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SEATTLE—February 15, 2007—The Yesler Terrace Learning Center at 917 E. Yesler Way has provided programs and multi-use
facilitated lab time to 300 public housing residents of all ages
since January 2003. Thanks to an almost $250,000 Neighborhood
Networks grant award from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development Seattle Housing Authority, with its partners, will be
able to expand offerings at the center. “This grant award will assist us in
offering essential programs at the Yesler Terrace Learning Center that
focus on fostering self-sufficiency in residents,
including economic self-sufficiency,” said John Forsyth, community
services administrator.
These programs are designed with Yesler Terrace
residents of all ages and at all technology levels in mind. There
are programs for youth, seniors, those learning English and even those who have never touched a computer.
Workshops that residents expressed interest in
through a survey will be offered at the Yesler Terrace Learning Center and funded with the
grant award. Some of these workshops may include tax preparation,
citizenship, financial literacy and assistance in obtaining a drivers license.
The computers in the Yesler Terrace Learning Center will also be available for residents to
access the Internal Revenue Service Web site where they can file
their tax returns.
The Yesler Terrace Learning Center offers facilitated lab
time two hours a day, five days a week. During this time residents
can work on a variety of projects. Some may use the time to develop
resumes, research potential employers online, use the Internet to
research homework projects for school, get translation assistance,
gather news and information from their country of origin and access
information about government programs and benefits available to low-income residents.
A basic computer and software course for adults
is also offered. It targets those with little or no computer
experience and includes an introduction to Windows software, the
Internet, word processing and typing. The Yesler Terrace
Learning Center also offers a
basic computer course designed especially for seniors.
One of the center's main goals is to increase
the potential for SHA youth to become self-sufficient and successful
adults. Head Start and Kids Place offer programs at the center to support this goal. Three- to
five-year-olds in Neighborhood House’s Head Start program use the Yesler Terrace Learning Center once a week
during the school year. With the help of volunteers and staff, the kids
learn to use a computer and play a variety of educational Web-based
games.
Kids Place is a
program for six- to 11-year-olds throughout the school year. They
learn how to use computers and keyboards, work on computer-related
projects and play different educational Web-based programs.
SHA provides employment services at Yesler
Terrace through The Job Connection. Staff may refer residents to the
Yesler Terrace Learning Center to develop resumes, research possible jobs and apply
online for jobs. Residents also utilize the English as a Second
Language training that is offered through the Yesler Terrace
Learning Center to help prepare
for entering the job market.
Neighborhood Networks is a community-based
program created by HUD in 1995. The purpose was to establish
multi-service community technology centers that bring digital
opportunity and lifelong learning to low- and moderate-income
residents living in HUD housing. The program started off as a
grassroots initiative, but has risen to incorporate more than 700
computer-learning centers in multi-family assisted housing
developments throughout the country.
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