Maya McFadden Photo
Shalonda Sanders.
Shalonda Sanders has a dream: to open a cosmetology business. A new computer lab in Fair Haven might help her get there.
Sanders last month graduated from the technology training for adults program by the Concepts for Adaptive Learning (CfAL) at 5 Science Park. She took the training at CfAL’s first facility.
The new CfAL center at the Farnam Center (formerly Farnam Neighborhood House) is equipped with 10 Dell desktops, to help bridge the digital divide for both kids and for adults like Sanders.
Sanders spoke Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting celebration at the new computer lab, which is named after the founder and former executive director of CfAL.
CfAL, which has done computer training for kids and adults since 2001, partnered will the Elm City Innovation Collaborative to expand its programming and digital literacy services to the Fair Haven neighborhood with the new lab.
As well as the adult program, CfAL will also offer its digital literacy program for children and families at the center. Sponsors like Comcast, T‑Mobile and others provided the youth program with tablets to be used for 44 preschool children enrolled. The tablets will be given to the students to take home and gain access to technology beyond the center. The tablets only allow students to access educational programs which include about 35,000 books and videos for children preschool to fifth grade.
Sanders is a resident of the Fair Haven neighborhood. In January she learned how to better use Microsoft Word and Excel, how to apply for jobs online, build a resume, and a household budget from the program.
Sanders said she has learned how to effectively navigate websites. This will help her to get ideas from other buisness’ websites to develop her own for a skincare, nail, and makeup business she hopes to own in the near future. She also improved her typing skills and learned how to make a buisness card online.
Michael Harris, director of the Elm City Innovation Collborative, said a total of 450 students have graduated from CfAL’s digital literacy programs. Of the graduates, 65 percent have continued to attend other computer science education programs.
Farnam has also provided the initaitve with space to store and refurbish computers that are donated to the program.
James Mitchell.
James Mitchell is the Farnam IT manager and is in charge of the building, repairing, and installment work done to the donated machines the center recieves.
A CfAL program to teach youth how to build and restore donated computers is in the works, said Jennifer Ricker, executive director of CfAL. Ricker said the aim is to launch the program this summer for 13 to 18 year olds to learn how to image and install computer hard drives to then keep and take home.
The task now for Mitchell is to clear the passwords on all of the donated computers before that program is launched. The program recently received a donation of 100 laptops from a local organization that has since updated its computers.
Jennifer Ricker with Farnam Executive Director Jamell Cotto.
The partnership will provide the addition of putting technology in more peoples hands along with digital training opportunities and Farnam’s services as a “home away from home.”
The programs will also help parents engage more in their children’s learning, Ricker said. The adult program consists of six classes totaling 10.5 hours long. As an incentive to graduate, the program will provide each graduated household with a desktop of their own.
Currently Sanders practices her work at home as she heads toward becoming a licensed cosmitologist. Now she has a Dell desktop computer provided by the program to help her. Sanders will now be able to digitally budget her finaces from her practicing and create time sheets in excel rather than continuing to track her progress on paper.
“I can now just sit in my home and get more done,” Sanders said.
Sanders next goal is to complete 1,500 hours of practice to get her cosmetology license. With skill and her new computer she can start with earning those hours through at home work.
Cathy Graves, the city’s deputy director of small business development , said it’s difficult nowadays to start a small business without accessibility to technology and digital literacy. “I cannot imagine life without a computer at home or at least access to one,” she said.
