The Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center is continuing its partnership with AARP Foundation and Google to offer the Digital Skills Ready@50+ technology training for senior citizens aged 50 and older. The classes are free to the public.
The training covers digital essentials to help participants find jobs, change careers, or explore entrepreneurship. Classes include topics such as cloud storage, online security, Gmail tips, video chatting, and affordable home internet.
Since its launch in 2022, the initiative has trained over 300 seniors from Richland, Lexington, Clarendon, Lee, Orangeburg, Sumter and Darlington counties.
“We are proud to work with AARP Foundation on the Digital Skills Ready @ 5 0 + ^ { \mathrm { T M } } initiative, made possible through a generous grant from Google.org,” said Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton. “Technology training is focused on digital essentials to help older adults find and secure jobs, change careers, or
explore entrepreneurship.”
According to Cotton, some of the topics include “Cloud Storage,” “Protecting Your Personal Information Online,” “Gmail Tips & Tricks,” “Video Chat,” and “Affordable Home Internet.”
Some of the testimonials from the students include the following:
“Through the BLEC, I completed a protecting your personal information online training which provided me with great information on protecting my identity.”- Barbara Crawford.
“I feel very comfortable taking the AARP Technology classes, the trainer does an excellent job helping the students to learn the information and use the computer. I completed several training classes including Cloud Storage and Gmail Tip & Tricks. I am more comfortable at work using computers as result of these trainings.”- Jerry Thompson.
“Courses are offered at a variety of levels allowing participants to learn
marketable skills that are in-demand by employers,” said Jamesetta James, who serves as the digital skills trainer. “Our goal is to help them enhance and sustain their competitive status.”
For more information about the Digital Skills Ready @50+, please contact Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton at 803-747-3519 or via email at crichburgcotton@brookland.cc.The BLEC is located at 1218 Batchelor Street West Columbia, South Carolina 29169.
