Affordable Computer Classes Offered at the Booker T. Washington Community Center

STAUNTON, VA (01/22/2010)(readMedia)-- Computer classes will be offered at Booker T. Washington Community Center through the Staunton Recreation Department. The series of computer classes are affordable and are targeted toward inexperienced users.

"I hope the classes will attract neighborhood residents that are too intimidated to take a community college or vocational course," says BTWCC Coordinator Makeba Robinson. "Many times people cannot afford the computer classes or do not have transportation to get there." According to Makeba, the class is affordable because a member of the Foundation, Walter Brown has donated his computer instruction talents free of charge to help empower people who may lack opportunity. The next scheduled class is "Introduction to Word" on January 27th from 10am- 12noon and is open to the public. The BTWCC is a branch of the Staunton Recreation Department.

The BTWCC Computer Lab was the brainchild of the BTWCC Foundation. The Foundation group saw that the majority of neighborhood children in the afterschool program at the center did not have access to computers and Internet at home or at the center. This created a problem for the children when a typewritten paper was expected for school or a particular homework assignment required research on the Internet. The group generated a movement to transform a room of the community center into a computer lab. The idea gained support from the Trinity Episcopal Church Community Fund and the SAW2010 Organization in form of funds for new desktop and laptops. The City of Staunton Information Technology Department chipped in some older equipment and made all computers Internet accessible.

Today the Johnson Street neighborhood and the New Town District makes use of the computer center and its printers. The computer center is also a hub for the Boys and Girls Club's Project Learn. The computer center is open to all public during open hours. If you are interested in helping provide programs at BTWCC or are able to make a donation, please contact Makeba Robinson.

For more information about the computer center and scheduled classes contact Makeba Robinson at 332-3991 or log on to the Staunton Recreation and Parks website at www.staunton.va.us > under departments > click on Recreation.