The new coalition, Partners for Livable Chattanooga plans to help individuals bridge the growing digital divide by offering free education classes and promoting awareness in the use of computers and the internet.
Coalition partners began the first part of community outreach Saturday at the Chattanooga Renaissance Oktoberfest.
An assessment was offered to individuals to gauge skill levels and determine areas of technology most were interested in learning more about when the coalition offers computer and internet training classes in the spring. Those courses will likely include basic computer skills, internet job application skills, searching the internet, social networking and digital photography.
Partners for a Livable Chattanooga is organizing this new initiative in an effort to improve overall community awareness and involvement by educating individuals about the growing number of resources on-line. The move is funded by a recently awarded Jump Start the conversation grants totaling $9,000 by the Partners for Livable Communities in Washington, D.C.
The Partners for a Livable Chattanooga include Chattanooga State Technical Community College, Association of Visual Arts, Friends of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library, Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, Tennessee Career Center, City of Chattanooga Education Arts and Culture, Chattanooga Department of Parks and Recreation, Senior Neighbors, Signal Centers, Choose Chattanooga, Chattanooga Health and Performance Institute & Alton Park Development Corporation.
For more information on the grants and technology initiative contact: Nancy Cogar, Senior Services Outreach Coordinator with Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library 643-7711 or 827-8293 cogar_n@mail.chattanooga.gov