Bits_ Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011

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Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

INFO-BITSThe online newsletter of Byte Back I July 2011

Home About Us Our Mission Donor Headquarters Contact Us

July 2011W o r ko la c e S k ills fo r

S YE P Y ou thS e c u r il y + C e r t if ic a t io n

P ro gra m A v aila ble th isFa l l

V o lu n te e rs fr om D e lo i1 teO f fe r E m p l o y m e n t

Tra in ingV o lu nte er o f th e M o nth :

P C fo r B e gin ne rsI n sl ru c to r R e f le c 1 s o n

C o m pu te r L ite ra cy a ndE m p l o y m e n t

B yte B ac k Is S ee kin gN ew B oa rd M em be rs

V ote fo r U s o nC h a n g e r n a k e r s . c o m !

V o lu n te e r O p p o r tu n it ie s

Workplace Skills for SYEP YouthThis month, Byte Back reached out to provide free computer courses to youthinvolved in Washington, D.C.'s Summer Youth Employment Program.Administered by the D.C. Department of Employment Services, the 2011Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) enrolled 12,000 young adultsfrom the city to spend their summer doing productive work for D.C. PublicSchools, D.C. Public Libraries, city government projects, local nonprofitorganizations, federal agencies, and private companies.

Not every youth who begins his or her first job through SYEP possesses thecomputer skills needed to find employment and succeed in the workplace.Thus Byte Back partnered with the Department of Employment Services, theChild and Family Services Administration and the D.C. Public Library to enrollover 140 SYEPyouth in IMPACT, our one-week computer course designed foryoung adults, which provides training in Microsoft Office software applica-tions. Throughout July, our instructors taught twelve classes of IMPACT atfour D.C. Public Library sites, returning them to their host employers -- andtheir communities -- with a new command of computer software, as well asthe technological and employment readiness skills to build a successful future.Youth in foster care were given priority in registration.

Many IMPACT students, like George Young, who is working through SYEPas asummer school coordinator for D.C. Public Schools, took the course to lay the

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A bo ut B yte B ac k


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F ollow u s o nlin e:Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011groundwork for future careers.

Young, who took IMPACT at Benning Neighborhood Library, says he signedup for the course to "get some knowledge on how to operate in the businessworld." Only proficient in Microsoft Word before he came to the class, he "hadto re-learn everything," and came away knowing how to create a PowerPointpresentation to share with his family.

SYEP participant Omari Sudah, who attended the Lamond-Riggs Library, leftthe week-long course ready to use his new skills in Microsoft Office-- whichinclude how to make charts and embed videos in slide show presentations -- ashe will soon seek employment."I've used my skills on job applications and resume writing, since I'mpreparing to find work after SYEP." said Sudah. "The keyboard lessons alsohelped me get better at typing. I got a good experience out of that class."

T his program w as m ade possib le by a federal B roadband Technology O pportunityP rogram (B TO P) grant to the O ffice of the C hief T echnology O fficer (O CTO ) and theDC P u b li c L i br a ry .

Security+ Certification ProgramAvailable this FallByte Back is offering a Security+ certification course this fall. Security+ is an80-hour course with plenty of hands-on learning, and is taught Saturdays from9 a.m. to 12p.m. starting September 10.

This certification course introduces information technology (IT) professionalsto the field of IT security, one of the fastest-growing IT occupations in thisregion. Course graduates will learn how to apply knowledge of securityconcepts, tools, and procedures to react to security incidents and to anticipatesecurity risks and g ua rd a gainst them. In order to enroll in this course,candidates must have their CompTIA Network+ certification, or two years oftechnical networking experience.

Get certified for a low cost today! For more information, contact Byte Back'sadvanced curriculum coordinator Carine Umuzayire at (202) 529-3395 orcumuzayire@bytebackorg.



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Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011

Volunteers from Deloitte OfferEmployment Training



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At Byte Back, our goal is to provide not only a comprehensive computereducation for disadvantaged communities in Washington, D.C., but also toempower them with the skills necessary to find employment in a job marketthat increasingly demands technology skills. Many of Byte Back's courses --like Office Track and IMPACT-- focus almost as much time on how to find a jobas they do on how to use a computer.

In June, Byte Back welcomed over 20 volunteers from Deloitte for an entireday of volunteer service with our students. Deloitte, which regularly involvesits employees with service projects, sent these summer interns to Byte Backas part of their ten-week internship. They worked one-on-one with our clientsto help them prepare for job interviews, write resumes and cover letters, andhow to send out emails to potential employers.

"It's a very intimate setting: one or two volunteers with each client, working onwhatever job readiness aspects they want to work on," said Scott Nuckels, theDeloitte consultant who coordinated the twenty interns in their service projectat Byte Back "We came ready to work on interviews, but if clients wanted towork on resumes, cover letters, or job search skills, we did that too."



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Deliotte has volunteered its employees throughout Washington, D.C. and atByte Back before, and both interns and full-time practitioners are encouragedto do volunteer service around the year.

"We've had a previous relationship with Byte Back, and we're trying tocontinue that," said Nuckels, who observed that at the volunteer event, theDeloitte interns seemed to be as deeply impacted by the experience as thestudents they were assisting.

"You walk by and everyone's really engaged. We're really hammering awayand they seem to be really getting involved, and hopefully making adifference."

Volunteer of the Month: InstructorReflects on Computer Literacy andEmploymentRobert Krieger, one of Byte Back's volunteer instructors, has a college degreein computer science and a work background as a programmer. But thatdoesn't mean that he hasn't been surprised by the how deeply the digitaldivide separates disadvantaged communities from resources andopportunities. Robert began his volunteer service with Byte Back in early 2011through VolunteerMatch, an online service that matches prospectivevolunteers with community non-profit organizations. Since then, he has taughtboth PC for Beginners and Office Track

"They say that ifyou're not working, you should be volunteering," said Robert,who has been seeking work for several months.

During his first days of instruction, Robert was surprised by the effect ofs:lluLconstantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_ed ltor_preview .jsp?agent.uid=11 06873467350&form ...


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Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011digital divide on his students, some of whom were using the keyboard andmouse for their first time in their lives. Many students in the basic coursesbegan their first day scared of the machine in front of them.

"There's definitely a fear that is unwarranted," said Robert. "There are somany things that one does automatically with computers, that it made methink about what we take for granted with them." Yet atthe end of his courses,he found that the students' computer skills, whether with basic Windows taskssuch as file management or with Microsoft Office programs such as Word andExcel, had drastically improved.

Moreover, Robert has seen a strong correlation between computer literacyand one's ability to find employment -- he described the inability to search forjobs online as "crippling." He points out, as an example, that USAIOBS. thefederal government's system for job openings, requires a significant level ofcomputer literacy, yet posts job openings for low-tech positions such asgroundske eping. In this way, employers may hurt themselves because aslong as the digital divide exists, they can only receive job applications frompeople with computer skills.

Robert intends to continue his work as a volunteer instructor with Byte Back,planning to teach Microsoft Office Specialist certification, as well as taking oneof Byte Back's advanced courses himself.

"I like the idea of Byte Back, where we teach people how to fish," Robertsaid. "It's good that Byte Back helps such people get through that process. Iget frustrated with the online application process, and I can't imagine how it isfor people without those skills -- it's got to be overwhelming."

Byte Back Is Seeking New BoardMembersAt Byte Back, we're looking for new leaders to help bridge the digital divide inWashington, D . c . by empowering our neighbors with the ability to mastertechnology, from basic personal computing to certified informationtechnology skills.

The Board of Directors is seeking new board members to serve for a two-yearterm. We are especially interested in applicants to the Board of Directors whohave experience in law, finance/accounting, and construction/real estate. ByteBack's Board of Directors meetings take place on the fourth Thursdays of eachmonth at 7:00pm.

One of the new board members will also be a Byte Back student or graduate.This board member will act with the Board of Directors as a StudentRepresentative, responsible for speaking on behalf of students. Applicants tothe position should have substantial experience with Byte Back's courses, andbe able to communicate students' needs. Ideally, the Student Representativeshould have strong community ties in Washington, D.C.

Whether you're one of Byte Back's partners, supporters, volunteers, orstudents, there's a seat open for you at the Board of Directors. A board



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Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011position provides an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills andnetwork within the Information Technology (IT) and non-profit worlds. Formore information, contact Byte Back at [email protected], or readthe about the responsibilities of board members below.

Byte Back's Board of Directors functions as a governing board, which takes onthree key roles:

Oversight of operations at Byte Back Strategic planning for the organization Securing money and other resources

The Board of Directors meets once a month. Half of the board meetings areheld at the Byte Back office, and the other half are held via conference call.

Board Member Des crip tio nThe general responsibilities of all board members are to:

Attend all board meetings and functions, as well as special events. Be informed about Byte Back's mission and the digital divide. Carry out the fiscal and legal responsibilities of the Board of Directors.

Each board member is also expected to serve a board committee. Boardmembers should be able to listen well, think critically, and work as part of ateam. Patience, integrity, a commitment to diversity, and a sense of humorare very important to the position.

About the Board o f D ire cto rsThe Board of Directors is committed to Byte Back's work to improveopportunities for Washington, D.C.'s economically disadvantagedcommunities through computer and employment training. Board membersrepresent Byte Back at events around the city related to technology access,computer education, and advocacy for the communities to which studentsbelong.

Vote for Us on Changemakers.com!Byte Back has been nominated as one of the semi-finalists for the PoweringEconomic Opportunity competition. Launched by the eBay Foundation'sOpportunity Project and Ashoka's Changemakers.com initiative, the PoweringEconomic Opportunity competition seeks to find market-based solutions topoverty and unemployment.

Vote now until August 10 to select Byte Back as a finalist! The five winners ofthe Powering Economic Opportunity competition will go on to compete for fivecash prizes of $50,000each.

Volunteer Opportunitiess:lluLconstantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_ed ltor_preview .jsp?agent.uid=11 06873467350&form ...
mailto:[email protected],mailto:[email protected],


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Info-Bi ts: Byte Back's Online Newsletter, July 2011"Volunteering is the most effective means to give back to your community, and tocontinue to develop the human spirit." --Ted Frazier, volunteer instructorByte Back is always eager to take on volunteers. Whether you're a student ora participant in a service learning program, or a student or alumnus whowants to stay connected with us, volunteering is an excellent way to stay intouch with our community and help us bridge the digital divide.

Ifyou'd like to volunteer or learn more about volunteer opportunities, pleasecontact Byte Back Director of Volunteer Services Eleanor Grewalat egrewal@bytebackorg or (202)529-3395.

About Byte BackFounded in 1997, Byte Back seeks to improve economic opportunity in theWashington, D.C. area by providing computer literacy and job training fordisadvantaged communities. Byte Back offers courses ranging from basiccomputer literacy to Microsoft Office to internationally recognized computercertification preparation.

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