Greetings and salutations from the 3rd floor! Today marks the first official blog entry on behalf of the Tenderloin Tech Lab (TTL). The TTL is the result of a symbiotic partnership between the St. Anthony Foundation and San Francisco Network Ministries. Each organization has had a presence in the community for several decades. Both organizations offer several services that help those most in need, commonly found on the margins of society. While both the St. Anthony Foundation and Network Ministries have their own unique approach to better serving the poor they had one thing in common; they each had their own computer lab.

In an effort to do away with duplicated services, Karl Robillard and Salena Bailey, representatives of each organization, met and discussed plans to collaborate on combining each of their computer training programs. Although the Tech Lab is located at 150 Golden Gate in the new building erected by Saint Anthony’s is, the tech lab would not be possible without the efforts from both agencies. Network Ministries retains its own unique identity while contributing greatly to the efforts in providing individuals computer training to enhance their lives.

Back to the blogging…

It is hard to believe that after being operational for over an entire year this is our first blogging experience. One would think that the Tech Lab would be a place to embrace the ever-changing world of technology and communication, right? To be honest, we just wanted to make sure this blogging thing wasn’t just a passing fad. You know, like beanie babies, boy bands, and iPhones.

On a more serious note, please look to check out our blog that we will update weekly. We will be announcing upcoming events, highlighting profiles of individuals within the community, and providing general updates to the Tech Lab. Contributions to the blog will be made by our stellar staff:

The Patriarch: Karl Robillard

The Matriarch: Salena Bailey

The boy wonder: Jesse Shaver

The brains behind the operation: Chris Moore (recent award winner of employee of the month) and Ryan Castanos

The Orchestrator: Jaymz (James Stuart)

The puppet master: Alex Lyon

#1 Intern: Sarah Kamida

Signing off for now…

Cmoore

OneWebDay, the event held on Tuesday, September 22 where people worldwide show how the internet effects their lives, will have it’s own offering right here in San Francisco’s Tenderloin.

The Internet is becoming increasingly important to our guests and clients in obtaining employment, education, accessing health care, and staying connected to loved ones. The Tenderloin Tech Lab, a collaboration between St. Anthony’s and Network Ministries, gives those without personal access to the internet a place to learn, login and connect.

Low-income, homeless or marginally housed people wanting more information on the internet are invited to come down to St. Anthony’s on Tuesday, September 22 between 1-5pm to learn about internet safety and security.

Interested in volunteering for this event? Click here.

Employees of Google, the Silicon Valley internet giant, are crossing the chasm to help their Bay Area neighbors by hosting a Neighborhood Computer Help Day in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. On Thursday, June 11th, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Google employees will be volunteering to teach classes and do one-on-one tutoring with homeless and economically challenged participants of the Tenderloin Tech Lab, a collaboration between St. Anthony Foundation and Network Ministries. This is reflective of the trend that St. Anthony Foundation volunteer program is seeing, of more and more technologically savvy Bay Area residents reaching out to share their skills with the disenfranchised.

“Today’s economic crisis is running counterpoint to the technological crisis in areas like the Tenderloin, where the decreasing number of resources and services are forcing people to be more savvy about their survival. Technological access is proving to be the unlikely thread that is holding marginalized people together by connecting them to information, services, and each other,” noted Karl Robillard, Manager, of St. Anthony Foundation’s Employment Program & Technology Lab. “The interesting thing is that as the technological literacy of the poor and marginalized community is increasing, so is the interest in skilled technology volunteers, such as the employees of Google. This parallel reflects an unprecedented possibility of a narrowing technological chasm in the face of bleak economic times. That in and of itself is remarkable.”

ST. ANTHONY FOUNDATION

Since 1950 St. Anthony Foundation has addressed root causes of poverty with compassion. St. Anthony Foundation’s programs offer gateways to escaping poverty by addressing immediate needs such as hunger and clothing, as well as long term needs such as employment, drug and alcohol addiction, and physical and mental health. St. Anthony Foundation does not accept any federal, state, or local government money, and is entirely funded by private donations.

WHEN: Thursday, June 11th, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

WHAT: Google’s Technology Day in the Tenderloin

WHERE: Tenderloin Tech Lab, 150 Golden Gate Ave @ Leavenworth, 3rd Floor, San Francisco

Every day that I come to work, say my hellos coming up from BART, wave hi to Dining Room staff, to Fr. Alfred Center guests working in the Dining Room as part of their recovery program. Make the left at Golden Gate and go up through the Social Work Center, the Clinic and the Employment Program and Tech Lab. (If I wanted to get real technical I’d tell you that I then walk past JEVA, our fantastically organized volunteer and advocacy program, but I digress.)

Every day I come to work I see these programs and the close-knit community of support that they offer to people most in need. But my friends and family don’t know first hand about the work that is done here, so I try and find ways to get them connected. The most powerful way to connect is to volunteer. And, our amazing group of volunteers regular and one-timers can attest to that. The connection is immediate, the sense of community is infallible. But, there are so many other ways to see what is going on down here at the foundation.

Maybe social networking is not the first thing you turn to when trying to search out community causes, events and organizations. Perhaps when you think of charity or “soup kitchens” (but please don’t call us a soup kitchen, those Dining Room chefs whip up a mean lunch every day of the year, not to be served with a spoon!) you don’t think of giving a “poke” or a “tweet“, but perhaps we could change your mind. St. Anthony Foundation is reaching out and connecting with folks who can’t come down here every day or every month and offering a bit of our community to the online community. On ourFacebook page, this blog and even on YouTube we’ve got a lot of exciting events, drives and video to help you stay connected and to help you share your St. Anthony experience with friends and family who have yet to learn about us.

I invite you to visit our Facebook page, take a peek at the YouTube videos and tell some friends. At 58-years old St. Anthony’s might not be a spring chicken, but we are learning new tricks and are excited to be able to share our daily work with you.

St. Anthony Foundation’s Employment Program / Tech lab is hosting another one of its wildly successful Tenderloin Tech Days on Saturday, March 21st from 10AM to 2PM at our (relatively) new building on Golden Gate Avenue at Leavenworth.

Guests and clients can bring their computers or CPUs, where St. Anthony Foundation staff, Reliatech technicians and SF Connect volunteers will diagnose and repair common problems. Demonstrations of free software will take place throughout the day. You can also find out about technology training and other free community resources.

Free to all residents of the Tenderloin and to anyone who is homeless or marginally housed.

Today’s San Francisco Chronicle features a story about St. Anthony Foundation’s new and improved Employment Program / Tech Lab.

Read the article here »