all sorts of interesting stuff

[alexr_rwx]

So I've been hanging out at the Genesis computer clubhouse. It's over by the MLK Center, in the neighborhood of Ebenezer Baptist Church -- yes, that one. It's still not a terribly upscale neighborhood, but it's home to a lot of people...

I've been showing up at about 3:30, a bit before the kids start filtering in after school. Yesterday, Katrina spacedoutsmiles came with, and we hung out, got a taste of the environment, and tried to figure out what was going on... and I tried to help a really cool kid (on the order of 10) named Freddie figure out how to use DreamWeaver, which isn't an immediately obvious thing...

... but today, he was photoshopping a picture of himself onto a scanned "Vibe Magazine" cover, and I could help with that :) It looked pretty good, and he was really excited. Also, there's a highschooler named Mike who's got pretty big aspirations -- he'd been involved with some sort of "conceptualize some interesting technology" contest which was never explained to me terribly well, and he's working on his A+ certification and wanted to know about Linux and programming and the CS program at Tech...

... and there are lots of cute little kids doing stuff, and it's a cultural experience, and to take Richard falun's idea, we need to get more people (perhaps CoC folk) into the clubhouses as mentors, and if it works out well... organize r00twars between the Genesis and Whitefoord clubhouses. You just can't do better than getting urban middle-schoolers trying to spl0it each other...

... er... yes...

... and then hitting the CRC with Richard falun, hanging out at Jake's with Mel delamancha and working on compilers with Mike... and now bed. Yes, bed.

Comments

[zip4096.livejournal.com]

What a kind, generous thing for you to do- you are using your powers for good! :)

[vitamorsque.livejournal.com]

for good...or for awesome?

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Well, on the surface, it's for good... but if we get the r00twarZ going between the two clubhouses, then it's almost certainly for awesome.

[schizobovine.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you guys are having some fun and helping out. I'm not that good at working with kids, but if they need some sort of technician or back-end hardware guy, I might be able to help out.

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

Nikki, the director from Genesis, is really nice :) You could email her (address on the website) and ask, and I'm sure she'd get right back to you.

Good work my friend

[dramamamalama.livejournal.com]

That is awesome that you are helping out at the ceneter. The kids there must love you. Excellent!