Gift Brings Computer Age to Oak Forest Community

Thanks to computers donated by the UALR School of Mass Communication, the Oak Forest United Methodist Church in the University District is offering free English as a Second Language (ESL) and computer classes to community members. The department donated 12 Dell computers to Children International at UALR, which provides more than 15,000 children in Little Rock Public Schools with educational enrichment, health care, and family assistance. Children International in turn is leasing nine of the computers for a $1 a year to the Oak Forest church’s community education center in the heart of the University District, which encompasses the neighborhoods and commercial areas surrounding the metropolitan campus. “Watching someone sit in front of a computer for the first time is amazing,” said Dr. Russ Breshears, pastor of the church located at 2415 Fair Park Blvd. in Little Rock. He also teaches composition in UALR’s Department of Rhetoric and Writing. “One lady from El Salvador pecked out the name of a newspaper from her country and was thrilled when the newspaper appeared on the screen. Another immigrant from Nicaragua had never used e-mail before. We helped him open his first e-mail account, and he can now e-mail his wife and child in Managua.” Mark Giese, associate professor in the School of Mass Communication, said the donation came after the school upgraded its computer network. “We wanted to be sure the computers we were no longer able to use in our program were still going to be put to good use,” he said. “The UALR community works to support efforts of the University District, and Oak Forest’s education classes with outreach enhancing the skills of area residents are a worthy program to support.” The ESL and computer class for Central American immigrants runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Sundays, and a computer class for senior citizens is scheduled for 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. The classes are offered in six week intervals and run through the end of the spring semester. No registration is required for the classes that are open to the public. For more information about the classes, call the Oak Forest church office at 501.663.9407.