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Project OverviewThe four (4) VISTA Members who are assigned to DSSA-managed CHA properties are working individually in the four (4) Computer Learning Centers. Each of the four (4) buildings serve approximately 400 residents who are earning an average of $600 a month. Over 75% of the residents are Senior Citizens, the remaining 25% are Disabled Adults. Many of the CHA residents rely on government agency programs for their sustenance. The Computer Learning Center is a place where residents can research these government agencies for benefit programs using the Internet. It is also a place where some residents may improve their employment options. Many of the younger Seniors and Disabled Adults have expressed an interest in improving their resumes, typing skills, and literacy as well as using the Internet as another option of searching for employment. In addition to improving residents' sustenance needs, the CLC contributes to general life-enrichment improvements. Residents whose disabilities prevent them from traveling to public libraries are now able to access computers in their own environment. For each resident, the CLC reduces isolation and contributes to self- edification. The CLC is a place to socialize, volunteer, and contribute to the bridging of the "digital divide" in one's own community. Members of the community which surrounds each CHA Computer Learning Center are welcomed to use this community resource. Invitations are given to local churches, neighborhood associations, and community centers. The Computer Learning Centers are definite resources for neighbors who can not afford to purchase their own personal computer and/or Internet access. This group of neighbors may use the computer for job searches and resume writing as well as their own personal edification.
AmeriCorps VISTA Members 2001-2002
Alycia Alexander (adast9@hotmail.com) Sheridan Devon Apartments Computer Learning Center Site Description: The Computer Center at Sheridan Devon
Apartments is a resource for low-come elderly and disabled adults-- primarily immigrant --
in the community of Chicago's North Side. We hope to bridge the "digital
divide" for those who are most often left behind by technology advances by offering
resources and training in computers and English as a Second Language (ESL). Job Description:
What did you wish you knew at the beginning of your VISTA year? I think that this is a question that I could answer much better at the end of the year, but I'll give it a try... In general I would have liked more communication about the specifics of the center, but I realize that most of this is learned as we go along because the centers are new. We, like others from various CTC's, have communication breakdowns at times. This is sometimes frustrating and confusing; we may not get more than a day's notice before a seminar or meeting What are your Strengths/Passions? I truly enjoy working with and learning about people from
different cultures. Add to that the opportunity to work with people who have great
life experience and there's really no limit to what I can gain from this experience. I am by nature a very calm and patient person, which comes in very handy when working with elderly people on computers! (Plus, I always know that they are being just as patient with me and my mistakes in Russian!)
Thomas Johnson (thomas_dssa@yahoo.com) Lincoln Perry Annex Computer Learning Center Site Description:Lincoln Perry Annex Computer Learning Center is a resource for residents of Lincoln Perry Annex as well as Bronzeville community. The computer center helps mainly those who wishes to get familiar with the basics of a computer. For examle, different programs and games are used to help the residents learn how to manuver with the mouse such as Solitaire which is a great for building their hand and eye coordination as well. There are also Typing Tutorials such as Mavis Becon Typing to help enhance their typing skills.The resident volunteers at the Annex simply prepare the other senior residents for the more advanced computer classes next door at Lincoln Perry Computer Center. Job Description:
What did you wish you knew at the beginning of your VISTA year? At the beginning of my first VISTA year, I wish that I would have known that it isn’t easy as people think being a VISTA. It takes a lot of time to put in and a lot of work .You have to really have patience and work with the residents. I also found that residents want to learn, but their disabilities prevent them from learning things at a faster pace than others. I also wished I knew the residents more before starting by learning a little more about their personalities and mental state. I feel I could have adjusted better to teaching them if I was given this information beforehand. When trying to teach seniors, I feel you have to cater to their interests at first because once you lose their attention you have lost them. What are your Strengths/Passions? My strenghts and passions are in creative writing and music. Poetry is my life and the way I express myself. It is also a form of therapy in my spare time. Using my passion, I organized the Lincoln Perry Poetry Club for the residents of Lincoln Perry Apartments and Annex, which began in the third week of May. In the club, residents have a chance to express themselves by writing poetry and other creative writings along with learning about the computer by typing their works using MicroSoft Word and submitting them to online Poetry or Creative Writing contests that are on the Internet.
Roshawnda Joiner (roshawnda_dssa@yahoo.com) Princeton Center Apartments Computer Learning Center Site Description: The Princeton Center Apartments Computer Learning Center’s vision is to provide a social and educational environment for the residents and surrounding community of Princeton Center. The CLC was designed with the idea of empowering the residents as well as the surrounding community to enable them to initiate and sustain the center once my VISTA time has expired. The residents of Princeton Center are a mixture of elderly and non-elderly disabled low-income residents. Through the computer learning center the residents and the members of the surrounding community use technology to find a job, create resumes, search the internet, create PowerPoint presentations, use Excel to create inventor sheets, teach others Computer Basic. The CTC will be holding an after school program to welcome the community, and create and intergenerational project which will help the residents to maintain their youth participation. Job Description:
What did you wish you knew at the beginning of your VISTA year? Prior to becoming a VISTA I would’ve liked to know that I needed to know so much about technology, in order to be effective in my training sessions. I also wish I would have known how demanding and time consuming getting the job done could be. What are your Strengths/Passions? I love working with people!
Yurora Saylor (ysaylor@yahoo.com) Lincoln Perry Aparments Computer Learning Center
Job Description:
What did you wish you knew at the beginning of your VISTA year?
What are your Strengths/Passions? I really enjoy assisting in sparking the minds of young people from the ages of 5 to 95 in seeing the benefits of computer technology in their lives.
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