Computer centers to open Internet to disadvantaged

Friday, Oct. 8, 1999 | 11:15 a.m.

Disadvantaged children will be able to join the computer revolution, thanks to a federal grant, community college matching funds and Nevada Partners Inc.

A free "drop-in computer center" is being created at the A.D. Guy Center in West Las Vegas using a three-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education and 30 percent matching funds from Community College of Southern Nevada.

"The people will be able to join the literacy of the new millennium," college President Richard Moore said at a press conference Thursday announcing the project.

The center, which is expected to have 16 computers on-line within the next six to eight weeks, is a joint effort of the college, Nevada Partners, the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club, Ministers Alliance of Southern Nevada, the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation and the Welfare to Work Program of the Nevada Welfare Division.

The second year of the grant will enable Nevada Partners to open a second computer learning lab at its Elias V. Ghanem Education Center in North Las Vegas and in the third year further expand the program at the Guy Center.

The computers will be hooked into the Internet and allow everyone, young people and adults, to research, to study and to play, Moore said.

Moore said it is vital that everyone have access to computers.

"Three years ago CCSN had 80 students enrolled in Internet classes," Moore said. "Today 1,500 are taking at least one class on the Internet, and we expect 5,500 to be taking them in a couple of years. One day, at least one-quarter of all classes will be taken by computer."

Regent David Phillips, who grew up in West Las Vegas, left and returned as a lawyer, said the drop-in computer lab "is going to open doors for many people in this community."

Mujahid Ramadan, executive director of Nevada Partners, predicted the center will increase high school retention rates.

Clark County School District Superintendent Brian Cram, calling Nevada Partners a "moving force in the community," said creation of the computer lab "speaks to the fact that we are all one family."

"We all have to move forward together. That's what's good about this," Cram said.

The center will be open to everyone at no charge.

Moore also announced that the center will be used as a base for a Proficiency Preparation Program to prepare high school students to take and pass the High School Proficiency Exam.

The self-paced program will emphasize math, reading and English. Individual tutoring will be available to those enrolled in the program.