Staff Spotlights Archives - Community Tech Network

Jean Otazo: Helping Spanish-Speakers Sign Up for the Affordable Connectivity Program in San Francisco

jess — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:01:26 +0000

Jean Otazo just joined Community Tech Network a few months ago, but within that short time, he has already made a huge difference in the lives of many Spanish-speaking older adults in San Francisco by helping them get connected to the internet. One of Jean’s biggest accomplishments: helping various people sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a government initiative that offers low-income households discounts on their home internet bills. In the last month alone, Jean worked diligently at our partner location, the On Lok 30th Street Senior Center, to help three older adults get approved to receive ACP benefits. “Sometimes, I spend up to three or four hours with a person helping them submit their application. We have to make sure that they have all the necessary documents, and if one document is 25 pages, we have to scan it page by page. If the person doesn’t already know how to use a computer we have to set up their email address first and do other things like that,” Jean says. Once someone is accepted into the ACP, Jean’s efforts don’t stop there. He also helps folks find a suitable internet provider and facilitates the connection between the […]

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Back to Her Roots: Yanely Gonzalez Returns to Hometown to Serve Community as Digital Equity Coordinator

jess — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:00:31 +0000

Whenever possible, Community Tech Network strives to hire individuals directly from the communities which we are serving since such folks best understand the local context and needs. As we expand our work into California’s Central Valley, we are thrilled to announce one of the newest additions to our team: Yanely Gonzalez. Yanely was born and raised in the Central Valley and serves as our Digital Equity Program coordinator for the area. Says Yanely, a graduate of the University of California at Davis: “I feel right at home in this position. It’s amazing and I love it so much. I’m from here and I’m so excited for the opportunity to help my community move forward.” Yanely comes to CTN with fascinating experiences, having spent the past few years in Latin America. She lived in Costa Rica and visited countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina. However, she’s excited to be back home. In her new role, Yanely is working closely with CTN partners like EAH Housing to perform outreach and encourage folks to sign up for digital literacy classes. She’ll be visiting different sites in the area between Fresno and Modesto. Meanwhile, Yanely is also currently teaching digital skills […]

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Vy Vo: Bringing Key Resources to Vietnamese and Asian Communities

jess — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 14:19:41 +0000

When she was a young child, Vy Toung Vo and her family moved to the U.S. as refugees from Vietnam. She has since dedicated her career to supporting Vietnamese and, more broadly, Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. As a bilingual digital literacy instructor with CTN, Vy has taught various cohorts of monolingual Vietnamese-speaking learners how to use the internet. She says that the service is much needed. “Because of the model minority myth and skewed statistics, people think that the entire AAPI community is tech-literate and living in Silicon Valley. This may apply to some, but people assume that our community is more like this than it really is. There are tons of poor and at-risk Vietnamese people. Some of my learners are very marginalized. Many are seniors, disabled, or low-income. Many can’t leave their homes and have no family and are very isolated. We have to showcase diversity in the community — we’re not all like in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. There is really a need and a demand for services [like CTN provides].” Vy is particularly proud to support digital equity, which she calls “the way of the future.” “Access to the internet is now basically […]

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Uhunoma Edamwen: Young, Promising Leader in the Field of Digital Equity

jess — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:00:04 +0000

Uhunoma Edamwen has worked to address the digital divide from every angle: as a journalist, as a researcher, and even as a federal government official. Now he’s brought his talents and passion to Community Tech Network. Uhunoma attended college at the University of Virginia, where he majored in media studies and public policy. He says: “It was during undergrad that I first started taking coursework about internet policy and realized how important digital inclusion is as a social justice issue. Once exposed, I knew that I wanted to work in the field of digital equity.” Uhunoma then attended George Mason University, where he received his MPA. His research focused primarily on broadband and internet policy. While in graduate school, he also worked as a journalist covering tech policy and wrote stories about digital inclusion and digital redlining, as well as federal broadband initiatives such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Then Uhunoma worked for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and was able to support the federal government as it launched its Internet for All initiatives. However, Uhunoma eventually decided that he wanted to work “more directly with the people,” as he believes that “community voices will shape […]

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One to Watch: Jenny Rubio, an Up-and-Coming Leader in Digital Equity

jess — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:00:29 +0000

Jenny Rubio is a promising new powerhouse in the field of digital equity. A recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Jenny has been advocating for digital inclusion since high school. “As a young adult,” she says, “I was entranced by the tech field and all that it promised. I tried to keep up with tech, and it was just exhausting. There are always new developments. I did this because I was interested in it, but imagine how many people have to keep up with tech just to survive.” Indeed, many crucial everyday tasks have become digitized. In today’s society, banking, applying for jobs and social services, accessing healthcare portals, and even reading restaurant menus with QR codes all require digital skills. Wanting to make a difference, Jenny participated in Ready, Set, Connect! during her junior year of high school in East Oakland. As part of this program, which was created by Community Tech Network, Jenny volunteered to provide tech support to local public library patrons. Her busiest days were when applications became available for things such as housing. “I was only 17 years old,” Jenny says, “and it was like ‘ding.’ I saw the importance of technology in […]

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High School Senior Trained as Digital Navigator to Help Chinese Community in San Francisco Get Online

jess — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:00:52 +0000

Xiaolin Li has an impressive resume. She is a fellow with the GOAT 23 program, which helps young people develop their own businesses. She knows how to code and do web development and is bilingual in English and Chinese. She also works with the Community Youth Center of San Francisco. Did we mention she’s only 17 years old? In her newest role, Xiaolin will serve as a digital navigator for Community Tech Network and support our work with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) SF Bridge Digital Equity Program. CTN typically does not hire minors, but we were blown away by Xiaolin’s resume after she was referred to us by Glide, a partner agency. Xiaolin will primarily be supporting Chinese-speaking learners. Says CTN’s Audrey Potts: “There is a big need for her to be able to speak with our learners. She’s a real go-getter, and we are thrilled to have her be a part of the MOHCD/Digital Equity Program. We are here to help guide her and train her to be able to assist us as a digital navigator in the Chinese community.” Since Xiaolin is still in high school, she will work up to eight hours […]

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Ben Boone: Predicting and Budgeting for CTN’s Future Growth

jess — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:03:54 +0000

A few months ago, Ben Boone was hired as Community Tech Network’s finance and administration director. He already loves the work and is doing a fantastic job. “Growing up in a family of teachers and having been a teacher myself, I know the importance of education in this world. Meanwhile, I traveled internationally while completing my MBA and also recognized the importance of access and connectivity. I love what CTN does: combining access and education,” Ben says. In his new role, Ben will oversee payroll, human resources, and other administrative duties, but he is most excited to manage the budget. He says: “I love forecasting and future growth budgeting. This ensures that we can grow and create efficiencies while staying financially stable so that we can serve more people.” Ben certainly is no stranger to this type of work, as he has worked in the finance and accounting sector for the past 13 years, 7 of which have been with nonprofits. As mentioned before, he feels particularly connected to CTN’s mission. “We’re going into a digital world. We use the internet to stay in touch with family and friends. It’s where we get our news. Education is turning digital. People […]

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CTN Committed to Collecting Quality Data, Announces Its First Data Quality and Control Manager

jess — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:51:52 +0000

As Community Tech Network continues to grow, the organization is committed to maintaining data integrity. This month, we announced that Pat Jew will become CTN’s first data quality and control manager. Pat, who previously worked as CTN’s volunteer and program manager, has also served as a business analyst in the for-profit sector and has experience collecting, evaluating, and managing data and data systems. According to Kari Gray, CTN’s Digital Literacy Program director, “Pat is passionate about evaluation of programs and services and aligning program delivery with goals and outcomes. She has the experience we need for expanding our data and evaluation systems to meet our emerging needs.” In her new role, Pat hopes to implement sustainable systems for CTN’s data management. She will be responsible for reporting internal and external data and implementing protocols for data collection, entry, analysis, and quality control. She has already played a key role in establishing successful data infrastructure for various CTN programs, including Home Connect, SF Connected, CHAT, SF Digital Equity, and the volunteer program. Says Pat, “Data is extremely important to CTN’s work. It helps us see if our service is impactful and allows us to track our performance so that we can […]

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Josh Chan: A Heart for Volunteerism and a Passion for Digital Equity

jess — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 16:17:02 +0000

Josh Chan, Community Tech Network’s newest volunteer coordinator, is the perfect fit for the job, as he has a passion for volunteerism and a personal commitment to the organization’s mission. Josh first began volunteering as a reading partner and tutor in underserved neighborhoods during his time at San Francisco State University. Upon graduation, Josh spent two years in AmeriCorps. “While in AmeriCorps, I helped education nonprofits with their volunteers,” Josh says. “In one role, I served as the point of contact for the volunteers and led their orientations and debriefs. In my other role, I was more on the back end and supported volunteer coordination and management.” Josh’s duties will be similar at CTN, as he will recruit volunteers and ensure that they are matched with the appropriate partners and learners. He will also check in with partner organizations to confirm that the volunteers are being used effectively. “I think that one of my favorite parts of the job with CTN will be talking to the volunteers and letting them know that they can make a difference. By providing ongoing support and donating even just one hour a week for three months, they can really help a learner get comfortable […]

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Hyewon Park: Helping Korean-Speaking Learners Get Online in the Bay Area

jess — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:50:45 +0000

Hyewon Park joined Community Tech Network in July as a bilingual digital literacy instructor. She has been primarily supporting Korean-speaking learners through CTN’s partnership with the Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI). CTN began offering iPad training through CEI in 2020, and we have since trained over 250 learners in five languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Tagalog. We recently began offering sessions in Korean as well. Thanks to Hyewon, nine Korean-speaking learners completed their basic digital skills training this fall and were awarded iPads. Hyewon feels that her new role has allowed her to impact these learners’ lives. “One day a learner came to me and said, ‘It might be a dumb question, but is it possible to translate English documents into Korean by using an iPad? That is the most urgent need for me!’ I told him that it was not a dumb question. I lead my classes based on learner needs,” she says. “Byoung An, one of the older adults in my class, mentioned that learning new technology has changed his life. He said that after taking the iPad class, he felt younger, more independent, and more confident. In particular, he was thrilled that he no longer had to […]

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