Latino TechNet in the News

The Del Norte Prospector, CO recently featured Latino Tech-net center The Monte Vista Computer Empowerment Center in an article about their state of the art computers available to the computer.

Read article below or click here to go directly to page. 


Window to the world opens here

Posted: Friday, Oct 26th, 2012

MONTE VISTA — Located in the heart of Monte Vista on the top floor of the Sunflower bank is a gateway to the world.

Through a partnership with the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC), new, high-tech broad band technology is available to the citizens of the San Luis Valley. In the Monte Vista center, access to five computers is provided for free to the public. The computers are fast, with built-in webcams and access to the internet. Classes are offered on topics ranging from basic computer literacy to Rosetta Stone to using social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to better market yourself or your business.

The Monte Vista Computer Empowerment Center is the second of its kind. In the La Hacienda Development in Del Norte, the first computer center has been in operation since January 2012.

This computer center boasts nine computers with the same access as the center in Monte Vista. Classes are also offered in the Del Norte center, with the same topics offered in Monte Vista.

In addition to the computers themselves, printers and scanners are also available to the public. The empowerment center in Monte Vista has a fast color printer ready to go, while the Del Norte center has a scanner and two printers.

Examples of upcoming classes include training on the use of QuickBooks, Microsoft programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Rosetta Stone. Instructions on how to set up an EBay account, PayPal, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn are available in Social Media classes. These social media classes also will help you to set up your own website or page for your business to help you better market yourself or your products. If the centers’ schedules do not match up with your own, instructor contact information is provided to set up private class time. Classes are open to people of all ages and skill levels. Instructors will work one on one with participants to help them achieve the level of proficiency they desire.

Beginning in November, the computer empowerment Ccenters will partner with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and start offering classes on small business development. Class topics will discuss creating your own website, starting a small business, understanding financial statements, selling products on the internet, creating your own blog, and an introductory class to QuickBooks.

Derek Chase, a visitor to the computer empowerment center, said: “I think it’s great what this company and these computer labs are doing for the community.”

According to Ty Coleman, the Director of Rural Field Operations for CRHDC, “Our computer centers have proven to be a great asset to the San Luis Valley!  Some participants have developed new computer skills that have helped them improve their marketability in the workforce while other participants have found ways to improve their business revenue and internet exposure.”

Emily Strasel, one of the instructors and lab assistant, said: “I think this is a really great opportunity. It’s free, it’s private, and our classes cover a lot of different topics. We have the flexibility and resources to provide classes and equipment based on community needs. Just let us know, and we’ll get started on it.”

The Monte Vista Computer Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is located on the second floor of the Sunflower Bank, at 101 Adams St.

The Del Norte center is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and is located in the La Hacienda Development at 1025 Spruce St.

For more information about the Computer Empowerment Centers, please contact Emily Strasel at emily@crhdc.org or Greg Howard at greg@crhdc.org.

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