As the information culture surrounds us and computer skills become essential to school and work success, too many talented people are being left out. By opening avenues for economic development and entrepreneurial opportunities, we are developing the untapped potential of young people, families, and other disenfranchised individuals. The CTSC provides a space where families in transition from welfare to work, youth, working poor, seniors and entrepreneurs can gain knowledge and enlightenment through training that is designed specifically for their needs. Our constituents learn business and basic computer skills, practice math skills, do homework, create newsletters and flyers, and conduct on-line research. In addition, they learn how to apply technology that is relevant to many of their families' basic and emergency needs, such as accessing job listings, affordable housing, and educational enhancement.
Families learn that computers can be user-friendly.
WEAP is located in a medium to large urban area, with a larger than average minority population and a higher than average rate of poverty. The organization's reputation in Oakland's low-income communities instills in students a certain level of trust, which carries over to the CTSC instructors. Instructors explain how to utilize personal computers and demonstrate how they can provide access to information vital to the well being of poor families. Learning how to use a computer is a powerful and affirming experience for the students, resulting in individual satisfaction and accomplishment. As a Regional Networking Academy, WEAP will train and provide support to local academies around the area to open this opportunity of network training to even more poor residents.