Idaho's Newest Neighborhood Networks Center to Serve as Flagship for Future Centers

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Boise, ID—When the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center opened its doors in September 2008, it assumed the title of largest Neighborhood Networks center in Idaho. With seven computers and numerous community partners lined up to provide an array of services and resources, the center was more than ready to serve the 96 residents of Wylie Street Station, one of several properties owned and managed by Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation (NWRECC).

HUD's Brian Dale (left) and Karen Falvey (right) present Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation's Laurie DeLeeuw with the Neighborhood Networks Certificate of Designation for the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center. Pictured next to DeLeeuw is Boise Mayor David H. Bieter.

However, for Laurie DeLeeuw, the director of community development for NWRECC tasked with establishing the nonprofit organization's first Neighborhood Networks center, opening the center was not so much about providing the most resources to residents, but delivering the best.

"We began planning to open a center at Wylie Street Station in June 2007," explained DeLeeuw. "It was extremely important to us that our planning was thorough and thoughtful. When we opened the doors to the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center, we wanted to be 100 percent ready to serve our first resident with the knowledge that the center would serve as a benchmark for all of NWRECC's future Neighborhood Networks centers. It was critical that we took our time and learned as much as we could during the whole process so future center openings would go smoothly."

Calling on the Community

One of DeLeeuw's first actions was enlisting the help of community partners to establish a comfortable and resource-filled center, including:

	Mountain West Bank, which provided funds and equipment.
	Steve Testardi, a research and development section manager in Hewlett-Packard's LaserJet operations, who donated his time and talent to configure the center's computer network.
	Qwest Communications, which donated fiber optic DSL Internet capabilities.
	Sherwin Williams, which donated new carpeting for the facility.

When configuring the center, DeLeeuw dedicated a portion of the center as a separate children's area. This space enables parents to devote their full attention to their studies and not have to worry about finding safe and reliable childcare while they take advantage of the center's resources. Volunteers engage the children in learning and enrichment activities.

Next, DeLeeuw began developing a comprehensive curriculum of programs and services. Once again, she turned to community partners to help her create a center that offered the resources that residents need and want. DeLeeuw's impressive list of local partners includes:

	Boise State University's Department of Multicultural and Educational Opportunities, which offers classes that help residents obtain their General Educational Development (GED) and assists with the completion of financial aid applications and transfer of college credits earned at out-of-country institutions of higher education.
	Idaho Department of Labor, which provides job search workshops, networking opportunities, and a workforce program that offers job preparation and employment services.
	Wells Fargo, which offers financial literacy assistance through its "Hands on Banking" program that improves knowledge of bank accounts and budgeting; emphasizes the importance of saving money, maintaining good credit, and smart shopping; and teaches individuals how to start their own small business.
	World Relief, which helps refugees develop life skills, find employment, and improve their language skills through the teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

"People asked how we managed to form so many strong community partnerships, and I just tell them that the driving force was pure determination," expressed DeLeeuw. "We wanted to create more than a computer center. Our goal was to establish a center that offers all of the resources that help each resident become more self-sufficient. Just like the name states, we truly want this center to be a stepping stone for each resident; a chance to learn, an opportunity to succeed, and springboard to a brighter future."

Finding the Right Leader

With the center configured and a full curriculum of programs and services in place, DeLeeuw next turned her attention to finding the right individual who would efficiently, effectively, and compassionately manage the center's day-to-day operations. She found just the right person with Maria Nargiel.

Center Director Maria Nargiel (left) and volunteers Cindi and Steve Testardi.

"When I met Maria, I knew she was perfect for the job of center director," explained DeLeeuw. "Maria came to the United States from Poland with very little. To survive in her new country, Maria needed to learn the language and find the resources that would help her obtain the skills to get a job. She did all this on her own and became a success. She knows the challenges our residents face because she has been through similar situations as well. And more importantly, she knows how to help our residents overcome these challenges and succeed."

Opening the Doors to Opportunity

On September 26, 2008, DeLeeuw hosted the grand opening of the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center. Boise Mayor David H. Bieter, President and Executive Director of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association Gerald Hunter, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Operations Specialist Brian Dale were guest speakers at the ceremony that recognized all of the individuals and community partners who worked so hard to establish the center. Mayor Bieter and DeLeeuw concluded the ceremony with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially proclaimed the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center open for business. Attendees were then invited to tour the center and discover its resources.

Boise Mayor David H. Bieter and all of the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center's partners take part in the center's ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 26, 2008.

"The grand opening was our reward for all of our hard work," said DeLeeuw. "All of our partners attended the ceremony, which was great because we were so busy creating the center that I felt we never really had time to officially thank them for their support. We also had several residents and community members attend the ceremony and tour the center. Everyone seemed very excited to sign up for classes and begin taking advantage of all the center has to offer."

Since opening its doors in September, Nargiel and volunteers Steve and Cindi Testardi have been busy creating a self-assessment questionnaire that each resident must complete. The questionnaire identifies the resident's goals, solicits information on what type of programs or services he/she needs and wants, and determines the resident's current skill level. To date, 43 of the 96 residents have visited the center and completed the self-assessment. According to DeLeeuw, all of the classes offered at the center, including the GED, ESL, and basic computer classes, are full. To accommodate more residents, Steve Testardi donated funds through Gifts In Kind International and Hewlett-Packard's employee product giving program which will enable the center to purchase two new computers, bringing its total number of computers up to nine.

Volunteer Steve Testardi teaches residents how to use the Internet.

"Maria acts as a liaison between the resident and the resources," described DeLeeuw. "Instead of offering a general class that might be too difficult for some and too easy for others, Maria assesses each resident to determine where they are at with their learning. She then identifies the resources offered at the center and in the community that will enable the resident to achieve their goals. All of the center-based resources can be customized to meet the specific needs of the resident."

DeLeeuw is already busy working on the opening of three more NWRECC Neighborhood Networks centers in Idaho. "It truly is a wonderful feeling to launch something that you know is going to have such a positive impact and make such a difference in peoples' lives." DeLeeuw went on to say, "The greatest moment for me was when one of our residents, Mohammed, introduced himself to me at the grand opening and said, 'I am so grateful that I no longer have to take a bus, which was often late, across town to attend classes. I can just come next door. I am so excited.' Opening a center took a lot of hard work, but Mohammed's comment and enthusiasm made it all worth it."

For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in Idaho, contact:

Kristine Petrillo
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Portland
Multifamily Program Center
400 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 700
Portland, OR 97204
(971) 222-2655

For more information about the Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center, contact:

Laurie DeLeeuw
Director of Community Development
Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation
210 West Mallard Drive, Suite A
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 947-7044

Maria Nargiel
Center Director
Wylie Street Station's Stepping Stones Neighborhood Networks Computer Learning Center
4683 Wylie Lane
Boise, ID 83703 (208) 342-2276