Dec. 13, 2023 By Ethan Marshall
A digital literacy resource fair was held for older Queens residents by LinkNYC, the partnership responsible for New York City’s public Wi-Fi network, Friday, Dec. 8 at the Queens Gigabit Center at the Allen Community Senior Citizens Center in Jamaica.
As part of the fair, New York State Assemblymember Clyde Vanel, who serves as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Internet and New Technology, led a workshop educating seniors on how to take full advantage of the functionality of their smartphones.
Photo by Jake Adler
“It’s always a pleasure to meet with senior New Yorkers and help them unlock the benefits of today’s technology,” Vanel said. “It’s exciting to see the great trainings and resources available at the Queens Gigabit Center first hand. It’s a place where our older neighbors can be welcomed and learn how to use their smartphones to access telemedicine, connect better with their loved ones and essential services and so much more.”
Assemblymember Clyde Vanel speaks at the resource fair.Photo by Jake Adler
This event was held to celebrate the first anniversary of the Queens Gigabit Center’s grand opening. The main purpose of the center has been to assist seniors in getting online and developing digital literacy skills.
Photo by Jake Adler
LinkNYC held the resource fair in partnership with Vanel, the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, the NYC Department for the Aging, Allen Community Senior Citizens Center, Boldyn Networks, the Queens Public Library and Verizon Wireless. Each organization was represented by booths at the event.
Photo by Jake Adler
“We’re proud of our partnership with the Allen Community Senior Citizens Center,” LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin said. “We opened the Queens Gigabit Center together one year ago to foster a more age-inclusive city for older New Yorkers — especially those who have experienced social, health and economic hardships. I’m thrilled to empower the Center’s work to help our older community members build the digital literacy skills they need to take full advantage of online resources available to them.”
Photo by Jake Adler
The Queens Gigabit Center provides free high-speed Wi-Fi, which is powered by LinkNYC. It also offers residents of Allen Community Senior Citizens Center with free access to laptops, tablets and computer workstations. Digital literacy workshops and programs designed specifically to support older New Yorkers as they navigate the digital age are frequently held at the Queens Gigabit Center.