Our Residents

Norma Pagan is no computer novice.

And in her twice-weekly computer classes at Riverview Apartments, she is on a straight path to technological literacy.

“I come here to continue my work on computers,” said the Springfield Housing Authority resident, who has taken college-level information technology classes both in Puerto Rico and here. As secretary of the Riverview Apartments Tenants’ Council, she expects to put her learning to use immediately, keeping records and possibly publishign a newsletter to keep her neighbors abreast of the news.

She recently had a lesson on Microsoft Publishing, and is geared up to begin putting it to good use.

SHA computer instructor Nathan Bench, standing in rear, helps students master computer literacy.

Pagan’s class meets on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, the newest addition to the Resident Services Department’s ongoing quest to provide education and training to residents. All classes are free and open to the public, both at Riverview and at the Deborah Barton Neighborhood Network Center, located at Sullivan Apartments.

At the Riverview computer class, run by ESOL and computer instructor Nathan Bench, students focus on basic functions like email, Microsoft Word, and Internet searches, giving the mostly elderly population the basics needed to  communicate with technology.

“It’s working out very well,” said Bench, who spends time on any computer issues that residents ask about. “We have a lot of little success stories with things like writing letters, searching the web, and emailing. We had one resident who wanted to work on a holiday flyer, and we were able to do that.”

Riverview Apartments Tenants’ Council Secretary Norma Pagan takes the computer class to boost her skills.

Each student – with a dozen computer stations, the classroom is generally full – sets up an email address if they don’t already have one, allowing them to keep in touch with children, grandchildren and friends, even those who live far away.

Students like Nelly Figueroa said the class has helped her stay in better contact with her grandchildren, who rely on technology to stay in touch.

“I left like I was being left behind,” said Figueroa. “They were trying to teach me, but I wasn’t getting too far. Now, I feel like I know what I’m doing, and I’m able to communicate with my family that’s far away.”

Not only that, but Figueroa is having fun with her new skills, surfing the web like the grandchildren she now regularly emails.

Ditto for Maria Castellano.

“This has been so helpful,” she said. “Now, I know how to search in the computer, how to look for information that I need. My typing is a lot better too.”

Maria Castellano said the computer classes at Riverview Apartments have boosted her skills.

All agreed that Bench has been superb at helping them learn the ins and outs of a craft that can be a mystery at best.

“We have a teacher who has a lot of patience with us. He has just the right skills to help us know what we need to know,” said Pagan.

For information on SHA classes, please call Daisy Gomez at 785-1562. The class schedule is as follows:

Riverview Apartments, 103 Division Street

Monday & Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m., computer class.

Sullivan Apartments, 160 Nursery Street

Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, ESOL.

Tuesday & Thursday: 1-2:30 p.m., computer class.

Tuesday & Thursday, 3-4:20 p.m., open lab.