Online class connects Latino families

By Olivia Ruiz / Vida en el Valle

(Published Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 11:25AM)

RIVERBANK -- Chris and Guadalupe Pérez wanted to learn how to use the Internet to connect with their grandchildren in México. After a brief training session with José Urzua, the Stanislaus County community trainer for the California Connects program, the couple was able to e-mail their relatives. After additional hours of training they had set up a Facebook page and were able to speak with and see their grandchildren using Skype. Now, they own a computer, have Internet access and are enjoy a closer connection to far-flung family.

"It was moving to watch tears come to the eyes of a grandmother who now sees the faces of her grandchildren while she speaks with them," Urzua said.

Many California residents have been 'surfing the Internet' for a decade now. However, many Valley residents do not know how to access the Internet or even turn on a computer, even where public access is available.

California Connects seeks to address the 'digital divide' by conducting training throughout the state. The program has several components. The Great Valley Center (GVC) manages the portion of the program that provides for full-time trainers to provide instructions specifically on the Internet in small-group sessions through out the valley, including Stanislaus and San Joaquín Counties.

Class participants also learn how to set up an email account, find public access computers and how to find low cost computers and home Internet service. The program seeks to provide training to Spanish-speaking and low-income residents, who are currently the most likely not to have a computer, computer skills or Internet access.

According to the 2010 Census, Riverbank's population is 22,678 and over 52 percent of its residents are of Latino descent. Urzua is bilingual in Spanish and can conduct classes in both Spanish and English. To date most of his trainings have been conducted in Spanish.

Urzua has been on the job for about four months and has trained approximately 70 area residents. In addition to the leading classes, he also performs community outreach and develops community partners.

"I enjoy the feeling it gives me when the community members' eyes light up and they smile with understanding this totally new thing called a computer and how life altering it will be for them to be able to communicate to their families instantly or to seek employment from their home," Urzua said. "It is a feeling of satisfaction knowing you are helping these families to grow."

Urzua began training classes in Riverbank in October, through a valuable partnership with the CASA del Río Family Resource Center, which is under the auspices of the Riverbank Unified School District.

CASA and the District allow use of their lab facilities at Cardoza Middle School and Riverbank High School. In the future, trainings may take place at the new Adelante High School campus and adult learning center located next to Cardoza Middle School.

The CASA del Río Family Resource Center, which provides a variety of youth and family services and resources, helps the California Connects program meet a vital need of the targeted population by providing free, adjacent childcare for class members during class hours. CASA also provides assistance in promoting the training through its community outreach and connections.

The first round of classes in Riverbank completed training at the end of October. Additional trainings are scheduled through the end of December at this point. The schedule currently calls for four, three-hour sessions per round of classes. Participants receive a certificate of completion at the end of their final class.

Angélica Martínez, who recently completed the classes in Riverbank, said she is thrilled to be able to make contact and communicate with her husband in México, who she has not seen in six months. Her classmate, Gloria Gómez, began the class having never turned on a computer. Gómez now has an e-mail account and a Facebook page and recently posted on the Stanislaus County California Connects Facebook page in Spanish.

"This class is very good and interests me," Gómez wrote.

To sign up for California Connects classes in Riverbank call CASA del Río at (209) 869-0468.

-- Vida en el Valle