“This program has just opened…it opened my eyes. It’s like my wasabi.”
For these 20 residents, basic computer skills were something they all struggled with.
“I didn’t know nothing about excel. For example, I knew the basic ones like word, PowerPoint and those stuff but excel was the most important one for me that I didn’t know.”
“My initial fear was if I press the wrong button something will irrevocably go wrong.”
“I’m 73 so I’ve been out of the workforce for a while, but I don’t want to be left out.”
But the City of Charlotte, The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, and the Center for Digital Equity partnered together to launch a pilot program called Learn2Earn.
“They learned about Microsoft Excel, internet basics, email basics, computer basics, and they took these courses and got certificates at the end. They also took a resume writing and career advice and support coaching class as well.”
Over the span of seven weeks, these residents grew their computer skills and knowledge at the Hickory Grove Library.
“When It came to the resume that was my biggest pleasure because the resume help me be able to reflect the interview.”
“I’m much more confident. In fact, I can help other people. In fact, I helped my grandson and he was like wow grandma you’ve come into the millennium (laughing).”
“It’s humbled me that there’s so much knowledge out there and it’s made me really excited to use computers now.”
Nats- students receiving certificates
At the end of the program, residents graduated not only walking away with new skills but also brand-new laptops.
“If you only take the class and you don’t have a device to use at home you’re going to lose a lot of those skills that you’ve already gained through the class and it’s important that folks really have that opportunity to continue to build their skills and that they now have access to all these resources that the library offers, that the city offers, that partners across Charlotte offer so that they can continue their learning.”
“Coming into this I didn’t know I’d get a laptop so it’s really icing on the cake.”
Learn2Earn has helped these residents improve their self-sufficiency and confidence with computers...
Nats- students receiving certificates
And it’s a program many say they are glad they were able to take and now share with others.
“What I come away with is the ability to expedite ways of doing things and to teach others. If I come across someone who’s also been in the situation that I was in, I now have a teaching platform to teach what I never thought I could have taught.”