Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
Transforming lives through digital literacy. DONATE
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Report
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Volunteer Spotlights
    • Learner Spotlights
    • Partner Spotlights
    • Funder Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • WORK WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Community Tech Network Community Tech Network
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Annual Report
    • Our Impact
    • CTN History
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Partners
    • Funders
    • Jobs
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Capacity Building
    • Direct Services
  • Impact Stories
    • Videos
    • Case Studies
      • San Francisco Responds to COVID-19 (PDF)
      • The Pandemic Pivot (PDF)
    • Newsletters
    • CTN In the News
    • Volunteer Spotlights
    • Learner Spotlights
    • Partner Spotlights
    • Funder Spotlights
    • CTN Advocacy
    • Sign up for CTN eNews
  • WORK WITH US
  • Volunteer
    • Become a Digital Coach
    • Volunteer Heroes
    • Application
  • Resources
    • Request a Digital Coach
    • Training Schedule
    • SF Connected Calendar
    • Affordable Connectivity Program
  • Donate
Sep 14

Learner Spotlight: Carlos and Bonnie Perez

  • September 14, 2020
  • General, Home Connect Participants, Learner Spotlights

Big congratulations go out to the first married couple to be enrolled in CTN’s Home Connect program!

Bonnie and Carlos learned about our Home Connect program from a friend of Bonnie’s, whom she has known since they were young adults living in El Salvador. Bonnie and Carlos were enthusiastic participants in many activities at the Mission Neighborhood and Senior Center before it closed due to the pandemic.

Bonnie taught kindergarten through fifth grade in her native El Salvador, and Carlos worked in a warehouse in Guatemala. They arrived in San Francisco 42 years ago with their two children and have always loved living here. They have been married 52 years!

Bonnie and Carlos are grateful for the tablet they received as part of the Home Connect program. Although Carlos had a bit of experience using a desktop computer, they did not have one at home. They did not have a smartphone because the costs of cell service and data are too high, so they had relied on their home landline to communicate with friends, family, and the rest of the world.  

Maria Vazquez, one of CTN’s bilingual digital literacy trainers, was an obvious choice to work with Bonnie and Carlos since their initial five Home Connect trainings were conducted in Spanish. After they were comfortable navigating the tablet and getting connected to the internet, one of the first apps Bonnie and Carlos were introduced to allowed them to use their tablet as a cellphone. In the next session, Maria taught them how to use Zoom, which let them rejoin their friends in the online classes and activities provided by the senior center. 

Bonnie shared her appreciation: “We were pleased and grateful with our teacher Maria; she was always kind and patient while teaching us how to use the tablet and the apps. We love seeing our friends again on Zoom. We use our tablet to order medicine refills, so we no longer have to go to Kaiser and expose ourselves to infection while waiting for the medicine to be ready.”

We imagine it was also convenient for them to have a built-in helper if one of them got stuck on their homework.

Related

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail

Comments are closed.

CTN Stories

  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • CTN In the News
  • Volunteer Spotlights
  • Learner Spotlights
  • Partner Spotlights
  • Funder Spotlights
  • CTN Advocacy

Stay Connected with CTN by signing up for our email list.

Recent Posts

  • June 2022 Network News
  • CTN’s 2021 Annual Report Now Available! 
  • Tech Week
  • Partner Spotlight: Burbank Housing
  • Connect Your Community to the Internet! A Webinar to Help with Applications for Digital Literacy Funding

Follow us on Facebook

To learn about the latest CTN news from the past month, read our most recent newsletter, the June 2022 Network News: ow.ly/tFHH50JFTtb ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago  ·  

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Since the #typewriter was invented, technology has come a long way! Particularly for older adults unfamiliar with new technologies, using a modern computer or tablet may seem intimidating. We work to help people keep up with changing technology & use it to improve their lives! ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago  ·  

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Community Tech Network believes that access to the Internet is a human right and that those without the skills to use a computer are at risk of social and economic disadvantage.

Contact Us

San Francisco Office
1390 Market Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94102

Austin Office
2407 S. Congress Avenue, Ste E387
Austin, TX 78704

General Questions
inquiries@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318

Press
press@communitytechnetwork.org
855-983-0318 x 3636
Media Kit

Explore job opportunities with CTN

Send us a note:

©2022 Community Tech Network. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use