Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
Transforming Lives Through Digital Equity. DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Reports & 990s
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Spotlight Stories
      • Volunteer Spotlights
      • Learner Spotlights
      • Partner Spotlights
      • Funder Spotlights
      • Staff Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • PARTNER WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Reports & 990s
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Spotlight Stories
      • Volunteer Spotlights
      • Learner Spotlights
      • Partner Spotlights
      • Funder Spotlights
      • Staff Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • PARTNER WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Jan 13
learning tech skills at Minna Lee

Learning Tech Skills at Minna Lee

  • January 13, 2022
  • CPUC, Partner Spotlights

Learning tech skills can be difficult for any newcomer, but its challenges are exacerbated for those who lack stability. Imagine, for example, trying to access accounts without a long-term phone number or address to verify your login. How would you keep up with important online documents and files over time without a device? Because so much of our lives have shifted online, it is easy to take for granted how important digital skills are to participating in everyday life.

This was a recurring theme in our recent classes at the Minna Lee Hotel. Opened in 2018, the Minna Lee offers a safe and welcoming home to single adults through the Coordinated Entry System. CTN’s classes at this location are a part of our partnership with Episcopal Community Services (ECS), funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

This partnership program officially began in early 2020, but most classes at Minna Lee have been on hold during the pandemic. Over a year later, CTN program manager Josie Boyle began teaching the first in-person class this past November. As a trial run of sorts, we kept this initial group small. In mid-December, all four attendees successfully graduated from the program!

This course first covered the basics of a device before diving into more complex topics — like educational resources, photo editing and sharing, media literacy, internet safety, and Google applications. A couple of the learners were already familiar with tech skills, but they remained engaged and offered helpful insight based on their experiences. Others had much less experience with technology and benefited from slowly learning the basics.

“The overall sentiment was just on how you really need to have these basic skills to be a part of society now,” reflects Josie. “One participant was in a juvenile facility for several years. When he was released, he already felt behind the times and was slow to learn computers since he worked in construction, where it wasn’t needed. Another topic that came up was how much harder it is to use common tech if you don’t have stability.”

We’re grateful for ECS in helping us make these classes possible — and hopeful that we can continue to work with Minna Lee residents to ensure they feel confident navigating the digital world.

Related

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Related Posts

Comments are closed.

CTN Stories

  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • CTN In the News
  • Volunteer Spotlights
  • Learner Spotlights
  • Partner Spotlights
  • Funder Spotlights
  • CTN Advocacy

Stay Connected with CTN by signing up for our email list.

Recent Posts

  • Superstar CTN Volunteer Hosts Webinar to Teach Older Adults How to Use WhatsApp 
  • How to Become a Volunteer at Community Tech Networ
  • Digital Equity for Black Americans: A Racial Justice Issue
  • Why Is the Internet More Expensive in the USA than in Other Countries?
  • What Is Digital Redlining and How Does It Perpetuate Poverty?

Follow us on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
Error: Invalid OAuth access token - Cannot parse access token Type: OAuthException

Community Tech Network believes that access to the Internet is a human right and that those without the skills to use a computer are at risk of social and economic disadvantage.

Contact Us

San Francisco Office
1390 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94102

General Questions
inquiries@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318

Press
press@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318 x 3636
Media Kit

Explore job opportunities with CTN

Send us a note:

©2023 Community Tech Network. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Proudly powered by WordPress Hosted by Pressable