A HEARTFELT THANK-YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
National Volunteer Week 2020 was celebrated the week of April 19 – 26, providing us with another opportunity to say “thank you” to our 235 volunteers! In 2019, they provided hope and inspiration to more than a thousand low-income and older adult digital learners. Our preliminary 2019 community impact data reflects the impressive value our volunteers have provided to the communities we serve. Follow this link to learn more about our wonderful volunteers.
CTN HOME CONNECT PROGRAM MILESTONES
Home Connect, the newest addition to CTN’s digital training opportunities, is designed to provide remote training to homebound older adult digital learners. Our employees and volunteers recently celebrated two important milestones in the rollout of this program. The first tablets were delivered to selected older adult learners, and the first remote training session was conducted with a senior who did not have to leave the safety of their home. Click here to read more about the progress made to get isolated seniors online.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: SABRINA TAM
As a senior program manager with CTN in San Francisco, Sabrina Tam has seen her role change dramatically over the last two months. When she joined CTN over 2 years ago, she was able to sit next to her students and guide them directly through the digital learning process. But during our transition to virtual training as a result of COVID-19, our training delivery had to evolve. Read more about how Sabrina has helped lead the development and implementation of our new program, Home Connect.
MAY IS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
Older Americans Month, observed every year during May, is important to CTN as older adults comprise approximately 70% of our digital learners each year! For 57 years, Older Americans Month has been a special time to recognize older adults’ unique and lasting contributions to their communities by celebrating how they volunteer their time, share their stories, and get involved in their neighborhoods. Follow this link to read more about Older Americans Month.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: ALEXANDER BRYAN
Alex became interested in volunteering for CTN over six months ago after accompanying his friend, a CTN board member, to an event. That evening he had an opportunity to interact with CTN staff, volunteers, and some of the older learners that had been helped by CTN. He was fascinated by their stories about how their lives had been changed by their introduction to the digital world. Alex also has a more personal reason for helping older adults, click here to read Alex’s story.
PROVIDING CONNECTIONS DURING COVID-19
Recently Paul contacted CTN seeking assistance with getting connected. He usually accesses the internet through the library system and realizes there are many great information resources and entertainment opportunities to keep people busy if they have internet and a computer. He shared that he realizes that the people who are most hurt by self-isolation are the same ones who don’t have internet. Click here to see how CTN helped Paul get connected at home.
OFFERING REMOTE TRAINING SUPPORT
CTN staff have experienced another unanticipated, yet not entirely unexpected, impact from the COVID-19 environment. CTN’s past digital learners needing technical assistance have traditionally turned to our staff or volunteers at our training partner locations such as senior centers and housing developments. Because of pandemic-related closings, these same individuals can no longer access help this way and are calling the CTN office for assistance. Follow this link to learn about CTN’s solution to help our past learners.
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