INFO - BITS

Byte Backs Online Newsletter | June 2013 Table of Contents

Success Story: Lawrence Williams

By: Jessica Bates No matter how hard things got for Lawrence Williams, he never lost momentum. Mr. Williams worked as a mail clerk in a law firm for years, but he lost his job when he was briefly incarcerated. When he found himself back on the job market, he realized he lacked the skills or experience to compete for an office job. He enrolled in Byte Backs PC for Beginners in 2012. One year later, Mr. Williams is working for a local property management company as an administrative office clerk.

Success Story: Lawrence Williams

7th Annual Community Computer Day Succeeds Despite Rain

1st Annual Breakfast Bytes Showcases Work Being Done at Byte Back

Volunteer of the Month: Eric Lund

Lawrence Williams

Student Spotlight: Fabiane Butler

Volunteer of the Month: Thomas Thornton

Five Questions with an Instructor: Lorena Holguin

When Mr. Williams came to Byte Back, the only thing he knew about computers was that he needed to learn them to find a job. I was pretty much computer illiterate, he said. I used to watch the secretaries working on them in the law firm, but I had no idea what they were doing. It wasnt something I thought I needed. He kept himself from getting discouraged by the job search by approaching his class like a job; he dressed professionally every day and arrived promptly. I used Byte Back as a catalyst to get back into work. When I came into Byte Back, I acted like I was going into the office. After completing PC for Beginners, Mr. Williams enrolled in Office Track. He used the skills he learned there to polish up his resume, and he decided to take a different approach with the job search. When I was incarcerated, I basically ran the law library there. I decided to put that in my resume my experience with the department of corrections. That way, I could talk about it openly with people. I could let them know how it really was. This approach paid off this spring when he found a contractual job working for a property manager. He calls the new position a match made in heaven and believes it may turn into something long-term. But hes not slowing down his studies; he recently enrolled in a money management course at Byte Back to help him develop better financial skills. My experiences have all been very positive here at Byte Back, Mr. Williams said. [The staff and volunteers] are always willing to help and give you opportunities that keep you moving forward. I appreciate the fact that they meet people exactly where you are and work with you. Everyones in different places in life and Byte Back understands that.

Five Questions with Our Volunteer Coordinator: Erica Heller

Upcoming Events Volunteer Opportunities

www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

JUNE 2013 INFO-BITS

7th Annual Community Computer Day Succeeds Despite Rain

By: Lydia Vanderbilt Community Computer Day (CCD) is many things for Byte Back. Its a way of showing appreciation to students, volunteers, and community partners -- all of the people who make the work at Byte Back worthwhile. Its a reunion for students, instructors, and staff members. Instructors can check back in with their former students and hear their stories on what a great help the class has been to them. Community Computer Day also serves as an introduction to those in the community looking for more information on our programs. CCD was a huge success. Despite the rain, hundreds of people showed up to enjoy good food, music, games, workshops, and company! Community volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and staff Volunteers had fun despite the occasional rain. gathered to make sure the day ran smoothly. Ten 45-minute workshops were offered on a wide variety of topics from online tools for health and nutrition to the proper way to apply for government jobs. While adults were in workshops there was the Kids Zone for children to enjoy. Childrens activities included a moon bounce, face painting, hula hoops, bean-bag toss, coloring, cotton candy, and much more! To further show our appreciation, Byte Back had two free raffles for participants. The prizes included a Leap Frog pad and a Coby tablet (both donated by Board Chair Mario Burney), Fuji digital camera, a Jambox, an iTunes gift card, and two $15 Visa gift cards donated by PNC Bank.. The grand Byte Back staff and students had a chance to become better acquainted. prize was a refurbished Dell Latitude laptop (refurbished by Ronald Wade, director of refurbishing at First Time Technology), complete with webcam, Internet, and Wi-Fi capabilities. Huge thanks to Andrew Quilpa, the CCD committee leader, and his great team: Jessica Bates, Cherise Graves, Eleanor Grewal, Felicia Hawkins, Erica Heller, Alaide Ibarra, Ashley Luttmer, and Andrea Mack. Most of all, Byte Back would like to thank the 18 community volunteers and 12 AmeriCorps members who gave up their Saturday to provide extra support to the staff.

www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

JUNE 2013 INFO-BITS

1st Annual Breakfast Bytes Showcases Work Being Done at Byte Back
By: Jessica Bates This spring, Byte Back held a simple breakfast event, our first annual Breakfast Bytes, which brought together over 200 people to learn more about our organization. Attendees listened to testimonials from students and board members, viewed our new promotional video, and shared their own Byte Back stories over a light breakfast. Breakfast Bytes was held on May 22, at 8:30 a.m. in the JW Marriott in downtown D.C. The event brought together a diverse group of professionals from all over the D.C. area. Staff, volunteers, partners, board members, and some students were also in attendance. Dahlia Shaewitz, a former Byte Back board member, welcomed everyone to the event and spoke about her own experiences with the power of education. The invocation Attendees viewed our new promotional video. was given by Rhonda Johnson, a former Byte Back student, who used her computer skills to finish writing her first book, Memoirs of an Addict: Fact or Fiction. She spoke to the audience about the transformative power of Byte Back in her own life. Kelley Ellsworth, Byte Backs executive director, spoke about Byte Backs vision for the future. Someday, Byte Back may serve as a regional or even national model for providing computer training and employment readiness skills to low-income communities. For now, Byte Back is providing D.C. residents with skills that dramatically improve their quality of life. The power of Byte Back was especially obvious in the video, Powering On, produced by Journey Group.
Continued www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

JUNE 2013 INFO-BITS

The video highlighted the experiences of Angela Campbell, a new Byte Back student seeking work, and Michael Spriggs, a Byte Back graduate who is now employed as an IT professional. Martha Ross of the Brookings Institute gave an expert summary of the D.C. economic reality. Lashonia Etheridge, a former PC for Beginners student, shared her own experience reentering the job market after being incarcerated for 18 years. Ms. Her experience highlighted how much our societys dependence on technology has changed in the last two decades. Many of our students have not had the technology skills or access to keep up with these changes. Ms. Etheridge is now using the skills she learned at Byte Back as an employee of the Office of Returning Citizens where she helps others go through a similar transition. Keith Clark, Byte Back vice board chair, closed the event by asking participants to contribute to Byte Back in whatever way they could. Breakfast Bytes was a strong testament to the work being done at Byte Back, and we hope everyone who attended will be motivated to be a part of Byte Backs future. Byte Back raised $248, 395 in gifts and planned giving over the next five years. Some of the attendees had first learned of Byte Back through our Digital Access Tours. These tours allow community members who are new to Byte Back to take a tour of our facilities and hear firsthand accounts from students, volunteers, and staff members about the work were doing. If you would like to attend a tour, please contact Development Associate Cristina Moscoso at cmoscoso@byteback.org.

Volunteer of the Month: Eric Lund

By: Ashley Luttmer In retrospect, it seems like Eric Lunds entire career has been leading up to his current role as a Byte Back Office Track volunteer instructor. Half my career has been spent as a teacher, and half has been spent working in an office, he explains. Instructing at Byte Back has benefited him professionally, as well; though he no longer teaches for work, he keeps his skills sharp as he guides students through the basics of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point. This is the second time Eric has taught an Office Track class, and hes always surprised by the unexpected benefits he receives. Last year, he learned more about Eric Lund Guatemala (where a member of his family is from) when a student gave a presentation on his native country. A few weeks ago, the entire class was treated to music when a group rehearsed their concert set across the hall from the computer lab. Above all, Eric prizes the relationships he builds with his students, who come from many walks of life. He appreciates meet[ing] people I might not otherwise meet, finding out their life stories and how they got to where they are and helping them reach their goals. His favorite day of class is the last day, when students present their PowerPoint presentations on a topic of their choice. Hes impressed with the high quality of the work, as well as the extra time outside of class that the students put into the presentations. This is the day when he can focus entirely on learning more about his students while he sees them put their newfound skills into practice. Continued
www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

JUNE 2013 INFO-BITS

The best memories I have (of Byte Back) are of the personalities of the students, and getting to know them. Thank you, Eric Lund!

Student Spotlight: Fabiane Butler

By: Jessica Bates Ms. Fabiane Butler has ambition. She is striving for a career as a professional author, so she came to Byte Back to brush up on her computer skills. Enrolling in Office Track at Frances Gregory Library would, she hoped, help her stop using the computer as a glorified typewriter. Writing has always been Ms. Butlers passion. When her career as a police officer ended after she was laid off, she decided to focus on finding a publisher for the six books she has written. She found the process frustrating and realized she would need some additional education to better understand the process. While she initially Fabiane Butler thought she might need a new degree, she decided to start by learning to use a computer. In just a few short weeks, Ms. Butler discovered that most of the information she needed was available for free on the Internet. I had no idea this information was out there, Ms. Butler said. Now that she is comfortable with a computer, shes incorporating technology into each step of her creative process. She has started revising her work using Microsoft Words editing tools, and she is updating her books into more professional formats. The online skills she learned in class have helped her connect to online communities of writers, and she has started developing a business plan to get her work published. With her newfound confidence, Ms. Butler is considering self-publishing. These days, technology allows writers to distribute their work to a wide audience without relying on major publishing houses and resourceful writers are building lucrative careers through self-publishing. Ms. Butler describes her fiction as niche drama for the LGBT community, focused on women of color. Its important to her that her work draws heavily from the Washington, D.C. community, and she always sets her stories locally. Ms. Butler is optimistic about her future as a writer, and she feels prepared for the future. The skills I learned at Byte Back are invaluable to what I want to do, she said. As a writer, this is so important to me. Inspiration comes and you need to know how to do what you want to do.

Five Questions with an Instructor: Lorena Holguin

Interview By: Lorena Holguin, AmeriCorps Instructor Q: What has been your favorite moment as a Byte Back instructor? A: The first time I gave a student the first certificate theyve EVER received for completing a course. Q: What is your favorite lesson or concept to teach, and why? A: Folders and files, copying and pasting. Google search, actually. I really like [students] reactions when they find what they are looking for on the Internet.
Lorena Holguin Continued www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

Q: What do you like best about living in the D.C. area? A: All the free stuff: concerts, events, museums, food, swimming pools, the people, and Malcolm X Park on Sundays. At Malcolm X, you get to see Capoeira and djembe drums and you get free lessons at the end! Q: What do you most hope to convey to the students you work with? A: I am deeply passionate about students understanding that education is not consumption but an investment. Sometimes we dont want to invest in things because they are hard, take time, and are painful, but thats how we come to love things, even people. Q: What has been your most exciting moment as a Byte Back instructor? A: A woman reconnected with her son by finding him through Google after not having spoken in 20 years!

Five Questions with Our Volunteer Coordinator: Erica Heller

Ericas service as a Public Ally ended June 24 and she will start graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin this fall. We thank her for all the amazing work she has done this year. She will be missed! Interview By: Lydia Vanderbilt, AmeriCorps Instructor Q: What has been your favorite moment as a Public Ally serving as the Byte Back Volunteer Coordinator? A: Getting to work with different volunteers and the students who come back to volunteer and hearing their stories. Q: What is your favorite aspect about being the Volunteer Coordinator, and why? A: Being able to allow volunteers to have a direct impact on the lives of our students. Q: What do you like best about living in the D.C. area? A: The diversity {of the people} and the unique culture of the city. Q: What do you most hope to convey to the students and volunteers you work with? A: That there is value in giving back to your community, and its never too late to help. Q: What is your best memory about being here at Byte Back? A: Being a part of the Byte Back family and my home away from home.
Erica Heller

Upcoming Events

Tours of Byte Back Would you like a guided tour of Byte Back? For more information and to arrange a tour, please contact Development Associate Cristina Moscoso at cmoscoso@byteback.org or by calling (202) 529-3395.

Volunteer Opportunities
"Volunteering is the most effective means to give back to your community and to continue to develop the human spirit." - Ted Frazier, volunteer instructor If you're interested in volunteering with Byte Back, please contact Ashley Luttmer, Byte Backs director of volunteer services, at aluttmer@byteback.org or (202) 529-3395.

JUNE 2013 INFO-BITS

About Byte Back

Founded in 1997, Byte Back seeks to improve economic opportunity in the Washington, D.C. area by providing computer literacy and job training for disadvantaged communities. Byte Back offers courses ranging from basic computer literacy to Microsoft Office to internationally recognized computer certification preparation. Byte Back is licensed by the DC Educational Licensure Commission as a postsecondary educational institution.

www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395