Four years ago in 2007, St. Anthony Foundation and San Francisco Network Ministries partnered to host the first-ever Tech Fair for residents of the Tenderloin. We helped over 70 people by fixing computer hardware problems and teaching novice computer-users new ways to access important community resources and re-connect with their friends and families. This coming Saturday, February 27th, we begin another decade of Tech Fairs at St. Anthony’s new green building @ 150 Golden Gate Avenue. We’ll be teaching Facebook 101, Introduction to Web Design, and as always, taking appointments for a free session with a professional computer technician. Stop by if you’d like to see first-hand how you can help bridge the digital divide. And if you can’t join us in person, check out what CNET thought of the first Tech Fair…

Check out a video here.

San Francisco Network Ministries has a long history of partnering with like-minded Tenderloin organizations. And so, in 2005, when we first thought of expanding our capability at our beloved Computer Training Center, St. Anthony Foundation came to mind. During our initial discussions we knew almost immediately that partnering made sense. Both agencies ran modest yet well visited computer centers in the Tenderloin. Network Ministries’ 12 station Computer Training Center on Eddy Street offered basic level computer classes and drop-in. And St. Anthony Foundation ran the Employment Center helping to find jobs for their clients, improve basic computer skills and also offered a hardware repair course. The partnership not only made sense from a program level but also because both agencies share a commitment to serve the people of the Tenderloin. We understood that if we could combine programs in the same space we could provide increased classes, computers and expertise.

Our doors have been open for almost 1.5 years and the value of the partnership continues to grow. Every month we are able to offer more classes. Just this month we have started offering classes in Spanish and will be starting a beginners programming class. Both of these ideas were brought to us by our tireless volunteers. Every day we see new faces. Some eager to try their hand at our classes and some to access computers in a safe environment.

For more information on the Tenderloin Tech Lab, please come visit us at 150 Golden Gate Ave, 3rd floor.

Over 50 individuals residing in the Tenderloin visited the St. Anthony Poverello Room today to take a standardized test. Not just any test, but one to work for the 2010 Census Bureau. TL regulars picked up #2 pencils and tried their hand at a 28 question test to assess their skills and to determine what positions they were most qualified for.

The Tech Lab, a program conceived between two partnerships, again reached out to the community to collaborate with the Tenderloin Workforce Center (TWC). The TWC is a city funded program aimed at helping individuals obtain employment. Not completely dissimilar to some of the services offered at the Tech Lab for folks who are looking for employment, the TWC’s sole mission is to provide the community with valuable resources and information helpful in the job search. Oh, and it is conveniently located next door the Dining Room entrance. It became apparent that both the Tech Lab the Workforce Center were referring clients back and fourth; The Tech Lab would send individuals to TWC who were looking for work, training programs, or resume tips while TWC would send folks over who needed to brush up on their computer skills. When contact was made with someone working for the 2010 census, it seemed a natural partnership would be created for the project. (more…)

Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Exactly what is inside of that computer tower? What are those components called and what function do they serve?”

The Tenderloin Tech Lab, a partnership between St. Anthony Foundation and San Francisco Network Ministries, has been offering a course titled Tech Hardware every Thursday afternoon at 2pm. The class meets every Thursday of the month to discuss Hardware, Software and Networking at an introductory level. This course is a great fit for someone with basic computer knowledge who would like to learn more about Technology, either, for fun, or with the intention of studying to begin a career in the technology industry. Darrell is the lead instructor for the course and is an A+ Certified Technician with years of experience in the technology industry.

Please visit the Tenderloin Tech Lab to sign up for the course. There are only 10 seats available and the course fills up quickly. If you have never been to the Tenderloin Tech Lab before, please attend an orientation before signing up for class. Orientations are held every Wednesday and Friday at 9am in the Tenderloin Tech Lab classroom.