William Woodrum
West Virginia State University Extension
P.O. Box 1000
Sullivan Hall East, Rm. 827
Institute, WV 25112
(304) 766-5747, (304) 766-4274 fax

Jenny Fertig
West Virginia State University Extension
P.O. Box 1000
Sullivan Hall East, Rm. 827
Institute, WV 25112
(304) 766-4289, (304) 766-4274 fax

Neighborhood Networks is a program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through a partnership with Charleston Housing and West Virginia State University Extension (WVSUE). The program focuses on providing technology training and literacy courses to youth, families, and seniors that live in ten Charleston, WV public housing communities. By partnering with local non-profit community development associations, the West Virginia State Community and Technical University, and private vendors, WVSUE has been able to deliver a multi-faceted curriculum to these diverse populations. Neighborhood Networks is also using cutting edge computer curriculum to identify educational needs of youth in after-school programs, track their use of the educational software, and register advances in their literacy skills.

More than 92 programs have been delivered at the various Charleston Housing sites and youth are exposed to learning opportunities daily in an after-school setting. Participation in the classes has been running at or near capacity for the entirety of the program. In addition to formal classes, residents are given the opportunity to work in the computer labs outside of class-time while being supervised and supported by Extension Associates from WVSU. These part-time workers keep the labs open at every site for several hours each week.

By increasing youth, family and senior access to computers, WVSU is developing workforce literacy for this and future generations.

PowerPoint Presentation (PDF format, 231 kb)