News  Six Lowell Support Center Participants Graduate From TechGoesHome Program

Six participants of the Lowell Community Justice Support Center were recently recognized for completing the TechGoesHome (TGH) Program. The TGH program is a 15-hour community partnership "to help increase digital knowledge."

The program graduates include: Jose Gonzalez Santana, Timothy Bettencourt, Joseph Jean, April Nickles, Caroline Thompson, and Robert Vallery Sr. In addition to the training, the six justice-involved individuals were given free computer equipment and internet access, including a brand new Chromebook, hotspot internet access for a year, laptop bag, mouse, headset, microphone, and a graduation certificate. The training covered such topics as email, Word, Excel for budgeting, troubleshooting, spotting and staying away from scam/spam, passwords, etc.

"This training will help guide the clients through the ever-growing technology-based world—especially clients who have spent years incarcerated, coming into a digital society, heavily based and surrounded by computers," said Brandon Marques, Senior Clinician Case Manager.

“I am very grateful for this class and to the people who took time to show us how to properly use a computer. Before this class, I didn’t know how to work anything. I was scared to press or download anything. Now, I know what I should and shouldn’t press, and the computer doesn't seem so scary anymore. Thank you for offering classes like this for people like me who wanted and needed to know how to use a computer. I have a lot more confidence in myself now," said graduate Caroline Thompson.