INFO-BYTES BYTE BACK AWARDED A Quarterly Newsletter

STIMULUS GRANT FALL 2010

Byte Back was awarded a $551,000 Broadband Technology Opportunities

HIGHLIGHTS
(BTOP) stimulus grant from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in
on August 18th. The grant will make it possible for Byte Back to teach Personal Director’s Corner 2
Computing (PC) for Beginners and Office Track over the next two years to 1600
DC residents in their at libraries in their communities. The PC for Beginners course New Staff 3
teaches basic computer skills such as typing and Mouse basics as well as file
management. In the Office Track class, students learn the ins and outs of Micro- Green Jobs Grant 4
soft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Through the grant, classes will be
offered to special populations such as individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, Summer Camps 4
foster children, and Spanish speakers, which will be custom designed to fit the
needs of each population served. Classes will begin on November 15 and 16 at
Success Story: Job 5
the Anacostia and Capital View Neighborhood Libraries. All low income gradu-
Finders
ates will receive a free refurbished computer and a year of free internet service.
Summer Youth 6
This grant came about after months of careful planning and a rigorous applica-
Employment Program
tion process in collaboration with Chris Tonjes, Director of Information Technology
(IT) for DC Public Libraries (DCPL) and Ken Boley, Director of Intergovernmental Strategic Plan 7
Initiatives for the DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). Byte Back
was asked to partner with DCPL and OCTO because of the success of the Per-
Byte Back Builds Capacity 8
sonal Computing (PC) for Beginners Seniors pilot program in partnership with
DCPL in the first half of 2010. As with that program, First Time Computers will
partner to provide the refurbished computers and Cricket Communications will Volunteer of the Season 9
provide the internet service.

―We are excited to have this opportunity to provide computer skills to so many In the News / ANC 9
District residents right in their neighborhood libraries,‖ said Byte Back Director Grant
Kelley Ellsworth. ―This partnership will provide all the components needed to help
bridge the digital divide for low-income Washingtonians.‖

DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Kelley Ellsworth, Executive Director
REACHING NEW MILESTONES
AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE
FUTURE
In our last fiscal year, which ended in June 2010, Byte Back
reached an important milestone: we taught over 1000 stu-
dents. We increased our enrollment from 442 in FY09 to
1039 in FY10, an increase of 235%! We are proud that we
were able to increase our capacity to that level, and thank-
ful to our funders, partner agencies and volunteers who
made that possible.
We could not have done this work alone. Byte Back has re-
ceived a grant, technical assistance and pro bono profes-
sional development opportunities thanks to service grants
from two agencies: the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
and the D.C. government’s Strengthening Communities Fund
[see Byte Back Builds Capacity, page 9]. A grant from ANC
5C supplied needed funds as well as a vote of confidence
from the neighborhood.
A team of twenty youth from the Department of Employment
Service’s (DOES) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
enabled us to reach out to several new partners this summer
and meet the training needs of dozens of additional students
[see Summer Youth Program, page 7]. The most outstanding
of these SYEP youth, Jonathan Colbert, is featured as our
Volunteer of the Season [see article, page 9].
Two very special summer camps for youth enabled Byte Back
to indirectly serve a younger clientele. (These students are
not included in our enrollment figures.) While Byte Back’s
mission is to serve low-income adults, we were able to make
both of our computer labs available for weekly visits by two
camps. [see Summer Camps at Byte Back, page 4 for de-
tails.]
What is more important than the number of students Byte
Back serves are our outcomes. It is not enough to provide
technology instruction to our students. We must also teach
them to overcome their fears of technology, to develop a
love of learning, and to give them access to the opportunities
that can dramatically change their lives. For many of our
students, learning how to use the computer to apply for jobs,
research their health problems and access government ser-
vices can make a big difference.
However, some of our students come to us specifically for job
training in the midst of a grueling economy. In FY10, 39% of
Byte Back job training graduates who were unemployed
were able to find jobs. Of those who already had job, 17%
received a raise as a result of their training. The average
wages were $11.80 per hour.
While this is quite an accomplishment given the state of the
economy and fact that most of our students have sporadic
work histories and are either homeless or near homeless, we
are not satisfied.
2
Over the past few months, we have established targeted
relationships with employers. In the month of August alone,
Benjamin Freedman, our Employment Specialist placed five
Byte Back students in employment, with average wages of
$17.00 per hour. Two of these students are profiled on page.
In spite of these great strides, our work is not done. Almost
every day last week, I received an email from a different
nonprofit asking if we would send teachers and curricula to
their computer labs. Our classes are full to capacity and have
waiting lists. Consistent press coverage spreads the word
about our programs [see Byte Back In The News, page 9].
Our Board of Directors has created a new, carefully crafted
strategic three-year plan for the organization [see Byte
Back’s Strategic Plan page 7.].
Fortunately, Byte Back has been awarded a total of eight
AmeriCorps volunteers who will spend the coming year with
us, greatly expanding our capacity to meet the needs of the
community. Four of these volunteers are from DC Learns, two
from Lutheran Volunteer Corps and two are from Public Allies.
The first five arrived in August and are profiled on page 3.
Thankfully, Byte Back received two large grant awards to
help us continue to grow our programs and capacity. Byte
Back will receive $551,000 of a large grant from the Ameri-
can Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the D.C. Office of the
Chief Technology Officer. We will partner with the DC Public
Library to provide free computer classes to 1600 D.C. resi-
dents over two years at their neighborhood libraries. The first
classes begin November 15th at the Anacostia Library and
November 16th at the Capital View Library.
A $100,000 grant from the Department of Employment Ser-
vices (also from ARRA funds) will enable Byte Back to launch
a new and exciting programs, partnering with two other
agencies to provide training to DC residents in how to open
their own neighborhood-based computer repair shops. [See
article, page 4 for details.]
Even with all of this assistance, we still your help to build our
capacity as we look to continue build upon our work for a
brighter future for our students and Byte Back. If you would
like to make a donation to support our work or would like to
volunteer your talents, please let us know. Your help is
Keep in Touch!
Like us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/
ByteBackDC/192968001888
Follow us on Twitter!
http://twitter/com/bytebackdc
 BYTE BACK WELCOMES NEW STAFF
This August, Byte Back welcomed new volunteer staff. Three
from DC Learns Literacy AmeriCorps, Kyle Johnson, Robert
Waisburd, and Meg Davis; and two from Lutheran Volunteer
Corps (LVC), Marquita Jones and Zach Kulzer. Each of these
outstanding women and men are bringing a zeal for and com-
mitment to service as well as talents and expertise that will en-
hance the services delivered by Byte Back. Meet our new volun-
teer staff!
Kyle Johnson: Kyle Johnson, a Boston,
Massachusetts native, is a social butterfly
who enjoys the company of others. Kyle
says, ―I love to be with fabulous, innova-
tive people.‖ Her love for creative peo-
ple is one of the many factors that in-
spired her to join AmeriCorps and serve
at Byte Back. Prior to coming to Byte
Back, Johnson volunteered with an At-
lanta nonprofit called Book Bank work-
ing to improve literacy. While there, she
was inspired to continue to be a change
agent for literacy, which led her to ap-
ply to AmeriCorps and Byte Back. While
at Byte Back, Kyle will work as a computer instructor focusing
mainly on teaching adults basic [computer] literacy skills.
Meg Davis: An aspiring lawyer and a
graduate of the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor, Meg Davis is a new in-
structor at Byte Back. Meg will be
teaching PC for Beginners and Office
Track. She says that she knew she
wanted to take a year off between
graduation and applying to law school
to do service. Meg decided to do a
year of service at Byte Back because
she is impressed by how Byte Back
gives the community support to gain
employment and improve their ability
to use technology. Of her hopes for this year, she expresses, ―I
hope that my students can come to appreciate technology and
the Internet the way I do, and learn to use it in a variety of
ways.
When she is not in the classroom teaching, Meg enjoys going to
the library, reading, the beach, watersports, bike riding, and
planning adventures.
Robert Waisburd: A graduate of
SUNY Purchase College, Robert
Waisburd believes that ―the sky is the
limit‖, and hopes to show Byte Back
students just that there no limit to how
far they can go; a concept that he
believes should be conveyed to all
students so that they are aware of
their limitless potential. Robert will be
teaching a variety of courses ranging
from Microsoft Office to International
Core Certification 3 (IC3). Robert deeply believes in the work
that Byte Back does. He says, ―I believe the services that Byte
Back provides for the community in the form of computer liter-
acy classes is essential for individuals who need skills to attain
or retain jobs in the expanding electronic/technological world.‖
Marquita Jones: Marquita Jones, Direc-
tor of Communications and Development
believes that sharing the stories of service,
and the achievements that result from
service is just as important as the service
itself; a belief that she will apply to her
work on Byte Back’s newsletter, blogs,
and other written communications. Mar-
quita’s main responsibilities will include
overseeing Byte Back’s communications,
and assisting Kelley Elllsworth, Byte Back’s
Executive Director with development work,
which includes researching and develop-
ing grants proposals and fundraising.
During her year at Byte Back, Marquita hopes to build strong a
strong communications brand for Byte Back. Marquita is a native
of Miami, FL and a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College (now Uni-
versity). In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, photog-
raphy, and exploring museums.
Zack Kulzer: During his year of ser-
vice, Zack, a Des Moines, Iowa native,
will serve as a computer instructor
teaching computer classes to Byte Back
students. When asked what quote best
describes his outlook on life, Zack
chose: ―Be the change you wish to see
in the world‖ by Mahatma Gandhi. He
adds, ―To me, being the change I wish
to see means that I need to embody the
kind of person who can make a differ-
ence.‖ For him, that means not just talk-
ing about impacting change, but taking
action and being proactive. ―People
always talk about improving the lives of others, but unless some
people are willing to get their hands dirty and pitch in, change
comes too late for so many people.‖ Exemplifying this commit-
ment, Zack is also serving as Interim volunteer coordinator until a
permanent replacement is found.
Zach decided to serve at Byte Back due to his passion for elimi-
nating social justice. ―I applied to Byte Back because I have a
passion for working towards social justice and a major factor
that often gets overlooked is the technological gap..I want to
alleviate the problems that stem from the technological gap.‖
He adds, ―If I complete my year and know that I have positively
affected someone’s life, that will be gratification enough.‖
3
 GREEN JOBS GRANT
Byte Back’s Computer Repair, Refurbish, Recycle Program,
to become self-employed. He will not only be a teacher, but
a partnership with First Time Computers and Washington
a source of inspiration and invaluable knowledge for stu-
Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) has received
dents. ―I hope to show each student that having a company
new funding through the Green Jobs grants. Awarded by
of your own as a full-time or part-time option is a great step
the Department of Employment Services (DOES), the Dis-
forward.‖
trict’s labor and workforce development agency, the
Green Jobs grant aims to provide employment opportuni-
Kelley Ellsworth, Executive Director of Byte Back states, ―I am
ties to DC residents in green fields such as weatherization,
very excited about this new program, which has the potential
energy efficiency, green building services, green auditing
to solve so many problems at once: recycling computers, cre-
skills training, and computer recycling. ating new jobs, and providing affordable computer repair in
underserved neighborhoods. Byte Back is thrilled to be part-
In a DOES press release, DOES Director, Joseph Walsh nering with WACIF and First Time Computers.‖
stated, ―These investments will develop a skilled workforce
that is essential to our economic recovery—and will pro-
vide hope and opportunity to individuals and families in
the District who are struggling to make ends meet and get
back to work.‖

In August, Byte Back was selected as one of five Green

Jobs grant recipients. The grant, totaling $100,000 will
make it possible for Byte Back and two partners agencies,
to provide training DC residents in computer repair and
refurbishment as well as how to start their own computer
repair business. Furthermore, by securing the grant, Byte
Back was able to hire Michael Bradley, an alumni of Byte
Back’s A+ Certification Program. Michael, who was the
featured success story in the spring issue of Info-Bytes, is
also a self-employed contractor of Information Technology
(IT) services. It is fitting that Bradley is teaching the A+
Certification classes; the very same course that helped him

SUMMER CAMPS AT BYTE BACK

Over the summer, Byte Back was the site of the Pediatric
AIDS/HIV Care (PAHC) summer camp, which is the only
urban day camp for children and youth ages 12-18
infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS that is federally
funded.

Camp participants spent the summer learning life skills

communication, and decision making skills needed to lead
meaningful adult lives. PAHC participants used Byte Back
computer labs weekly during the summer. Open Door
Summer Camp also used Byte Back’s computer labs.

Kelley Ellsworth, Executive Director states, ―While Byte

Back does not directly serve youth, we do however open
our computer labs to organizations and programs, and
other worthy causes that do.‖

4
 SUCCESS STORY: JOB FINDERS
Matilda knew that she needed enhance her skills in order to
gain employment. To achieve this, she turned to Byte Back
and beginning in April 2010, she took two courses: Office
Track and QuickBooks. ―It was absolutely necessary [to take
the classes] because I had been out of work for some
months..the courses gave me a good overview of Word, Ex-
cel, and PowerPoint 2007.‖ Her coursework gave her a new-
found confidence. ―I have been very pleased with the rele-
vant courses which made me more confident when I took a
test with an agency or a prospective employer.‖

While taking QuickBooks, Matilda began working with Ben-

Employment Specialist Benjamin Freedman works with students.
At the heart of Byte Back’s achievements are the success
stories of our students, many of whom are unemployed,
underemployed. Byte Back students are not only able to
succeed despite the odds because of their resilient spirits,
and because of the high level of caring, guidance, and
support provided by Byte Back staff. This is especially true
of the work that our Employment Specialist Benjamin
Freedman has done with two Byte Back students, who suc-
cessfully obtained employment! Here are their inspiring
stories of success and determination.
Juan Nino, Byte Back’s top A+ graduate in the
fall 2009 cohort began working with Benjamin upon com-
pleting his A+ certification. With Benjamin’s assistance,
Juan was able to format his resume as well as learn the
finer points of resume writing and polish his interview skills.
―I was getting job offers six weeks after our first meeting
[with Freedman]‖ Juan, says. After eight weeks of aggres-
sive job hunting, he was hired by IT company where he
does tier1 helpdesk work as well as blackberry activation
and troubleshooting.
jamin focusing on career choices and exploration as well as
resume and cover letter. She recalls how invaluable his ex-
pertise was in her jobs search, ―He took the time to go over
my mistakes and explained the importance of having an ex-
cellent resume.‖
Thanks to her hard work and Benjamin’s help, she was able
to obtain employment at the World Bank through Aspen
Staffing Agency. At the World Bank, Matilda does a variety
of duties including supporting the Executive Director
with word processing, assisting with distribution of important
documents for Board meetings, and overseeing travel details
for employees. Her time at Byte Back greatly prepared her
for all the tasks that she has to do at work. ―The courses cer-
tainly gave me confidence in the features of the Advanced
level and has made it easier to work in the office..I have
been able to produce work at a faster rate because I know
how to use the right word processing features‖ Matilda ex-
pressed.

Juan, a native of DC, came to Byte Back to further his com-

puter skills, realizing that computer skills open doors to
many career opportunities. The experience of being a stu-
dent at Byte Back was wonderful and life changing for
Juan. ―Byte Back has made a major difference in my life
Benjamin Freedman teaches a job readiness class at Woodridge Library.
giving me the opportunity to achieve my goals for technol-
ogy and reassuring me that anything is possible with dedi-
cation and hard work.‖ He adds, ― The services and the
staff, and the classes that Byte Back offers will allow you
to reach monumental goals and give you the solid founda- The Byte Back family
tion needed to propel you in the right direction.‖
extends a hearty congratulations
Matilda Spio-Garbrah attests to the to Matilda and Juan!
doors that Byte Back classes can open in the world of em-
ployment. After being out of work for several months,

5
 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

SYEP teachers meet with Debony Heart, Director of

Programs at Byte Back Headquarters

This summer was a busy, exciting time at Byte

Back! There were a number of summer pro-
SYEP teacher, Dionna Tyler assists a student at Southeast Ministries
grams at Byte Back most notably the Summer
Youth Program. Sponsored by the Department
of Employment Services (DOES), the summer
program is a short-term employment and train- At the conclusion of the program, Byte Back hosted a graduation
ceremony for the teachers and their students. Graduation
ing program for DC youths ages 14-21 with the
festivities included guest speakers, Sheila Robinson from Jubilee
goal of offering young people opportunities to
Jobs, Rodney Brooks form Brookland/Edgewood Family Support
gain skills needed to compete in the world of
work. The program provided a total 21 of par- Collaborative, Geanie Kase of the Center for Neighborhood
Enterprise, and Lowell Dodge from First Time Computers. Gradu-
ticipants.
ates had the opportunity to share their final PowerPoint presenta-
tions and to speak to the crowd. Their personal stories of tragedy
The theme of Byte Back’s Youth Program this
year was a ―Train the Trainer‖ program, in and triumph were deeply moving.
which participants spent a week learning Byte
It was truly a heartwarming event, which culminated in Byte Back’s
Back curriculum and teaching methods. Upon
top SYEP teacher, Jonathan Colbert [see related article, page 9]
completion of training, program participants
spent the rest of the summer teaching two receiving a high-end refurbished laptop to much applause. Con-
gratulations to all teachers and graduates!
courses, PC for Beginners and Office Track to
adults at five locations: Byte Back, Woodridge
Library, Coalition for Economic Empowerment,
Mayfair Mansions, and Southeast Ministries. In
all, Youth Program teachers taught PC for Be-
ginners to 65 students and Office Track to 54
students.

Kalonji Mack, SYEP teacher helps a students at

Mayfair Mansions SYEP teachers and graduates after summer graduation

6
 BYTE BACK’S STRATEGIC PLAN
In May, Byte Back’s Board of Directors met for a Strategic
Planning Retreat to chart the course of the organization over
the next three fiscal years. The groundwork for this meeting
was laid during the several previous months, during which
Executive Director, Kelley Ellsworth worked with consultant
Ruth Tillett to conduct an environmental scan and a Strengths,
Opportunities, Weaknesses, and Threats (SWOT) analysis.
Ms. Tillett interviewed Byte Back staff, board members, stu-
dents, volunteers, funders and partners about the organiza-
tion’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
The findings of this research were presented at the retreat
by Ms. Tillett, who also facilitated the retreat. After many
hours of discussion, the Board of Directors settled on the fol-
lowing key goals for the next three years:
Increase Revenue
In order to meet the increased need for computer literacy
and job training in our region, Byte Back must secure addi-
tional financial resources. Looking carefully at vital areas for
capacity growth, the board has passed a budget in June for
FY11 of $875,450, a 38% increase over FY10.
While this may seem overly optimistic in the midst of a chal-
lenging economy, Byte Back was able to increase our reve-
nues by 29% from FY09 to FY10, and the organization had
good reason at the time to anticipate receipt of a large
stimulus grant. [See related article on page 1.]
The Board’s top priority for raising additional revenues is by
growing our individual donations through House Parties held
by individual board members and through capitalizing on
the recent honors received (Honorable Mention for the 2010
Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Man-
agement and selection for inclusion in the 2010-2011 Cata-
logue for Philanthropy).
Secondary priorities were placed on securing funding from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, increasing
contract revenues through the Department of Employment
Services, and securing grants from local and federal gov-
ernment and local and national foundations.
Increase Enrollment
The Board of Directors set a goal of continuing to increase
the number of students served by Byte Back, with a particu-
lar emphasis on increasing our Office Track and certification
students. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Govern-
ments came out with a report recently predicting that future
job market will feature much higher growth in mid-level jobs
Byte Back Board of Directors Strategic Planning Retreat
than entry-level jobs. Mid-level jobs are those which require
more than a high school degree, but less than a college de-
gree.
Our second tier Office Track courses, such as QuickBooks and
HTML, and our certification courses such as Net+ and Micro-
soft Certified Application Specialist, are designed for pre-
cisely these types of jobs. Our specific enrollment goals are:
 Increase enrollment in PC for Beginners to at least 1000
students
 Increase enrollment in Office Track to at least 300 stu-
dents
 Increase enrollment in certification courses to 24 in IC3,
36 in MCAS, 60 in A+, 14 in Net+, and 12 each in Linux
and MS Project
Improve Student Recruitment, Retention and Job Placement
Outcomes
The Board of Directors looked carefully at all three stages of
our programming and set some priorities about how to
achieve these goals. Student recruitment can be improved
through targeted advertising, strategic partnerships with
other agencies and connections with special populations such
as the Latino and Deaf communities.
Retention can be improved by fully informing our beginning
and intermediate students about our advanced course offer-
ings and the career and income benefits that they bring. Job
Placement Outcomes can be improved through identifying
and increasing job placement partnerships.
Create and Implement a Marketing Plan
Byte Back has come to the conclusion that the single most limit-
ing factor to our ability to meet the needs of the community is
publicity. Most of our courses are free to most of our students,
and we have a strong reputation in the community for provid-
ing high quality instruction. Our instructors are volunteers, and
almost every week we are contacted by other nonprofits re-
questing that we send instructors and curricula to their com-
puter labs.
(continued on page 8)
7
 BYTE BACK BUILDS CAPACITY
Building the capacity of an organization and its employees is
one of the many factors that are central to an organization’s
success. Recognizing this and the continuous need to build capac-
ity, Byte Back recently applied for and received capacity build-
ing assistance from two agencies: Center for Neighborhood En-
terprise (CNE) and Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), a
program of the DC government.
Each agency provided a variety of free workshops ranging from
board development, human resources, and outcome measure-
ment for Byte Back staff and board members. In addition to
workshops, Byte Back also received independent organizational
assessment and technical assistance from both agencies. Techni-
cal assistance was provided by CNE through consultant, Ruth
Top: SCF Class of 2010
Tillett. Bottom: SCF with Sean Gordy of the Department of Employment Services
Ruth conducted an environmental scan and a SWOT analysis
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), which involved
interviewing Byte Back staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, stu-
dents, partner agencies, and funders. The purpose of this work
was to help Byte Back prepare for its annual Strategic Planning
Retreat. CNE assisted Byte Back by awarding a grant for
$10,000 for the purchase of new computers.
SCF builds the capacity of nonprofit organizations to address
economic recovery issues including helping low-income individu-
als obtain and retain employment as well as other economic
opportunities by providing grants, which are funded by the Re-
covery Act. In addition, SCF plans to provide Byte Back with a
marketing consultant for the development of a marketing plan.

(Strategic Plan, continued from page 7)

Our model is extremely cost effective. The more the com-
munity knows about Byte Back, the more donors, partners,
volunteers and students we will have. Towards this end, the
Board of Directors opted to increase our marketing budget
fivefold, from $4,000 in FY10 to $20,000 in FY11. Board
and staff are tasked with finding new board members and
volunteers with expertise in marketing, advertising and
public relations, and to craft a marketing plan to maximize
the effectiveness of these new marketing funds.
Strengthen and Diversify Board of Directors
To meet the needs of the community, Byte Back will need
strong leadership at all levels. While our Board of Direc-
tors has always been very diverse in terms of race and
ethnicity, this is a goal that must be emphasized and contin-
ued.
Furthermore, our Board would benefit from additional di-
versity in the areas of occupation and expertise. Two key
priorities are determining the precise diversity needs and
board recruitment. Additional goals include improving our
board training and retention procedures.
Keep Pace with Changes in Technology
This goal has two important aspects. First, Byte Back must
make sure to keep our curricula up to date with changes in
technology, whether that is updating our curriculum from
Office 2007 to Office 2010, or adding smart phone and
social networking modules to our courses. Second, Byte Back
should be ever-mindful of ways in which new technologies can
improve our own organizational capacity.
Ensure Byte Back’s Organizational Capacity Meets Our Needs
As Byte Back’s programs grow, the Board of Directors wants to
make sure that our organizational capacity grows as well. This
means identifying the growing requirements of our facilities, our
infrastructure and our resources and finding ways to meet these
needs.
Align Board Committees to Organizational Goals
In order to successfully meet our strategic goals, the structure of
the Board of Directors must reflect those goals. This may mean
changing the makeup of both standing and ad-hoc board commit-
tees and even perhaps the creation of an Advisory Board as well.
In addition, each committee will need to focus on and track the
progress towards targeted goals.
Align Organizational Goals with Staff
Key to the implementation of the above strategic goals is ensuring
that staff positions, job descriptions and work plans are aligned
with these goals. Two priorities in this area are the hiring of a
Director of Communications and Development, to assist with our
marketing and fundraising goals, and the creation of a volunteer
plan and manual, as Byte Back volunteers are the heart of our
programming activities.

8
 VOLUNTEER OF THE SEASON: JONATHAN COLBERT
Jonathan Colbert, Byte Back’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) standout
teacher recalls with fondness his experiences with Byte Back this summer. ―…[Byte Back]
put me in a great position to help people that are older than me.‖ Jonathan, a senior at
Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, spent the summer teaching Office Track at Byte
Back headquarters.
For most high school students, teaching adult learners would be a daunting task, but
Jonathan says that while it was challenging in the beginning, he learned to be patient
and confident so that his students would be at ease as well. Debony Heart, Director of
Programs at Byte Back supervised SYEP teachers over the summer wholeheartedly
agrees that Colbert did an outstanding job this summer. ―He was meticulous about
lesson planning and making sure that his students had the resource aids he thought they
should have.‖
For Jonathan, the benefits of his experience at Byte Back are tremendous, for his
students and himself. ―It [Byte Back] brings new insight to you and you learn so much
about yourself.‖ This is especially true for Byte Back students, including Jonathan’s as
taking classes at Byte Back opens doors into the world of technology and economic
opportunity and they learn that they can overcome barriers finding a newfound
confidence in their abilities. This aspect of the Byte Back experience made his work all the more meaningful! When asked
what he would like to say to readers, he said, ―I just want to say thank you to the whole Byte Back staff for all they have
done for me.‖

BYTE BACK IN THE NEWS ANC GRANT

On the heels of receiving an Honorable Mention for the 2010 To support Byte Back’s work
Washington Post Award for Nonprofit Excellence in June, Byte to provide computer classes
Back has been the subject of much media coverage. and employment services to
its residents, The Advisory
During the month of August, ABC Washington aired a seg- Ne ighborhood Co uncil
ment and posted an article on their website about the loss of (ANC) 5C awarded Byte
Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) youth workers, Back a $5,000 grant. The
both of which in- grant helps cover the costs
cludes Byte Back. of Byte Back courses for
The articles high- ANC 5C residents.
lighted the differ-
ence that Byte Back ANC’s resemble a city coun-
is making lives of cil, but on a smaller scale.
adults, particularly According to ANC 5C’s
helping adults over- website, an ANC is the body
come their fear of of government with the clos-
computers and tech- est ties to a neighborhood making a wide range of policy
nology. Deborah decisions impacting their neighborhood such as economic de-
Eliot, a Byte Back velopment, street improvements, and recreation.
student praised the
SYEP teachers stating, ―Their comfort with the comfort with the Byte Back is extremely excited to partner with ANC5C and
computer is remarkable because they know their stuff. I’m equally pleased by their commitment to residents. Kelley Ells-
53—people my age, it’s foreign to us.‖ worth, Byte Back Executive Director says, ―I think it is wonder-
ful that ANC5C has taken such an interest in the employment
In September, NBC Washington aired a feature about Byte opportunities of the neighborhood residents that they are
Back’s partnership with Back On My Feet. To review each willing to commit funds to this end.‖ Kelley adds, ―Byte Back is
feature in greater detail, visit Byte Back’s website at very grateful for this generous grant.‖
www.byteback.org/newsroom/press media.

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 FALL 2010 CLASS SCHEDULE
This season no registration fee; contributions always welcome. Classes are for low-income individuals and must be full to start. For
more information contact Aditya Mandavia (Email: amandavia@byteback.org / Tel: 202-529-3395) or visit our website at
www.byteback.org. Register in person Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

PC BEGINNERS IC3
October 25-December 8 (at JUB3) October 25-November 10 (at BB)
Monday & Wednesday Afternoons Monday & Wednesday Afternoons
3:00 am to 5:00 pm 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

October 25-December 8 (at SEM1) MCAS EXCEL

Monday & Wednesday Mornings October 19-November 12 (at BB)
10:00 am to 12:00pm Tuesdays & Thursdays Afternoons
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
October 25-Dec 8 (at PS2)
Monday & Wednesday Evenings October 19-November 12 (at BB)
6:00-8:00pm Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
P C B E G I N N E R S F O R S EN I O R S ( 5 5 + ) 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
October 26-December 8 (at JUB3)
Monday & Wednesday Afternoons MCAS PPT
3:00-5:00 pm November 16-December 7 (at BB)
Tuesdays & Thursdays Afternoons
October 26-December 9 (at BB) 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday Mornings
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm November 16-December 7 (at BB)
Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
MS OFFICE TRACK 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
September 13-December 6 (at BB)
Tuesday & Thursday Afternoons MCAS WORD
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm September 28-October 14 (at BB)
Tuesdays & Thursdays Afternoons
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
September 13-December 6 (at SEM1)
Monday & Wednesday Afternoons
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm September 28-October 14
Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
September 14-December 9 (at PS2) 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm HARDWARE & HOME NEWTWORKING
September 14-September 29 (at BB)
September 14-December 9 (at BB) Mondays & Wednesdays Evenings
Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
October 5-October 20 (at BB)
Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
September 14-December 9 (at BB) 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday Afternoons
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
October 26-November 16 (at BB)
October 25 to November 4 (at BB) Tuesdays & Thursdays Evenings
Monday-Thursday Mornings and Afternoons, daily
10:00 am to 2:30 pm MONEY MANAGEMENT 101
October 16-November 13 (at BB)
October 25-November 12 (at BB) Saturdays Afternoons
Monday-Thursday Mornings and Afternoons, doily 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
10:00 am to 2:30 pm

November 15-September Dec 7 (at BB)

Monday-Thursday Mornings, Daily
10:00 am to 2:30 pm
1 Southeast Ministry is located at 3111 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SW
2 The Perry School is located at 128 M Street NW
5 Jubilee Housing the Ritz is located at 1631 Euclid Street NW

10
 YES, I want to help students achieve better paying
jobs and independence. Enclosed is my donation of
$_____________________

Name

Address

City/State/Zip

Phone/Email

Byte Back, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non -profit Method of Payment

organization, teaching a broad range of computer
and office skills to underserved youth and adults.
Our mission is to improve economic opportunity by Check
providing computer training and employment
readiness skills to low-income residents of the
American Express
Washington Metropolitan area. Our ultimate goal is Visa
to promote successful futures, one student at a time!
The majority of our students are female (62%), MasterCard
African American (78%) and either homeless or
living temporarily with friends or relatives. Byte
Back enables our economically disadvantaged
students, most of whom reside in Wards 5, 7, and 8, Credit Card # Exp. date
to acquire the marketable skills needed to find
employment, hold on to a job, and/or advance in
their careers.
Signature
The average cost of one student graduating from
Office Track, not including donations of materials
and volunteer time, is $1,384. The average cost
per student of our Introduction to PCs class, which I am also interested in learning more about volunteer
first connects youth and adults to our tech-savvy opportunities in:
world, is $346.
Teaching
Byte Back succeeds with generous donations from
individuals, foundations, and corporations. YOU can Mentoring
help our students by:
 teaching a class; Event Planning/Marketing
 providing an internship or job; or, Designing Curriculum
 donating funds.
With volunteer teachers, donated equipment, and a Other:______________________________
committed staff, Byte Back today serves over 400
individuals each year. Our main classrooms are in
Northeast Washington but we partner with other Please mail or fax this form with your contribution to
non-profits to serve the greater Metro area. Byte Back
Volunteers – giving time and energy to our students 815 Monroe Street, NE
– and donors – providing essential funding - make Washington, DC 20017
our work possible. Fax 202.529.4684

11