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La Liga Using New Computer Lab To Bridge Technology Gap New Computer Lab for Spanish Action League

New Computer Lab for Spanish Action League

By Isis Young

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The Hispanic federation and Spectrum have come together to fund a computer lab in the Spanish action League of Syracuse. N-C-C’s Isis Young tells us the significance of this lab for the Hispanic community.

ISIS YOUNG- REPORTER
The Spanish Action League or LaLiga is one of the major helping hands in the local Hispanic community says Executive Director Elisa Morales. And the fellow staff of LaLiga is looking forward to the extra help from technology.

JUDITH COWDEN –
[TAKE SOT NAME: Judith Cowden DURATION:0’12”]
(“If you think about everything that you do, whether you’re applying for college, applying for a loan, you are trying to get information about buying a home.. All that stuff, maybe we take for granted, is done online.”)

ISIS YOUNG – REPORTER
The online connection is something LaLiga and the local Hispanic community has struggled with…

GINA LILEVE
[TAKE SOT NAME:Gina Lileve DURATION:0’08”]
(” Last year we had some connectivity issues, we only had 1 computer. This time we can share the wealth as it were.”)

ISIS YOUNG- REPORTER
[TAKE SOT NAME:Isis Young DURATION:0’12”]
(” 30 laptops, just like this one were donated to the new spectrum computer lab in the Spanish action league, Which is aiming to bridge the technology gap in the Syracuse community, especially with teenagers.”)

ELISA MORALES
[TAKE SOT NAME:Elisa Morales DURATION:0’16”]
(“What we will be doing with them is helping our kids, so that they can fill out college applications, working with parents and kids so that we can help them with FAFSA, because financial aid is something that everyone looks to get some. And then be able to pursue their academic careers .”)

ISIS YOUNG- REPORTER
And Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh believes eliminating the digital gap can be a step out of poverty for some in the community.

SYRACUSE MAYOR BEN WALSH

[TAKE SOT NAME:Mayor Walsh DURATION:0’17”]
(” And when we talk about barriers to opportunities, if you don’t have consistent access to computers and to the internet, it is such a huge barrier to working your way out of poverty, so they this resource right here at this community hub, at this anchor.”)

ISIS YOUNG – REPORTER
Official hours for the Spectrum Computer lab have not been decided yet by the Spanish Action League, but the first group to use the brand new laptops will be teenagers tomorrow afternoon.

The next step for LaLiga is to add career services and classes for all ages to help with resume building and finding opportunities for employment. Back to you.

ANCHOR
Mayor Walsh is very excited about the lab as he believes it will empower the Hispanic community to use technology to get ahead.

With the help of the Hispanic Federation and Spectrum News CNY, the Spanish Action League or La Liga has added a brand new computer lab. Today was the ribbon ceremony for the opening of the Spectrum Computer Lab that features 30 new Samsung laptops.

Executive Director Elisa Morales believes this is a huge step in the right direction for La Liga as they are trying to bridge the technology gap in the local Hispanic community.

“I would say that about 90% of our clients have phones, but not computers. They don’t know how to really surf the internet and use it to benefit them,” said Morales.

The technology gap is a huge concern of the organization as they have a strong focus on helping the unemployment rate drop in the city of Syracuse.

People sitting in chairs with a laptops on the tables. — CNY Residents receiving instruction on how to use the new Samsung laptops at the Spectrum Learning Lab.

Board of Directors Chairman Judith Cowden says the lab can especially help teenagers in the community.

“Our younger community struggles with filling out FAFSA for college, resume building, and finding opportunities for jobs… with this lab, we can rally put class and workshops in place to assist them in those specific areas,” said Cowden.

Official hours for the lab have not been decided but one lucky group of teenagers will be the first the explore the new computers tomorrow afternoon.

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