Computer Coordinator
First Baptist Church Computer C.A.F.E. (Computer Awareness For Empowerment) <FBC Computer C.A.F.E.>
710 Randolph Street, Northwest
Washington, DC 20011
202-541-5012 phone
202-541-5008 fax

Service start date: June 16, 2003 | Service end date: June 15, 2004

Who is the population you serve
FBC Computer C.A.F.E. serves the Petworth community in Northwest DC.

What kind of setup do you have in your tech center (how many computers, what kind...)
FBC Computer C.A.F.E. has two labs one with 10 and the other with 4 networked computers. Currently, implementing a Linux lab.

What kind of programs do you offer?
Training in Microsoft Office Suite and the Internet Explorer, discounted computer equipment to its participants. A business center with the mission to provide quality serve and to those individuals seeking employment or advance in the current positions. The services include providing economical color and black & white printing, black & white coping, book-binding, faxing, and assistance with resume writing. We also offer technical assitance be appointment to the community and church members.

What I do
I have started developing plans for projects that include a business center, after-school program (tutoring/mentoring), and summer camp. I am also re-designing the website for the FBC Computer C.A.F.E.
I manage the FBC Computer C.A.F.E. which includes setting the trainig session schedule, running the business center, contacting potential volunteers. I also teach some of the training classes.

What are some successes/failures you have had at your site?
Success include organizing the Black Family Technology Awareness Week, teaching the basic Internet browsing class, and implementing the business center

Failures include the recruitment and retention of the students for the after-school program and voluteers for the all new programs

What did the lab look like when you started, what does it look like now , and what new programs/volunteers are there?
The lab had not been up graded it still had the same equipment from the initial start-up some years ago. The lab has been upgraded to Pentium II with 128MB of memory a major improvement over the previous equipment.

Is there anything that you use in the lab that works really well (best practices, web sites that you really like and why)?
Yes. The National Mentoring Partnership is a good resource for starting/accessing mentoring programs.