Event Details

Volunteers are an essential resource for providing training and support to libraries and computer centers. They can act as tutors, trainers, and technicians, ensuring that computers get repaired and new computer users receive the attention they need. Recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers can be a challenge for organizations with limited staff.

Attend this free webinar and hear from organizations that use volunteers to support their digital literacy programs. Kami Griffiths, Executive Director of Community Technology Network, will interview Roberta Przybylski, Director of Austin Computer Learning Center to share best practices on how to recruit, screen, provide training to volunteers, and what it takes to retain them for many years.

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This webinar will be most useful for nonprofits and libraries that have public computers and want to learn how to better utilize volunteers to help improve computer literacy and broadband adoption.

About the Presenters

Roberta Przybylski

Born and raised in Chicago, Roberta started her career teaching in Chicago’s public school system. She spent 30 years writing academic, how-to guides, and computer articles for books and magazines. The last ten years before retirement were spent as an independent contractor for Fortune 500 companies as a trainer for corporate incentives. For the last 11 years, she has served as director of the Austin Computer Learning Center, a technical education center for mature adults. The center is completely volunteer driven, with 52 coaches and instructors.

Roberta has conducted seminars on digital photography, digital darkroom, Hi-Tech for Low Tech Seniors, and PowerPoint. She won the Community Technology Teaching Award from South by Southwest Interactive in February 2011 and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in Community Service by Austin Groups for the Elderly in 2007. Her focus is on narrowing the digital gap to make seniors feel more relevant and knowledgeable about computers and their applications.

Kami Griffiths

With nearly 10 years experience working in the public sector, Kami brings hands-on expertise to her work at Community Technology Network. Originally from Minnesota, Kami has worked and volunteered for nonprofits in Minneapolis, San Francisco, Boston, and New York. She is currently the Executive Director of Community Technology Network, a nonprofit that advocates for digital inclusion by providing training, mentorship, networking, and volunteers to underserved communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before CTN, she was the Training and Outreach Manager at TechSoup Global where she developed their TechSoup Talks webinar program and delivered over 100 online seminars. Her career also includes professional graphic design for Global Exchange in San Francisco and working for the City of New York Parks & Recreation where she managed 27 public access computing centers, taught computer classes and managed skilled volunteers.

Mike Wassenaar

Mike Wassenaar is Executive Director of Saint Paul Neighborhood Network in Saint Paul, MN.  SPNN is a community media center which specializes in working with non-profits, community technology and youth. Since 2004, SPNN has been a lead partner in the Community Technology Empowerment Project, an AmeriCorps program promoting digital literacy in the Twin Cities.
                                                              
He is a past National Chair of the Alliance for Community Media, the organization which supports, promotes and defends Public Educational and Government Access television in the United States, and currently serves on its Midwest Regional Board. Mr. Wassenaar has worked in community television and community and public radio for twenty five years, both in the Twin Cities and Madison, WI. He has a Masters in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied telecommunications and film history, and a Bachelors of English from the University of Minnesota.

Event Materials