Classes demystify technology for public housing residents

By Lia Russell

Sonya Lawrence may not yet know how to navigate the Internet, but she has plotted a course for her life that necessitates learning to use a computer.

“I want to finish my GED and become certified as a nursing assistant,” said the 39-year-old Wal-Mart employee. “If you don’t know computers, you are lost.”

Lawrence, a single mother of three, is finding help in pursuing her goals.

The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Foundation Stone Program is offering free computer classes to residents of public or subsidized housing.

The effort is part of a comprehensive plan to promote self-sufficiency and advancement among lower-income Portsmouth residents.

“Technology really came into its own in the last five years,” said Mary Greer Landon, associate vice president for workforce development at Tidewater Community College, which is staffing and overseeing PRHA’s newly restored computer lab and program. “You really have to have some skills in technology to do a job.”

Family Self Sufficiency program coordinator Robert Fortt agrees.

“Almost every job requires computer skills,” he said. “Our clients are telling us they need this program.”

The PRHA computer lab was established in 1999, but had to close in 2005 because of a lack of funding.

But because computer knowledge is now a prerequisite for almost every job, Fortt said he was finally able to procure money for the program in late 2007 from the U.S. Depart ment of Housing and Urban Development.

“Even truck drivers need computer skills today,” said Fortt. “They use computerized navigation systems.”

The 10-station computer lab has been open for use since November, staffed by TCC lab technician John Cazenave, but didn’t offer its first class – Basic Start-up Computer Skills – until last month.

Joan Jabbar, who attended the course, owns Jabbar Cleaning Service and wants to computerize her business records.

“And I want to be able to keep up with my seven grandchildren,” said Jabbar, 47, a Brighton resident. “They know more (about computers) than I do!”

As Cazenave helped the students experiment with some computer features, he noted that the women had trouble using the mouse.

“Soon, it will become second nature,” he said, encouragingly.

Jabbar suggested that the mouse wasn’t responding properly because there may be dust in it.

“There may be a little dust in them, but right now, I’d venture to guess it’s user error,” Cazenave quipped.

Lawrence and Jabbar described Cazenave as “very patient.”

Another beginner’s class is scheduled for Tuesday and many additional classes will be offered in the future, including instruction in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word. Day and evening classes will accommodate working adults.

“We will schedule classes based on what people tell us they want, and on what we discover they need as we go along,” said Landon.

Cazenave and Landon discovered a critical need during the first course offering – basic keyboarding.

“I can see that we’ll have to offer that in the future,” said Landon. “It can get frustrating to hunt and peck while you’re also learning how to use a computer.”

Besides providing a venue for learning computer skills, the computer lab also is available for eligible clients to use to create resumes, conduct job searches, complete online employment applications, check their credit scores, access email and more.

And it’s not just those in the workforce who want more computer skills.

“Senior citizens are interested in learning computer skills,” said Fortt. “They want to know ‘How do I correspond with my grandchild? How do I help my grandchild?’ A lot of our elderly are taking care of their grandchildren. This program is not just for young folks.” With 1,200 public housing units and many more Section 8 subsidized-housing residents in the city, the PRHA program has a large pool of potential clientele.

“Technology has become a basic need now,” said Landon. “To survive today, you need food, clothing, shelter and computers.”

Lia Russell, 222-5829, lia.russell@pilotonline.com