Graduates receive certificates and laptops
BY TODD LUCK
rHE CHRONICLE
Graduates of a new
computer literacy program
stepped across the digital
divide at Forsyth
Technical Community
College last week.
Nineteen graduates
were lauded for complet
ing the 15-hour
Technology Skills for Life
and Employment course.
They learned the basics of
computing, including
aspects of Microsoft Word
and how to navigate the
Internet to search for jobs
and other information. In
addition to certificates of
completion, each graduate
was given a refurbished
Japtop of their very own
and a crash course on how
jlo use their new comput
ers.
f WinstonNet is one of
many partners behind the
class, which aims to
.increase digital literacy
among economically-dis
advantaged adults. The
nonprofit is best known
for outfitting local recre
ation centers with com
puter labs and wifi.
WinstonNet President
Dennis Newman said the
agency wanted to go
beyond just providing dig
ital access.
"So 1 ask you, is
access to a computer lab
and public wifi enough to
say you've crossed the
digital divide?" he said. "I
think you'll agree, provid
ing these labs is a great
thing, but no,, it is not
enough. You need to know
how to effectively use a
computer."
WinstonNet received a
$5,000 grant from AT&T
to launch the five-week
course, which was offered
through Forsyth Tech's
Community & Economic
Development Department.
The class is free, students,
however, had to contribute
$50 towards their laptop.
The classes where held
every week at the Central
Library and Goodwill
Industries on University
Parkway. The Kramden
Institute, a Durham-based
non-profit, refurbished the
laptops, equipping them
with Windows 7 and the
Microsoft Office Suite.
There are about 40 more
laptops that will be award
ed to future graduates of
the program.
Bobby Wilson, a 70
year-old graduate of the
class, spoke during the
graduation ceremony.
He'd never used a laptop
before, and now, thanks to
the program, is the happy
owner of one. He said sen
ior citizens need to be dig
itally literate.
"Keeping yourself in
tune with today's subject
matter is important so you
do not fall behind," he
said.
Fellow graduate
Robert William agrees.
He's a volunteer instructor
at the Winston-Salem
Urban League, where he
shares his computer
knowhow with seniors.
"I think it's important
that people learn at our
age how to work the com
puter," said the 56 year
old.
He is currently study
ing network systems
administration at ITT
Tech in High Point, but
said he was unfamiliar
with some of the more
basic computer functions
and programs and wanted
to pass those skills on to
the seniors he instructs.
He called the class very
instructive.
Eva Jones was one of
several graduates who
heard about the program
through the Urban
League. The retiree is
studying clerical skills in
the Urban League's
Senior Community
Service Employment
Program. Though she
used a computer when she
worked in customer serv
ice at Wake Forest Baptist
Medical Center, she need
ed new skills to pursue the
kind of part-time employ
ment she hopes to attain.
"Since I've
been retired, a
lot of things
have changed
and a lot of
things I don't
know that this
course has
offered me, so
it makes a big
difference,"
said Jones,
who didn't
own a comput
er before taking the class.
Joyce Hunter is look
ing for a job too. having
been laid off from Wake
Forest Baptist Medical
Center in May. She's been
relying on computer labs
like the one at Goodwill to
look for jobs. Having
never owned a computer
before, she said she's
grateful for the laptop and
thinks it will greatly aid
her job search.
Joyce Hunter holds up
the new computer bag
that contains her laptop.
"Everything is going
to computers and technol
ogy, so everyone needs
some type of technology
within the home," she
said.
Ashley Anderson, who
taught the course, believes
her students will be suc
cessful in their job search
es and other online
endeavors.
"In addition to com
puter skills that
they never had
before, 1 believe
ultimately they
gained confi
dence," she said.
"A lot of them,
when they came
into the class,
they had been
turned down by
jobs or were
down on their
luck and didn t
know what their next step
was ... Now, they feel
empowered; they're equal
and capable of finding
employment #tnd transi
tioning into a working
society."
Those interested in
future computer literacy
classes, may call Forsyth
Tech's Ron Berra at 336
734-7715.
Photos by Todd I uck
Instructors show graduates how to use their new laptops.
FT ? I |
Robert William
Ashley Anderson
-J
Wilson
Jones
BGR!
from page A /
>f the 12 weeks, the
vomen are invited to take
tart in a 5k.
"This program targets
teginner runners, basical
y getting them off the
Couch and into some
activity," said LaTisha
Alford. one of the ambas
sadors for BGR! W-S.
"We go from them walk
ing 30 minutes to running
their first 5K. It is a
lifestyle and personal
change that helps you
with your nutrition."
When Toni Carey and
Ashley Hicks founded
Black Girls RUN! in
2009, they wanted to take
on the obesity epidemic
in the African-American
community while provid
ing support and resources
to new and experienced
runners. The movement
has now become a phe
nomenon. with close to
100 chapters across the
nation and beyond. The
group's national confer
ence was held in
Charlotte in 2013 and in
Atlanta this year.
"This shows that
black women in our com
munity care about tlieir
health and they're sup
portive of each other in
developing a healthy
lifestyle. Running is just
a conduit for that."
Ambassador Lucrecia
Moore said of the interest
in the group. "We are not
a weight-loss group but
weight-loss is a by-prod
uct, so it fosters confi
dence in our women of
color, motivation, encour
agement and unity among
each other."
During the two-hour
session, ambassadors not
only talked about the pro
gram, but about what run
ners should wear and how
they can motivate them
selves to get up and get
moving. Veteran BGR!
runners answered ques
tions about the running
shoes, hair care and
breathing techniques.
Breanna McDaniel
was already familiar with
BGR!, having taken part
in the group when she
lived in Atlanta.
"1 just stopped after
moving to Boston, and
now I'm here. I am now
at a place where 1 want to
get my life back on track
and get my health under
control," she said. "It is
something about being
around black women with
the same mindset and
goals."
Alford expected most
of the women who were
in attendance to show up
this week for trial runs.
"From that. 1 am
expecting at least half or
60 percent of those to
successfully complete
their 5K in 12 weeks."
she said.
Moore says women
who are interested in the
group should at least give
it a try.
"You just have to
come out. I don't want to
discourage anyone and
make them think that it's
easy. It is not easy, but
with our group, the sup
port, training, motivation
and encouragement that
we give, it is easier," she
said.
For more information
about clinics and run
times, email bgrwinston
salem? gmail .com or
visit Black Girls Run!
Winston-Salem on
Face book.
Phctfos by Chanel Davis
Lucrecia Moore addresses attendees.
Pam Bradsher
Breanna McDaniel