Trinidad Reyes assists a woman using one of the laptop computers in the new Mobile Technology Center that was donated by the city of Vernon to the Southeast Cities Technology Collaborative to help low-income residents in the Southeast become more computer literate. The center, housed in a bus, made its first stop Saturday at Salt Lake Park in Huntington Park. (Photo By Gary McCarthy)
Story Created:
Feb 3, 2010 at 9:39 PM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 4, 2010 at 1:04 PM PST
HUNTINGTON PARK — The city of Vernon has fulfilled its pledge and has donated a high-tech mobile center to bring computers to low income area residents and help bridge the digital divide in the Southeast cities, according to Cesar Zaldivar-Motts, executive director of the Southeast Cities Technology Collaborative, based here.
Vernon Mayor Hilario “Larry” Gonzales made the formal presentation Saturday in ceremonies at Salt Lake Park, handing the keys to the mobile unit to Ron Garcia, chair of the Southeast Cities Development Corporation Board, the parent organization of the collaborative, and Huntington Park Mayor Mario Gomez.
The specially made recreation vehicle, costing $500,000, contains 15 laptop computers and related technology to provide basic computer literacy training for low-income youth and adults in the Southeast cities.
A trained instructor will travel with the vehicle as it visits different locations in the Southeast cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Maywood, South Gate and Vernon.
It means that people living in the Southeast will have access to the Internet and technology like never before, Zaldivar-Motts said.
The presentation took place during a get connected community program and safety fair, a free family-friendly event targeting the residents of the Southeast cities who do not have a broadband connection in their homes.
The fair featured educational exhibits, entertainment and opportunities to learn about the instant access to communication, information and services that broadband can offer, he added.
The fair included booths from the U.S. Census Bureau, Youth Policy Institute, Centro Latino for Literacy and AT&T, among others.
Demonstration computer classes for residents were held in the mobile center. Plans call for the mobile center to visit community center, schools, parks and neighborhoods in the area to give residents access to computers and the Internet, Zaldivar-Motts said.
He said the Southeast Cities Development Corporation will partner with a number of area organizations to conduct and host the computer lab vehicle.
Information: Zaldivar-Motts at (323) 585-4579.
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