Red Carpet Opening for Auburn Gresham Family Net Center

Last week, the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) celebrated the grand opening of the Auburn Gresham Family Net Center.  Photo: Ty Watts
Last week, the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) celebrated the grand opening of the Auburn Gresham Family Net Center. Photo: Ty Watts

Auburn-Gresham community residents living without computers or Internet service now have a place to go to fulfill those needs. Last week, during a red carpet event, the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) celebrated the grand opening of the Auburn Gresham Family Net Center.

The new center is part of digital excellence initiative sponsored by the City of Chicago. Entitled the Smart Communities program, the project works to increase digital access and use by families, businesses and other institutions in moderate-and low-income neighborhoods.

The entire project is a collaborate effort between GAGDC, LISC/Chicago, an organization which organizes capital and other resources to support initiatives that stimulate the development of neighborhoods and the St. Sabina Employment Resource Center (SSERC), which provides job training programs to members of Auburn-Gresham and other south side communities.

Dignitaries including Ald. Latasha Thomas (17th Ward), State Sen. Jacqueline Collins (16th Dist.), and representatives from LISC/Chicago attended the opening.

The event featured free Smart Communities giveaways, a chance to win a notebook computer, free computer training for residents and business owners, interactive digital exhibits and digital youth presentations.

In total we gave away 12 computers and raffled off 1 net book computer, said Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of the GAGDC.

The newly renovated Family Net Center is located at 1153 W. 79th St. and includes a local Business Resource Network Center, administered by the SSERC.

The former St. Sabina Employment Resource Center was completely renovated and made more family friendly with 20 new computers including those with age appropriate software, explained Nelson.

For further information about the services provided at the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Center, please call 773-483-3696.

By: Abbra Stiffend

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