Advanced technology is everywhere: from obvious places like the computers used every day in most offices and classrooms, to places one might take for granted, like the navigation systems found in many cars or the control panels of kitchen appliances. The access to and true understanding of this technology, however, is far from widespread. One local program helping to bridge that gap is the Akron Urban League’s Connect Your Community (CYC) program.
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, the CYC program has already provided computer training, broadband (Internet use) training, equipment and support to hundreds of low-income Northeast Ohio residents and their families.
Kimberly Lee, the CYC program administrator at the Akron Urban League, said the level of interest and participation has remained very strong since the program began last September. “Our database of those interested in the program includes more than 3,000 names, and people keep calling in to participate,” said Lee.
Led by the nonprofit OneCommunity group, the CYC program named the Akron Urban League as one of seven Lead Community Agencies (LCAs) in the nation to facilitate the program. LCAs are committed to serving vulnerable and disadvantaged clients in their community. According to the CYC website, strong local partners like urban leagues and other human service organizations offer increased sustainability to the CYC program beyond the funding period. “We hope to positively impact everyone that participates,” said Lee. “Our trainers provide a comfortable environment and the classes are paced in such a way that people are not intimidated.”
Lee explained that after completing the four-week training course, graduates of the CYC program are eligible to receive a free computer, which they’ve pledged to use in a meaningful way as a sustainable broadband adopter. “There is a set curriculum for the training, but our instructors can also cover special ‘electives’ to help people on a one-on-one basis. This includes lessons on how to search for jobs, use websites like Facebook, or helping to foster information literacy skills like using the Internet for research purposes,” said Lee.
She said the classes have proved valuable to people who have never used a computer and to those who have some basic knowledge but want to learn specific skills. Participants are even free to ask about how to use features on their cell phone, in their cars or anywhere else in their homes. “We want to get people in the mode of being literate,” said Lee.
Currently, more than 80 percent of participants are over the age of 60. “Things have evolved so rapidly that many people, especially our older participants, find that they feel ‘left behind’ when it comes to how to use computers and other gadgets,” said Lee. “The CYC program courses will teach you how to use these things and hopefully turn people of all ages into long-term adopters.”
Lee is especially excited about the personal success stories she hears from those who have completed the program. “We had one woman share that she found a job due to the confidence and increased skills she gained after completing the classes,” said Lee. “Other, younger participants are proud that they’ve become more self-sufficient in that they know how to perform an online job search or complete research projects for school thanks to the training.”
“People that are interested are still more than welcome to call us,” said Lee. “Many participants wait until the classes are available at a location close to them – which especially works well for seniors.”
“Anyone that would like to enroll or get more information about the CYC program should call 234-542-4173,” Lee added. "For those that speak Spanish, we’ve also added classes taught by a bilingual instructor. For those classes [taught in English and Spanish], please call 234-542-4165.”
Currently, CYC program classes are available in more than a dozen locations throughout the Akron area. Classes are scheduled to continue through May 2012.
