Info-Bits March 2012

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Student Spotlight: Denise Johnson

By Rebecca Stewart

INFO - BITESThe Online Newsletter from Byte Back | March,2012

Table of Contents

Student Spotlight: Den-

ise Johnson

Byte Back Certification

Programs: Students

Share Their Experience

Byte Back Success Story:

The More You Know,

The More You Can

Achieve!

Big News: Byte Back

Wins One of Ten AARP

Foundation Grants

Awarded Nationwide!

Enroll Today: April Clas-

ses Are Starting Soon!

A Snap Shot of the

Month Past

Employment Opportuni-

ties

Denise Johnson, like many other Americans has been affected by the tough eco-nomic climate. After many years of working, she found herself unemployed and

looking for a way to learn new skills to differentiate herself from other job seek-

ers. After searching long and hard for the right program, she enrolled in a class

at Byte Back following a word of mouth testimonial from a friend. Upon enter-

ing the Office Track class, Denise showed her class and instructor to be an intelli-

gent and motivated individual who was dedicated to furthering her computer

literacy skills. Denises previous knowledge of Microsoft Office allowed her to

assist the instructor and help other students who were struggling with the new

material. Denise successfully completed Office Track in the fall of 2011.

Three months after graduating from Office Track, Denise found permanent em-

ployment with flexible hours as a Data Entry Clerk after receiving an email from

Byte Back about a job opening at T-Rex Corp. Being affiliated with Byte Back

helped me find a job, said Denise. I consider myself more knowledgeable of

computers and Microsoft Office as a result of taking the Office Track class. Congratulations Denise!

Volunteer Of The Month: Kimberly Bryant

By Kyle Johnson

The Byte Back Volunteer of the month for March 2012, is Maryland nave Kimberly

Bryant. Kimberly has been a volunteer instructor for Byte Back since September

2011. Kimberly teaches PC for Beginners at the Byte Back headquarters located in

Brookland Washington D.C. Not only is Kimberly loved by her students, but is also a

fullme sophomore at Trinity College as an Elementary Educaon Major. One

might wonder how someone could balance being in college full me, a life and ten

hours a week towards teaching. Kimberly says she manages by movaon, and

knowing that this will help in the end.

Kimberly didn't always know she wanted to work in educaon. She entered college

undecided and grappling with the idea of becoming a lawyer. It wasnt unl she

contacted Byte Back through her schools Human Resource Department and then

started to volunteer with Byte Back that she realized her love for educaon. Kim-berly describes her experience as an instructor with Byte Back as rewarding, en-

joyable, fun, and she feels that she wouldnt be as successful at being an instructor and managing her

schedule without the help and support of the Byte Back sta.

Kimberly now has inspiraonal future plans. She wants to have a variety of careers in her life like becoming

a 3rd grade teacher and an advocate for educaon for low income youth. She credits Byte Back with helping

her gain this realizaon and states, To me, this is something Im glad I experienced. Byte Back gives a huge

THANK YOU to Kimberly, keep up the good work!

www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395

Denise Johnson

Kimberly Bryant
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Byte Back Certification Programs:

Students Share Their Experience

Gladys Mathis speaks on her decision to sck with Byte Back.As a two me student of Byte Back, I wanted to take a moment to express how much Ive grown as a

career-minded individual. I am now condent in myself, where before I felt defeated. I believe that I can

sustain my family and my household now. Aer taking Oce Track, I realized that I have the potenal to

do greater things and I learned many valuable skills to be used in an oce seng. In addion, I also

learned how to present myself. I am very grateful for Byte Back and the MOS (Microso Oce Specialist)

training that I am currently taking.

Byte Back, has made my decision to pursue a cercaon program the greatest learning experience of

my life. Inially, because of my age and lack of higher educaon, I was threatened by what computer sav-

vy youth had to oer in the job market. I just knew no maer how hard I tried, I would never be able to

compete with college graduates. I felt defeated and doomed to work a job, and never launch a career, for the rest of my life. Now, I

feel empowered as a single mother and grandmother to embark on a new and lucrave career path. The instructors, advisors and

volunteer tutors have boosted my condence tremendously. They encourage me to try harder; they have introduced me to re-sources that I never knew were available. They have had the paence and sincerity in explaining curriculum step by step, oen

mes repeatedly unl I have mastered the task. Even when the instrucons were unclear, and I got frustrated, they were there to

push me unl I could push myself. When I think of where I would be without Byte Back, its a very scary thought. I am a Byte Back

success story in the making and I know the best of my life is yet to come. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!! I am ready to con-

quer the world aer being enrolled at Byte Back!!!

Eddie Capers reects on her decision to become cered as Microso Desktop Support Technician with Byte Back.

My experience with Byte Back is very rewarding; it gives me a path to an alternate career.

I started at Byte Back at rst to brush up on my computer skills; however, the more I went,

the harder it was for me to leave there. I have since received a Cercate for the Microso

Oce Program in April 2011, as well as the Internet and Compung Core Cercaon (IC3

in August 2011). Now I am back in class for the Microso Cered Desktop Support Tech-

nician Cercate. The sta, teachers and volunteers give a lot of their aenon, me and

support, and this makes it hard to leave Byte Back once you get started. Some of the stu-

dents have also started a study group three days a week. I am doing this because I want a career change, and I dont think I will

stop at this class. I will pursue other classes that Byte Back oers because it will connue to open wider doors for employment as

well as for the development of my own business.

Gladys Mathis
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Byte Back Success Story: The More You Know, The More You Can

Achieve!By Carolyn Kraemer

In 2009, Washington, D.C. nave Arnulfo M. was at a turning point in his life. For the past several years,

he had worked at organizaons serving D.C.s homeless populaon, providing support such as monitor-

ing clients, helping to serve meals, and making sure that things ran smoothly. Arnulfo M. began this

work to earn a living, but as me progressed, social work became a eld for which he developed greatdedicaon and passion. When he was oered a housing support specialist posion that allowed him to

take on more specic case management dues, he decided that he wanted to start building his skills and

pursuing educaonal goals related to his eld.

Before making the decision to pursue a college degree, Arnulfo M. wanted to make sure that he would

be comfortable in an academic seng aer being out of school for many years. Byte Back, with its exi-

ble course schedule and targeted subject maer, oered him the opportunity to re -enter a classroom with concrete objecves in

mind and a manageable me commitment. By taking a Byte Back course on Microso Excel, Arnulfo M. proved to himself that he

could succeed and thrive in a learning environment. Later that year, he enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia Com-

munity College to pursue a bachelors degree in sociology. He is currently in the third year of his studies. Once he completes the

program, Arnulfo M. is considering pursuing an advanced degree in social work to further develop his career and advance his pas-

sion for helping the homeless.

Arnulfo M.s story is one of focused goals and hard work, and it represents what Byte Back hopes for all of its students. The courses

that we oer help provide individuals with skills directly relevant to job readiness, and the opportunity to pursue success. As Arnul-

fo M. notes, Byte Backs role in fostering students growth through educaon and skill building is crucial, along with the benets

that the skills themselves provide. Today he refers clients that he serves to Byte Back, encouraging them especially to take ad-

vantage of courses for beginners that we now oer in Spanish. He sll uses the Microso Excel skills that he learned at Byte Back

regularly at work. As he describes, computer skills relate to everything the more you know, the more you can achieve!

Big News: Byte Back Wins One of Ten AARP Foundation Grants Award-

ed Nationwide!In February 2012, the AARP Foundaon awarded a two-year, $160,000 grant to Byte Back. Funding from

the AARP Foundaon will allow Byte Back to retrain older workers to beer compete in their previous

careers or to obtain mid-level informaon technology (IT) posions, which are plenful and growing in

the city.

Byte Back Execuve Director Kelley Ellsworth said, We are delighted to be in a posion to help older workers gain the latest tech-

nological skills that in turn allow them new employment opportunies in elds that will pay a living wage. As you may know, Byte

Back oers eight dierent industry-recognized IT cercaon programs aimed at growing occupaons which pay a living wage.

This grant is one of only 10 Income Grants the AARP Foundaon awarded to nonprot organizaons across the naon.

In these tough economic mes, helping older Americans meet their basic needs is crical, said AARP Foundaon President, Jo

Ann Jenkins. We look forward to working with our innovave grantees who share our goals so that together, we can seed hope

for older Americans who are struggling, added Phyllis L. Kim, AARP Foundaon senior vice president, Oce of Grants Administra-

on.

To view our April seniors courses, click here.

For more informaon about the AARP Foundaons grants program, visit www.aarp.org/foundaongrants. AARP Foundaon is

AARPs aliated charity.
mailto:[email protected]://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/C:/Users/BYTEBACK/Documents/December%20Timesheetshttp://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/C:/Users/BYTEBACK/Documents/December%20Timesheetshttp://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/Grants-Administration.html?cmp=RDRCT-FOUN_JUL25_011http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/Grants-Administration.html?cmp=RDRCT-FOUN_JUL25_011http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/Grants-Administration.html?cmp=RDRCT-FOUN_JUL25_011http://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/C:/Users/BYTEBACK/Documents/December%20Timesheetsmailto:[email protected]


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Employment Opportunities

A Snap Shot of the Month PastThere are a lot of great things that happen around here and we would like to share them. So, here they are:

Byte Back welcomes Ryan Imhoff, Contract Database Administrator, and Ronald Wade, A+, Net+ and Security+ cered Con-

tract Tier 1 Network Administrator.

Rebecca Stewart, Volunteer Instructor was nominated for The Literacy Volunteer Award from DC LEARNS.

Eleanor Grewal, Director of Volunteer Services was nominated for The Mike Fox Literacy Leader Award from DC LEARNS.

Byte Back got a small makeover with updated furniture.

Kelley Ellsworth, Byte Back Executive Director, made a guest appearance on the weekly radio show called "A Work in Progress,

February 26, and the ABC Channel 7 news, March 12!

Carolyn Kraemer and Joseph Lewis were featured profiles for Serve DC - The Mayor's Office on Volunteerism.

Enroll Today: April Classes Are Starting Soon!Enrollment for our April classes is now open! It is the prefect me to gain new skills. We have several cercaon prep-courses

available that will give you that edge employers are looking for and some of our course start as early as April 7, 2012. If you are

interested in improving your Microso Oce skills, learning HTML, QuickBooks, or becoming cered in Net+, A+, or IC3 (through

our Administrave Assistant program), then give us a call. We oer classes during the day and in the evening to accommodate a

variety of schedules. Our courses will help you build the skills you need to succeed in todays job market.

We encourage you to sign-up for our upcoming classes by vising or calling our main oces. Our classes are held in a variety of

locaons throughout Washington DC. Our oce hours are from 9am 5pm, Monday Friday and you can reach us by phone at

(202) 529-3395.

To view our April class schedule and to see where we are in your community, click here.

Title: Security Technician

Company: TEKsystems

Locaon: Springeld, Virginia

Descripon: The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of maintaining Intercom and Burglar Alarm systems in all

facets especially related to Residenal and small businesses. This experience should consist of systems; such as, Pelco, Ademco,

BOSCH, Lenel, GE and Honeywell along with panels; such as, Vista and Northern.

To Apply: hp://telecommunicaons.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757

Title: Help Desk Analyst

Company: StarTeks Inc.

Locaon: Bethesda, MD

Descripon: Posion entails PC problem resoluon using diagnosc and inter -personal skills to provide the highest level of cli-

ent support and sasfacon. Responsibilies include problem recognion, research, isolaon, resoluon, and documentaon of

soluons in call tracking database to provide knowledge transfer.

To Apply: hp://sl2public.bullhornstang.com/JobBoard/Standard/BHContent_JobDetail.cfm?
mailto:[email protected]://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/http://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/http://telecommunications.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757http://telecommunications.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757http://telecommunications.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757http://telecommunications.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757http://sl2public.bullhornstaffing.com/JobBoard/Standard/BHContent_JobDetail.cfm?privateLabelID=5998&jobPostingID=2http://sl2public.bullhornstaffing.com/JobBoard/Standard/BHContent_JobDetail.cfm?privateLabelID=5998&jobPostingID=2http://telecommunications.thingamajob.com/jobs/Virginia/Security-Technician/2488757http://www.byteback.org/training/schedule-of-classes/mailto:[email protected]


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Volunteer Opportunies"Volunteering is the most eecve means to give back to your community, and to connue to develop the human spirit."

--Ted Frazier, volunteer instructor

Byte Back is always eager to take on volunteers. Whether you're a student or a parcipant in a service learning program, or a student or alumnus

who wants to stay connected with us, volunteering is an excellent way to stay in touch with our community and help us bridge the digital divide.

If you'd like to volunteer or learn more about volunteer opportunies, please contact Byte Back Director of Volunteer Services Eleanor Grewal at

[email protected] or (202) 529-3395.

About Byte BackFounded in 1997, Byte Back seeks to improve economic opportunity in the Washington, D.C. area by providing computer literacy and job training

for disadvantaged communies. Byte Back oers courses ranging from basic computer literacy to Microso Oce to internaonally recognized

computer cercaon preparaon.Byte Back is licensed by the DC Educaonal Licensure Commission as a Postsecondary Educaonal Instuon.
mailto:[email protected]://www.nonprofitadvancement.org/PostAward2010http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org/cfpdc/nonprofit-detail.php?id=94481mailto:[email protected]

Info-Bits March 2012

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