|
|
The STAR of
SEATTLE COMPUTER CENTER first opened its doors on November
1, 1999, after almost two years of exhaustive work by many
residents of Center Park, the Seattle Housing Authority,
City of Seattle and individuals from the community.
The dream of a computer lab where all of the residents could
learn and work on computers had caused the Center Park
Residents Council to reject the offer of surplus computers
from the Seattle Housing Authority. The reason was because
there are too many residents with physical limitations which
made using a standard computer impossible.
So, the Seattle Housing Authority sought a way to help their
disabled tenants in this matter. They found the City of
Seattle had matching funds grants available from the
Department of Neighborhoods and the Department of
Information Technology. The Center Park Residents council
was eligible as a non-profit, community based organization
for matching funds grants of $30,000 from the Department of
Information Technology and $70,000 from the Department of
Neighborhoods. The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) stepped
up to match the grant funds less the 25% from Volunteer
participation match.
SHA contracted with a consultant to help in the STAR Center
set up. The consultant and associates trained the first
round of Certified Lab Monitors. Since the STAR Center
relies heavily on "Peer-to-Peer" support, this
style is used by the Volunteer program as well. Every
volunteer student is required to help in the training of the
next round of trainees. This helps make the Volunteer
program self-sustaining.
Randy Hayhurst was a driving force in the preparations of
the STAR Center and was given the title of Director by the
other Founders of the STAR Center. Those other Founders are:
Donna Potter-Garcia, June O’Hanlon-Eagle, Kathy Hansen,
Dan Pempeit, Sarah Howe,
|
|
