Craig Visits St. Anthony Foundation Tech Lab
Yesterday, Craig and I spent the morning with the great folks at St. Anthony Foundation in the SF Tenderloin.
craig and ann
Inspiring and important community building work going on there! Their Tech Lab is a great model. They are helping bridge the digital divide and enable those in need with some very valuable online time and instruction (from volunteers like Ann). Ann was impacted by Washington Mutual workforce downsizing back in Feburary and decided to look for a rewarding volunteer job during this year of transition. She feel in love with the St. Anthony Foundation and has been teaching basic computing classes for months. When Craig and I stopped by, it was the first day of a new class term and the room was at capacity — filled with smiles.
Their biggest need is for additional bandwidth to service the 37 workstations and hundreds of guests flowing through their doors. They’d love for someone like AT&T or Comcast to step in.
For those of you who enjoy success stories, Francis Aviani (SAF Communications/Media Manager) shared this great one with us.
Sonny’s life came to a halt when he was sentenced to serve eight years in a federal penitentiary. When he was released the entire world, and especially the Bay Area, had changed dramatically. Technology had taken over the way groceries are purchased, the way apartments are found, the way appointments are made, and the way jobs are applied for. When looking for resources he was invariably told “go to our website”. When waiting for responses he was asked for his email address. Yet he had never used a computer, nor did he know where to gain access to one.
Sonny heard about the Tenderloin Technology Lab at the halfway house for recently released inmates where he lives. The Tech Lab, a partnership between St. Anthony Foundation and San Francisco Network Ministries, offers free computer classes and drop-in computer access where Sonny is one of the 250 students whom the Tech Lab serves each month.
He was intimidated at first, and with no previous computer experience Sonny did not know how or where to begin. It was Sonny’s hope that his 3G welding certification would be his ticket to solid employment and a smooth re-entry to society. Before he was incarcerated, the housing boom was flourishing and welders were in high demand. After his release and after calling 127 iron shops without a single call back, he knew he needed a new plan, and his success in the non-institutionalized world depended on it.
“It’s a big jump for anybody; in a small sense it’s pretty frightening because you don’t know how to use it, and everything is so computerized now its overwhelming. But with a few of the teachers here, step by step we’re slowly going through it, and if you have any questions, ask they are more than willing to help you.”
Developing new skills to access basics such as employment and housing are essential for the recently incarcerated to find consistent shelter and food. The chances of a successful re-entry into society are very slim, with almost no rehabilitation programs available to prepare for their release. California’s recidivism rate is 70%; the nation’s highest.
Within a month of attending Tech Lab classes Sonny learned to search for employment online, built a résumé and cover letter, opened an email account to send employment inquiries, was offered two interviews, and secured employment. Without access to new computer skills and technology and the personalized attention and encouragement of Tech Lab staff, none of that would have been possible.
“I believe if you are trying hard and looking for the right thing and you put your nose to the grindstone, it’s going to come for you, and if you use the resources available. I just happened to get lucky. Real lucky.”
Subscribe