Earlier this year, Community Tech Network began offering digital skills training to residents of EAH Housing, an affordable housing nonprofit, as part of a grant from the California Public Utilities Commission. To date we’ve offered classes in two EAH facilities in San Francisco and one in San Jose.
The partnership has been a great success, and EAH Housing recently asked CTN to begin training at two additional sites. CTN recently launched classes in the first location, Parnow Friendship House, which serves low-income older adults in Marin County. In the next few weeks, we will begin training in Spanish at Stonebridge Apartments in Napa Valley. This geographic expansion will allow CTN to serve many more EAH residents.
“You can tell the CTN instructors really want to be there, and the learners love it. They’re so excited. Learning these skills empowers them. They can do things on their own now, like paying their bills online. Getting connected really opens up a whole new world for them.” says Chris Burger, EAH’s technology program manager.
Chris continues: “We’re so happy to partner with CTN. I would describe CTN with three Ps: professional, profile, and passion. Every time I connect with anyone from CTN, they are always so professional. They’re on time, and they get the job done. Meanwhile, in terms of profile, you just see CTN everywhere. They’re part of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), they participate in a bunch of digital equity calls, and they’re part of the national community working to close the digital divide. Lastly, CTN has passion. This speaks for itself.”
CTN and EAH are hoping to continue this partnership in the future. According to Kristin Taylor, EAH’s vice president of resident services, “Our missions align, and CTN is so approachable and easy to work with. As we move with another round of grants, we think that CTN will be a great partner.”
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