South Sider Nathaniel M. Terry knew he liked working with computers, but it wasn't until he took classes in building computer networks that he found his calling.
Nathaniel Terry credits his training via Charity in the Community with "opening a lot of doors" for him. He says he's worked on the computer networks of three companies and loves "every minute of it."
"It's hands-on training throughout the whole program, which I love. I like to get my hands dirty," said Terry, 32, who worked in law offices for 10 years while he sought his long-term career goals.
The program in which Terry enrolled is Charity in the Community (CITC), a non-profit started seven years ago by Henry Razor, a product training services manager at networking equipment maker Tellabs, and Razor's wife, Janette.
The couple started the center (CITCchicago.org) near the border of the Englewood and Auburn-Gresham neighborhoods after they realized how many people needed basic computer training.
As more non-profits started doing basic training, CITC changed its focus to teaching local residents the innards of the Internet. Students now learn during the 140-hour, four-month coursework to understand infrastructure technologies, and get hands-on experience in setting up a Windows network, installing broadband networks, integrating wireless security into the networks and other applications. Students pay $125 per month, and financial aid is available.
Seventy percent of the students get good-paying jobs after they complete the coursework, Henry Razor said.
The students receive A-Plus certification training with Windows Networking and Active Directory.
Tellabs Foundation saw the demand for the program, and spent $30,000 to secure a building at 7816 S. Ashland as CITC's headquarters. The Foundation also donates equipment and assistance.
"Our employees inspire us, especially when they create opportunities for young people in math, science and technology," said Meredith Hilt, executive director of the Tellabs Foundation.
The Razors donate $15,000 personally each year to the program.
Said Terry, "This is opening a lot of doors. I now have experience working (on networks) for three small companies. I'm loving every minute of it."
Two studies released last month reveal the need for such programs due to the continued magnitude of the digital divide: A report from the University of Illinois at Chicago revealed nearly 40 percent of Chicagoans have little or no access to the Internet, primarily in low-income and non-native-English-speaking neighborhoods, while a separate report illustrated a new digital divide between those with high-speed access and those with low-speed access to the Internet.
Enter Andrew J. Vass, a New York Life agent in Northbrook, who has made it his life's mission to bridge the Digital Divide by connecting the many scattered non-profits, schools, businesses and other groups dedicated to the same mission.
Vass started Technology for Humanity (TechnologyforHumanity.org) to bring access to technology to underserved communities, including minorities, people with disabilities and veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The term "access" means providing a variety of support such as mentors, trainers, internships, computer maintenance and other support networks.
Technology for Humanity collects used computers that need refurbishing, generally six years old or less. The non-profit donates the computers to community-based and faith- based organizations, including Youth Technology Corps.
The Corps runs an after-school computer-refurbishing program at several Chicago public high schools where the students do the refurbishing. This year, the Corps sent 100 used computers to five rural high schools in North Carolina.
The Chicago students spent the week training the North Carolina students how to refurbish computers. At the end of the week, the North Carolina students donated the refurbished computers they fixed to their local communities.
Technology for Humanity also partners with Mt. Sinai's After School Matters program and the Chicago NFL Alumni Association to expand the number of school children in Chicago with in-home computers and networks.
Said Mark R. Engel, Chairman of Technology for Humanity and owner of Pro Gems Jewelers downtown, "Our dream is to have at least one computer in every home -- a mouse in every house -- and to have that computer connected to the Internet so people will have 24-hour access."
Said Razor, "Broadband access is a quality-of-life issue. We see people who stand in line or walk long distances to the library just to fill out a job application or do school work. If people -- and I'm talking in large part responsible people -- cannot afford access, it might as well be available in China."
