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Center seeks to bridge digital divide in Alton
By LINDA N. WELLER
The Telegraph
ALTON - A new neighborhood center is designed to "bridge the digital divide" with computers available for residents of all ages to use, while also offering educational opportunities.
Wednesday's grand opening of the Family Learning Center at Alton Day Care, 1004 E. Fifth St., attracted more than 60 officials from the city, county, Lewis and Clark Community College, the Weed and Seed program and businesses.
"This extends education to a new footprint of people," said Dale Chapman, president of LCCC. "It will get technology and information into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn't have it."
Chapman said the center, which offers general equivalency diploma courses, may enable residents to continue their education at LCCC. "It's an example of how Lewis and Clark can make a difference in the lives of families."
State Rep. Steve Davis, D-Bethalto, called the center in the former St. Patrick's School "unique in Madison County; a great experiment."
"Today's a happy day; you got the job done," Davis said.
The Learning Center has 16 new high-speed Internet-connected computers on which the public at first is using to fill out surveys on programs and services they want the center to provide. Until the staff schedules more offerings, the facility is open only from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The center opened after a two-year cooperative venture between Weed and Seed, LCCC, The Siedlund Corp. of St. Louis and Alton Day Care and Learning Center. The director is Margo Swift.
While it primarily targets residents of the inner-city Weed and Seed neighborhoods of Middletown, Mexico and Hunterstown, the center services and computers are available to anyone, said Bruce Bertolino, director of Alton Weed and Seed.
"It's evolving, what we are going to offer," Bertolino said. "It will be a visible presence in the neighborhood where we're needed."
Sponsors say the public will be able to search for jobs, type resumes and do homework.
Valorie Harris, of LCCC adult education division, said the center eventually might offer adult literacy classes, financial literacy and basic computer and e-mail skills for adults and children. She said the center also might begin a family education program with families that use the day care facility upstairs, which would teach "parents how to best work with their kids."
"It will be a community hub for whatever the community needs," she said. "There are so many resources available."
Bertolino said one firm has told him it wants to hold a seminar for homeowners on "predatory lenders" so they don't over-mortgage their properties.
State Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, recalled how he started kindergarten in the room now housing the center. "It is such a great asset for the area," Haine said. "It anchors this part of Alton."
Mayor Don Sandidge spoke about the city's relationship with federally funded Weed and Seed strategy and progress in improving that Hunterstown neighborhood.
Ellen Saville, president of Alton Daycare board of directors, said the Learning Center is in a room originally used as a cafeteria for older pupils at St. Patrick's, which closed in the 1990s.
The room had a string of other uses, including Alcoholics Anonymous, bingo and infant day care.
"I'm really happy we are partnering with this partnership endeavor," Saville said. "Everything we do is to help people become educated."
Others present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Aldermen Phil Hanrahan, 2nd Ward; Joe Maher, 3rd Ward; Fred Young, 4th Ward; and Phil Roggio, Alton director of development and housing.
For more information, call 463-5359 or 468-4101.
lnweller@hotmail.com
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