CR donates 24 computers to Multigenerational Center in Fortuna

College of the Redwoods has donated 24 computers to the Multigenerational Center in Fortuna.

 The Multigenerational Center will put 10 of the computers to work immediately at their Fortuna site, with the remaining computers to be used to support the MGC Step-Up Workforce Program, and for a youth center they hope to open in the next six months. 

 CR has been partnering with the MGC for almost two years to offer free Adult Education ESL classes to community members in the Eel River Valley.  Board of Trustees President Tom Ross, said “this project is another example of CR’s faculty and staff working collaboratively with the community.”

    “The donation of  these computers illustrate CR’s continued commitment to supporting lifelong learning in the Eel River Valley and throughout the District, and strengthen the partnership between CR and the MGC,” said Julia Peterson,  the Director of CR’s Business Training Center.  “The MGC is committed to serving the needs of the Eel River Valley residents through its programs and services, and these computers will increase the learning opportunities and computer access available to the community.”

 The donated computers are full-size towers, with Intel Core2 processor technology.  CR has installed Edubuntu Linux as the operating system, which is an open-source distribution preloaded with excellent software packages tailored for educational use.  This was chosen to allow the MGC to avoid having to purchase expensive licenses for commercial operating systems and software suites.

 The software includes Open Office, Mozilla Firefox, and a variety of Math, Chemistry, Astronomy, Art, and other educational software packages.

 “As we continue to upgrade our classrooms with state-of-the-art instructional technology, we have an opportunity to put high-functioning computers to work in the community, instead of an e-waste facility” said Mark Bernards, CR Network Administrator.

 To learn more about the Multigenerational Center, go to their website at http://www.ervmgc.com/, or visit their site at 2280 Newburg Road in Fortuna.

 

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