Forsyth County Digital Connectors!!!!!

Last night was the first night of the TECA/Digital Connectors here in Forsyth County, NC. TECA is a program the local library sponsors, short for Teen Computer Advisors, that fits perfectly with the goals of digital inclusion, community involvement and leadership that is the core of Digital Connectors. We have adopted TECA for the summer and turned it into a volunteer Digital Connectors program. I was so nervous before our first class, as I designed the curriculum myself, and didn't know if the kids would get it. I am teaching about Scratch, a free video game design software from MIT. If you'd like to design your own games visit scratch.mit.edu to download.
Anyway, the kids were wonderful, well-behaved and excited to get started. The community service component of the program is addressed in part by a showcase day at the end of our sessions to show off their projects and teach their family, friends and community about Scratch and how to use laptop computers. We are also asking them to serve as assistants for the free classes of the Computer Training Bridge. Last night we got started brain-storming for my favorite of their service projects, which is to create a group game to benefit the library, that we are trying to have added to the library's website. The kids had the wonderful idea to each design a level of the game based on their favorite book. I think this will promote reading and use of the library among young people. They seem very excited to get to know each other and work together.
We will also be visiting Forsyth Tech and learning more about their graphic design and other digital media programs during field trips in July. The kids (excuse me, young adults) seem excited about this trip too.
I could not be more pleased with the results of this first session, even though there were a few challenges. One of my students is autistic and seems reluctant to share with the class or work on what the rest of us are doing. Luckily, his father stayed around to help him adjust. Another few students are loud talkers. I'm still trying to figure out a way to ask them to keep it to a dull roar without discouraging talking in general to the rest of the class, as I want them to communicate and help each other learn. Other than that, they are wonderful (and I even bought the right amount of snacks!). I couldn't wait to tell you all about it. I'm just sad I'll have to miss next week's session because of Portland. My partner at the library, Ali, will be covering for me but doesn't know much about Scratch. Hopefully the kids will help each other.
Have a wonderful day everyone. I think I'll see some of you next week.

Michelle Brasseur, NC office.

New members of the One Economy VISTA team!

On June 1, the new 8 member Summer Associate Americorps*VISTA team gathered in the Winston Salem One Economy office to take their oath of service. During their 8 week term, the Summer Associates will be working on various projects at several different locations in North Carolina.

Let's meet the team!


Meg Gosney joins One Economy from Greensboro, NC. This summer she will be working in the Winston Salem One Economy office to build capacity for the Digital Connectors and VISTA Program. After this summer, she will stay with One Economy as a VISTA Leader.





Jessica Young, from Rogers, Arkansas, will also be working in the Winston Salem One Economy office this summer. She will be building capacity for the Digital Connectors Program.







Courtney DuBose joins the Winston Salem OE Office this summer from Charlotte, NC. She will be helping build the capacity of One Economy's Digital Connectors and Bertie County's alternative school, The Hive.







Lee Roddick, from Winston Salem, NC, will be spending her summer working with the Forsyth County Library to be expanding the library's free computer class curriculum.







Tom Walsh, originally from Evanston, IL, joins the One Economy team to help build the capacity of the Forsyth County Library's Computer Training Bridge programing.






Stacee Eason, from Ahoskie, NC, will be working with the One Economy team in the Forsyth County Library this summer to build the capacity of their Computer Training Bridge Programing.







Teresa Davis joins us from Windsor, NC. This summer she will be working with the Bertie County Family Resource Center.








Melvin McDermott joins us from Winston Salem, NC. He will be working with Bertie County's alternative school program, The Hive, this summer.