc, the Computerized Learning Center (CLC) at Frost Homestead Apartments, an HUD moderate income community owned by the private, nonprofit New Samaritan Family Housing of Waterbury, placed a notice requesting volunteers needed to make a difference in the lives of technologically disadvantaged adults and children. I visited the CLC and found an earnest group of people bringing computer technology to the residents of Frost Homestead. Through the work of the Project Administrator, Ed Hayden, On-Line Service Coordinator Linda Bernegger, and a number of volunteers, the CLC is taking shape. IBM donated a 66 Mhz Pentium computer system, and four other computers have been upgraded to 66Mhz Pentiums. All have CD-ROMs and sound capabilities. An Internet connection using a single modem and a modem-sharing device enables access to The World Wide Web. A project is underway for the students to create a Web page for the CLC. The students range in age from eight to 60 years of age and up. Volunteers serve as teachers and mentors to groups of four to six students. Groups meet throughout the week in one- to two-hour sessions. Microsoft has been appraised of the work being done and has donated software. I have been working with children in a small group. Our current goal is to establish a mentoring program, whereby the mentor will have two students to work with. It's very challenging to provide guidance to a group of children with varied interests and skill levels. More volunteers are needed to support this mentoring program. If you are interested, please contact Ed Hayden or Linda Bernegger at 203 574-5456, or me, Bobby, at 203 263-3589 or bobbycurtis@snet.net. |
