By Trista Mayes
Senior citizen Shirley Smith isn't letting
technology leave her behind. She and her daughter Claudia
Smith have been spending two hours together every Thursday
learning computer skills at the computer lab at the Resource
Center for Women in Largo. The Center does not have an
instructor for the lab; the training is self-taught.
The mother and daughter team work very well together
and help
each other learn. They have been using the facility for
about three months. The women bring a computer book with
them to the lab and Shirley remarks, “We are diligently
working our way through the book, and we're up to learning
how to manage files and folders."
The Resource Center for Women (RCW) is a non-profit
center established in 1977 to aid women in accomplishing
their
full potential. The Center is located at 1301 Seminole
Boulevard, Suite 150 in Largo. RCW provides programs
that develop confidence in women, helping them compete
and thrive
in the job market and in their personal lives. The
Center offers the individual support they need throughout
the
process. The Center provides personal growth, career
development, and parenting education and the computer
lab. The computer
lab at the Center has up-to-date equipment and software
tutorials for education and internet capability for
job searches. Computer lab time must be reserved
in advance.
When Shirley was applying for jobs as a receptionist
she realized that the job market was computer-oriented,
but
she was not. She found a brochure about RCW and noticed
that they had a free computer lab available. "First
I didn't want to step into the 21st century" Shirley
explained. She invited her daughter Claudia to come along
with her for the initial computer orientation and Claudia
continues to attend the lab each week. “Shirley and
Claudia are consistently using the lab resources and their
computer learning workbook to improve their knowledge and
skills. I am impressed with their commitment to learn together
and stay focused on their personal curriculum”, remarks
Deborah Hilleary, RCW Computer Lab coordinator.
Claudia enjoys the time she spends learning with
her mother. She thought it would be beneficial
to "get current
on today's skills" to keep in step with the increasing
relevance of technological know-how in the job market.
Neither has a computer at their home so the time they spend
at RCW is the only time they have access to a computer.
The concept of computing together is working well
for this mother-daughter learning duo. Shirley
commented that her
and her daughter are "of a like mind." They both
appreciate the opportunity to learn new skills while spending
time together.
For more information about services and programs,
call the Resource Center for Women at 727-586-1110
or see
their web site at www.resourcecenterforwomen.org
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