Stafford,
VAIn early 2005, Pamela Curtis was in her third year of
working for Interstate Realty Management Company (IRM) as a social
services coordinator at one of IRM's properties in New Jersey. While
Curtis enjoyed her job, she was ready for a change. After discussing
with her employer her desire to relocate, Curtis was offered and
accepted the position of social services coordinator and computer
facilitator at the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer
Training Center in Virginia, another Neighborhood Networks center
operated by IRM. Curtis knew that, even though the Garrison Woods
Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center opened in 2002, it
was in need of strong leadership that would encourage more residents
to take advantage of the resources it offered.
"When
I began at Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training
Center in March 2005, the only resource the center provided was
access to the center's 10 computers," described Curtis. "While providing
access to computers is a fantastic resource, I have discovered that
resident participation increases noticeably when you combine access
to technology with a variety of programs or services. A Neighborhood
Networks center is like a buffet. You cannot offer only one dish
because people will get bored."
Curtis
has spent nearly the past four years developing a full curriculum
of programs and services that would complement the computer access
provided by the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training
Center. On October 23, 2008, her efforts paid off when the Garrison
Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center achieved Model
Center Classification, a feat no other Virginia center has yet to
achieve and only 11 other Neighborhood Networks centers in the country
have accomplished.
Starting
with Residents and Partners
Curtis'
strategy to transform the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer
Training Center involved combining its technological resources with
a full curriculum of programs and services. Therefore, every Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents have access
to the center's 10 computers during open computer lab. Curtis estimates
that 20 to 30 people visit the center each week to use the computers.
Curtis is available to provide computer assistance or help users
create a resume or cover letter.
To
build a full-service Neighborhood Networks center, Curtis drew upon
the experience she acquired while working at her previous Neighborhood
Networks center. Past experience taught her that she needed to enlist
the help of residents and community partners to achieve her goals.
"I
reached out to as many residents as I could to learn what they wanted,"
said Curtis. "Once I knew what they wanted, I then went out into
the community to find partners who could help me deliver these programs
and services. Because our center is located in a somewhat rural
area, my goal was to bring as many programs and services to the
center as possible so transportation would not be an issue. It is
amazing how generous people and organizations are when you simply
ask for their help."
Helping
Adult Residents Further Their Education and Their Careers
One
such organization that helped Curtis turn the Garrison Woods Neighborhood
Networks Computer Training Center into a Model center was Rappahannock
Area Regional Adult Education (RARAE). With the support of RARAE,
the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center
is able to offer General Educational Development (GED) and English
as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
Currently,
eight adults are enrolled in the GED class that meets every Monday
and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For the class, RARAE provides
the instructors and all of the materials. As part of the partnership
agreement, RARAE also pays the exam fee for Garrison Woods residents
in exchange for center space.
Since Curtis launched the class three years ago, eight individuals
have successfully completed the exam and received their GED. "Many
students who enroll in our class say they want to earn their GED
so they can continue their education at one of the local community
colleges." Curtis goes on to report, "We had a set of twins who
earned their GEDs together, and are currently enrolled at Germanna
Community College where they are studying business administration.
To further encourage residents to continue their education, IRM
offers a scholarship program for residents who wish to further their
education. Residents who apply and are accepted to college or a
trade/professional school are eligible to receive a scholarship
that covers tuition and books. The financial support offered by
IRM is a motivating force for many residents."
On
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., RARAE once again
provides an instructor and all of the course materials that enable
the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center
to offer an ESL class. Currently, 20 adults participate in the center's
class that is offered free to residents and for $20 to non-residents.
According to Curtis, many of the students in the center's ESL class
are taking the class to improve their English so they can take the
GED or obtain a better job.
To
help residents obtain employment or advance in their career, Curtis
created a Job Corner in the center. Each week, Curtis receives an
e-mail list of local job openings from the Rappahannock Goodwill.
She posts the list in the Job Corner, and assists residents with
applying for the job(s) in which they are interested.
"About
10 to 12 residents come in each week and check out the job openings,"
said Curtis. "I only started posting the job openings in October
[2008], and already one person has obtained a job from the postings
so we are off to a promising start."
Programs that Empower During Afterschool Hours
While
helping adult residents achieve greater self-sufficiency is one
of Curtis' key goals, she also recognizes the importance of providing
young residents with positive activities during critical afterschool
hours. Each weekday from 3:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., 15 children between
the ages of 7 and 13 participate in the Garrison Woods Neighborhood
Networks Computer Training Center's afterschool program. After having
a snack that is provided by the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank (Kid's
Café), the children work on completing their homework assignments.
To ensure that all of the children get the homework support they
need, Curtis enlisted the help of a high school student who volunteers
at the center during the afterschool program. Curtis recently formed
a partnership with the University of Mary Washington and hopes to
gain access to college interns who can help with the afterschool
program.
"Once the 'business' has been taken care of, we focus on other enrichment
activities. The children can use the computers to practice their
spelling or typing, or they can take part in an arts and crafts
activity. In fact, it was during our afterschool program's arts
and crafts activity that one of our young residents created the
poster that won second place in the 6 to 12 year old age group in
the Neighborhood Networks Week Poster Contest," reported Curtis.
Curtis
considers the center's computer lab and Job Corner, GED and ESL
classes, and afterschool program her core programs. However, she
also has numerous other programs and services, including a 4-H club
for youth ages 13 and older and Food For Life for senior residents
ages 55 and older. The center also offers programs aimed to improve
the mind, body, and spirit of residents, such as an exercise class,
routine health screenings, and bible studies. Curtis is constantly
looking to add to the lengthy list of programs and services offered
at the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center.
Promoting
the New and Improved Center
To
promote the resources offered at the Garrison Woods Neighborhood
Networks Computer Training Center, Curtis writes and produces a
monthly newsletter that is distributed to residents. However, to
further increase awareness of the center in the community and with
partners, Curtis created a Web site for the Garrison Woods Neighborhood
Networks Computer Training Center using the Neighborhood Networks
at Work Portal.
"If
our center is going to emphasize the importance of technology, it
seemed only natural that we should have a presence on the Web,"
explained Curtis. "I used the Web site creation tool on the Neighborhood
Networks page to create the center's site. I am not the most techno-savvy
person, but I created a simple site in no time. The site looks professional,
and I can update the information as much as I want. More centers
really need to take advantage of this tool. Neighborhood Networks
hosts the site so it saves a center from having to pay server hosting
fees, and a center can create as many pages as they like. There
is absolutely no reason why every center should not have a Web site
with this tool."
While
Curtis is pleased with the progress that she has made at the Garrison
Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center in the past
four years, she recognizes that there is more work to be done and
more progress to be made. Curtis concluded by saying, "While I am
thrilled that we achieved Model Center Classification, I do not
see this achievement as the end point. As a Model center, the Garrison
Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center serves as an
example to other centers, and it is important that we demonstrate
that we continuously implement innovative solutions and that we
are not content to stop here."
For
more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia,
contact:
Jerryl
Bennett
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Richmond Multifamily Program Center
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 822-4842
Jerryl.E.Bennett@hud.gov
Darnell
Lassiter
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Richmond Multifamily Program Center
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 822-4861
Rashida
Mitchell
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Richmond Multifamily Program Center
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 822-4870
For more information about the Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks
Computer Training Center, contact:
Pamela
Curtis
Garrison Woods Neighborhood Networks Computer Training Center
207 Garrison Woods Drive
Stafford, VA 22556
(540) 657-5836
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