630.420.0458 fax HERITAGE
YMCA GROUP RECEIVES A $40,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO
STRENGTHEN
TECHNOLOGY LITERACY IN AURORA, IL
(YMCA Youth Technology Center located in Jericho Circle prepares
for program expansions)
(Naperville, IL)…..The Heritage YMCA Group, a
not-for-profit organization, serving the citizens of Aurora since
1869 in addition to serving the communities of Naperville and
Oswego, announced today they are the proud recipients of a $40,000
grant recently awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity. As part of Governor Rod Blagojevich's
Opportunity Returns economic development initiative, this grant
gives priority funding to organizations that operate and expand
sustainable community technology centers.
The grant program, known as Bridging the Digital Divide, provides
funding to local technology centers located in low-income
communities to provide technology skills training and access to
computers and the Internet. The YMCA Youth Center located in
Jericho Circle supports this greatly needed initiative by offering
the Access To Technology program which specifically targets
the underserved Latino and African American population of the
community residing in Jericho Circle to provide computer skills
aimed at closing the technology gap. In cooperation with the
City of Aurora and local tenant council, the Heritage YMCA has
established a state of the art technology center for young people so
they can have equal opportunity to use and benefit from access to
computers and technology.
This new state of the art technology center is called the YMCA
Youth Technology Center in Jericho Circle which opened in November,
2007. Jericho Circle, managed by the Aurora Housing
Authority, is located just south of downtown Aurora. Jericho
Circle is a 140 unit HUD housing complex which is home to over 400
kids and over 80% of the homes are headed by single parent mothers.
The population is diverse and represents low to moderate income
families. Highly qualified and trained lab instructors are
responsible for delivering an innovative curriculum called Techno
Kids. The curriculum uses a "project-based approach to
integrate technology into K-12 education."
The Bridging the Digital Divide grant money allows us to expand
the current program to serve more children and youth and provides
the resources to serve the adults of the community as well.
Whether it is an opportunity for the families to expand their
horizons for personal assets or just the simple task of their
children being able to obtain educational information for homework,
the YMCA Youth Technology Center is benefiting all that have
embraced it," said Lab Manager, Dennis Jones, who shares the
teaching responsibilities at the center with Assistant Lab Manager,
Lattice Battle.
More specifically, the grant money will help pay instructor
salaries, allow for purchase of additional Dell computers and other
related equipment including the purchase of a USB scanner, digital
camera, tripod, software, capacity building costs, and
implementation of a marketing campaign for the center. "To
meet the demands of society today, students, adults and employees
need to have and be proficient in basic computer skills.
Technology literacy today is a necessity all the way from youth
getting their homework done to adults attaining and being successful
at a well paying job. We need to break the negative cycle that
a lack of access to technology creates for families and provide them
with tools and resources to help them improve their quality of
life," said Joe McBride, MIS Manager, Heritage YMCA.
"What keeps us focused and excited each day about coming to work
for the YMCA are the sixth graders in Jericho Circle who now have
access to technology, and because of this they are more able to
compete on a level playing field with other students who have these
resources at home. It is the single parent who now can apply
for a job and take a computer skills assessment test during the
interview process and pass it with grace and ease, and finally, it
is about putting role models in the lives of children today that
will pay dividends tomorrow. We look forward to continuing to
provide community outreach services to the wonderful families at
Jericho Circle," stated Tom Beerntsen, President/CEO, Heritage YMCA.
The Heritage YMCA's mission is "To enhance the quality of life
for families through program reflecting Christian principles to
build healthy spirit, mind and body for all." The YMCA never
turns anyone away due to inability to pay. The YMCA is a safe
place where youth and teens can dream, learn, grow and develop
character; a place where relationships are strengthened and
healthier lifestyles are created; a place where communities become
more connected and people get involved through volunteerism; a place
that builds strong kids, strong families, strong communities.
For more information about the programs and services of the YMCA,
visit
