CLEVELAND — At a small graduation today, a dozen seniors from Scranton Castle celebrated learning how to navigate online. Brant Silver with MetroHealth says the multi-agency collaboration will make an impact.
“You can have the computer, you can have internet access, but if you don’t know how to use it all, you really have to have that final bridge to get over,” says Silver.
MetroHealth, Digital C, Americorps volunteers, and others helped the group of seniors twice a week for months with computer literacy classes. Wanda Davis, the Executive Director of the Asbury Senior Computer Community Center, says this past year’s atmosphere really highlighted the need.
“There’s so much more for the seniors to actually access online, especially now and Covid brought it to our attention,” says Davis.
Each student was honored, one-by-one, to tout their individual learning plan. Some learned the basics of how to use a computer, while others like Gary Murphy, focused on navigating their online health profiles and communicating through emails.
“I was really confident with my ability to accept and to send emails. I did learn that really great,” says Murphy.
Everyone also learned how to Zoom with their family, an important skill during a year that’s been so isolating.
“No one wants to feel as if they’re alone in their life or anything like that. When you have the ability to reach out to others, then that enables them to feel better about themselves,” says Murphy.
With a congratulatory elbow bump from supporters and volunteers, organizers say these seniors aren’t done learning.
“What we’ll have coming up next for them Is our Digital Navigator program. Which we hope to launch in the next 30 days, maybe a little more,” says Davis.
The next phase will include advanced online techniques and there will be one on one training for that portion of the program. All 12 graduates received a refurbished laptop to use and free internet the rest of this year.
This program is expanding to help several low-internet access neighborhoods including Clarke-Fulton, Central, Fairfax, Glenville and Hough neighborhoods. Once a participant successfully completes the course, they will qualify for a major discount on high-speed internet connectivity for less than $20/month or free for households with a student enrolled in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
For more information Call or Text empowerCLE at 216-777-3859 or at www.empowercle.org
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Editor's Note: The below story aired on February 4, 2021