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Mesh Network An Affordable Broadband Solution on Vimeo.

The Akron Public Schools’ Pre-Fall Program preps students for the upcoming school year. The Lebron James Foundation will provide each Pre-Fall third-grader with a new bicycle and a laptop computer for completing the program.

To support the kids’ use of these computers at home, the Akron Public Schools asked the Akron Connect Your Community (CYC) team to help train pre-fall teachers in digital literacy basics so they could prep the students (and parents) to leverage this generous and productive donation.

The Akron CYC team met with APS leaders and helped teachers customize the CYC digital literacy curriculum, then provided two days of training to the teachers in early August. Thirty five teachers were run through the CYC curriculum and expressed great appreciation for the CYC team’s patience and expertise as digital literacy trainers. Novice teachers appreciated the simple, easy-to-grasp content, and more experienced teachers were thrilled to learn new tips and tricks to fill in gaps in their learning.

The CYC netTrekker elective was also a big hit at the training. Teachers were appreciative of being reintroduced to the netTrekker education portal, which is available for all APS teachers, students and parents to access education content and a safe-search environment.

As the kids progress through the program over the next two weeks, the Akron CYC team will be dropping in to invite parents to participate in CYC training so they can support their child’s use of the new laptop computers. The CYC team will also receive referrals from teachers who participated in the training and have already been invited to promote the program at several “back-to-school” events.

More information:

Lebron James Foundation – Wheels for Education press release

Lebron James changes focus of Bikeathon – Ohio.com

Understanding NetTrekker, For Parents (CYC Elective)

Lebron James encourages the APS 3rd Graders to “listen to your teachers, accept help from your community and stay in school".

Nine students completed the three-week class, ranging in age from their mid-30’s to early 70’s.

“The class was a mix of people, all of whom had used a computer but wanted to know more,” said instructor Cathy Ames. “There was only one student who was close to being a true beginner. We also had a church treasurer and a businessman who owns a car dealership. Everyone said they learned at least one new thing each day.”

That’s fine with Chili Crossroad Bible Church Pastor Neal Dearyan, who was happy his church could play a part in an activity so beneficial to the people of the area.

“It’s good for the community,” Dearyan said. “We hadn’t done anything like it before, but we’re trying to do things that raise awareness of the church and benefit people, as well. If we can do both at the same time, all the better.”

Both Dearyan and Ames would like to repeat the program and will do so if enough new students are interested, Ames said.

The church’s CYC program was offered through the Appalachian Center for Collaborative and Engaged Learning. For more information, log on to www.accelonline.org.

My phone rang off the hook during the first few days after OneCommunity’s coalition was awarded an $18.7 million grant for our Connect Your Community project.

The program aims to help 26,000 citizens in five states adopt high-speed Internet access.  I handled media relations for the announcement, so I fielded calls from journalists, Congressional offices – and as it turned out, everyday people who saw my name in the newspaper.

I was thoroughly prepared for the professional inquiries, having worked on the proposal with our team and gone through due diligence with the National Telecommunications & Information Administration. But an older gentleman I’ll call “Richard” caught me off guard.

“Good afternoon, Andrea,” he said in a polite, warm tone when I answered the phone. He went on to introduce himself and explained that he had seen my name in the paper in the story describing the grant.

“I can’t believe I’ve never even heard of OneCommunity, and here you are doing all of these great things” he said, with a tinge of sadness. “Wow, $18.7 million certainly is a lot of money. How did you find out these funds were available?”

“We found out about it on the Internet,” I explained. “The federal government issued a request for proposals and provided all of the guidelines to apply.”

There was silence on the other end of the line. And then Richard asked incredulously, “You mean, you can go on the computer and find out this kind of information?”

“Yes,” I told him, excited that Richard was beginning to understand the Internet’s significance.  “We even submitted our proposal through the computer.”

“Well, I’ll be darned,” Richard responded quietly, almost as if speaking to himself. Then, in a soft voice filled with pain, he told me something I will never forget.

“You know, I see these letters ‘www’ on television, in newspaper articles, and hear them on the radio, but I don’t know what they mean. I’m an educated man – but I don’t know what everyone is talking about. I don’t know how this happened…” Richard’s voice trailed off.

My eyes nearly filled with tears as I pictured this man prior to the Internet – educated, engaged, in the know – suddenly surrounded by people speaking a foreign language, a language he cannot understand. For the first time, I really comprehended what the digital divide is. It is not statistics, or a catchy phrase, or a condition that people bring upon themselves. It is exclusion – from information, opportunity, and conversation.

For those who don’t know what they’re missing, maybe ignorance is bliss. For people like Richard, the isolation is palpable.

“I’m retired and disabled,” he continued, matter-of-factly. “I can’t leave my house. Is there any way I can be part of this program?”

“Where do you live?” I asked him with a sinking feeling, already knowing from the area code displayed on my phone that he resided outside the footprint of our program. Sure enough, he named a western suburb of Cleveland. I told him that locally our program is targeting inner-city residents, but encouraged him to call our partner agency for more information. I also urged him to contact his library to find out what services are available to him.

Richard thanked me for my time, and we said goodbye. I sat stunned, realizing the importance of my work and the necessity of OneCommunity’s undertaking. Minutes later, the phone rang again.

“Hi, I’m calling about the newspaper article. Can you tell me how I can get computer training?”

“While our focus is connections in the home, community locations like this are an important part of our mission” says Opal Lambert, CYC Supervisor for the Muskingum County division of the campaign.  Opal continued to explain, “We need partners like Cornerstone to welcome us in, let us hold classes and teach in the community.  This helps us both serve the community better.”

“Creating lasting partnerships is so important to our community and our campaign” says Jason Schroeder, director of ACCEL’s Connect Your Community (CYC) campaign.  “Cornerstone has been a valuable partner to us by allowing us to hold classes in their building and reach out to this community.  By putting this lab here, we are helping ensure that the graduates have a location to make regular, meaningful use of the Internet.”

The ACCEL CYC campaign also has offices in Guernsey and Coshocton  counties.  More information is available by visiting their website at http://www.accelonline.org .  Each location offers 24 hours of computer instruction with a focus on using broadband internet in the home.  The classes start with basics of how to turn on a computer, and go up to introduction to Microsoft Office and also how to use online resources in a meaningful way.  The classes are free, and graduates can qualify for reduced cost computers.  To sign up, call 740-408-4993.

Pictured, From Left: Jamie Harrop, Matt Dutro, Charles Taylor, Opal Lambert, Jill Gump, Sarah Stevenson, Melissa Makhani

Dante says he enjoyed the camraderie he experienced with his fellow students and the course instructors.

Since graduating the CYC program a few months ago, Dante taken a personal interest in extending his knowledge of computer basics and fundamentals to the next level. He is currently enrolled in Kaplan University pursuing a MCSA IT certification and will pursue Cisco certification upon completion of Microsoft certification. 

What’s next for this “Sustainable Broadband Adopter?” We expect big things as he enrolls at Cleveland State University to continue his IT educational path.

Bernett L. Williams, president and CEO of the Akron Urban League, (left) looks at the Urban League's Connect Your Community class with Bill Callahan, Director of Connect Your Community Project.

“My teacher was magnificent! If it was not for her and the Akron Urban League Connect Your Community Program, I could not have raised my hands in the air and cheered when I accomplished going on the Internet by myself. I am a very forgetful person, but she taught me with a lot of time on the computer, and repetition, I would and can remember! Remembering is my goal Miss Tyana Hughley taught me, I will succeed!”

- Mrs. Gerry Williams, CYC Graduate
“The instructor for my computer class on Tuesdays and Thursdays was very very helpful in teaching me how to operate and get on the internet on a computer. Some things I did not know how to do myself. I have told a few people about the computer training that is free to the public and to ask for Tyana Hughley for their instructor because she is a very patient instructor that will work with you. And, you will actually learn how to operate the computer in a matter of days. She and the CYC program are SUPER!”

- Miss Theresa Henderson, CYC Graduate

“I am writing to extol the great merits of the computer instruction conducted under the Connect Your Community Program.  It was a fantastic educational experience.  The support of lifelong learning was exhibited by the wide array of participants in the program.  We all came to learn and gain knowledge.  It also developed friendships and shared learning opportunities.  As we continue to grow and venture out into the ever evolving world of technology, you never learn or know everything, it changes within seconds and nanoseconds.  There is always something new more innovative, e.g. a faster more expeditious way to do the current processes.  I would be remiss in not giving a tremendous ‘shout out’ for the computer equipment assistance.”

“Kudos to the instructors, who have the patience of Job to persevere.  This was exhibited weekly, as we asked a myriad of questions and often the same question!  Knowledge is truly power.  Thanks also to the instructors for stimulating and exercising our thought processes for we know the mind is a terrible thing to waste at any age!”

- Carroll Ellis, CYC Graduate

Ernestine Moore, graduate of Matrix Human Services’ classes.  Ernestine is a talented, published author of two books on domestic violence.  With this laptop, she will be able to move from writing in longhand on notebooks to typing on a computer.  It will also help her expand her research on publishing and promoting her books.

Anthony Cox, graduate of Focus: HOPE’s computer classes Anthony, who was laid off from his job of 20 years, enrolled in our computer classes to update his skills  a few months ago.  He will be using his computer to update his resume and search for a new position.  Many organizations require applicants to submit resumes and applications online today.  Without a computer, this process is a challenge to say the least.

Marsha Pryor, graduate of the Child Care Coordinating Council of Detroit/Wayne County classes.  Marsha is a resident of the Cameron Court Senior Complex – and she is living proof that you are never too old to learn new skills.  These classes were her first introduction to computers and the internet.  She was so enthused that she showed up early for classes and had perfect attendance. Marsha said she is eager to use the computer to stay informed and stay connected.

Dorothy O. Jackson, Akron Ohio Deputy Mayor is a recent graduate of the Akron Urban League Connect Your Community training program.  Who would have thought that a person as connected as Mrs. Jackson is in our community, would not be “connected” to the Internet. 

Dorothy learned how to use the Internet for emailing and communicating with her family, friends, and the community.  Dorothy brought two of her sisters with her to classes at the Akron Urban League and took the training.  Dorothy said, “When I told my daughter that I was learning how to use the internet and send emails, she was so happy.”  Dorothy thought this was going to be a challenge, but as she and her sisters realized, the computer was nothing to be afraid of.  Now all three of them own laptops and are Sustainable Broadband Adopters (SBA).

Ivanna Michael

Diane Brugger has been a foster mom and a home day care provider for about 15 years. Last year the State of Ohio began phasing in electronic communication. She needed an email address to enter the Job and Family Services portal. It was created for her but she didn’t know how to use it. Diane uses the Hunger Alliance program to provide meals for the children, however their application and information is only available online. In addition, she knew she needed to set up online banking and direct deposit for her business. Diane’s daughter heard about the Connect Your Community program during a community open house and signed up her mother for classes. Diane says it couldn’t have come at a better time for her. The skills she has learned have enabled her to receive her business information, search other programs available to her children and complete financial transactions online, saving her precious time. Diane has referred other friends to the program and is grateful for the training she received through CYC.