On Friday, July 18, fifteen Nashvillians, ages 50s to 70s, graduated from Nashville Public Library’s Digital Inclusion Cyber Seniors program at the Pruitt Branch.
Cyber Seniors is designed to bridge the digital divide by equipping older adults with essential technology skills over a five-week course. Thanks to support from the West End Home Foundation and GFiber, each participant receives one-on-one mentoring, graduates with a new tablet, and guidance on accessing low-cost internet service to continue using their new skills at home.
This session was the first time Cyber Seniors was hosted at an NPL branch. “We tested out offering other digital inclusion programs at branches, and the response was so great we ended up with waiting lists,” said Marian Christmon, Program Manager of Digital Inclusion. “So we decided to host Cyber Seniors at a branch.” Pruitt was chosen for its large meeting room, making it a perfect location for both the weekly classes and graduation ceremony.
“This group showed incredible commitment,” said Marian, each pushing through personal challenges to be there every week. One participant balanced coursework while serving as the full-time caregiver for her mother. Two graduates experiencing homelessness were referred to the program by Pruitt Branch Manager Raymond Kinzounza. Some even continued to attend despite facing serious health challenges. “They never missed a class,” Marian said.
Teen mentors play a big role in supporting the seniors, with some returning to volunteer year after year. Destiny, a teen mentor participating for the third summer, shared how much she enjoyed working with the seniors and how proud she was to see them succeed during her graduation speech.
“The interactions between the seniors and the teens were just terrific,” Marian said. “This was a labor of love for all of us involved. While the seniors were learning technology, we were learning about life. The teens got to hear stories and experiences they’ve only read about. We’ve really met some incredible seniors over the years.”
Last year alone, Digital Inclusion provided 505 one-on-one tech help sessions, hosted 118 in-person classes, and distributed devices to 236 older adults. Of those served, 99% reported feeling more confident in using digital tools and said they planned to apply what they’d learned in everyday life. Thanks to your support, Cyber Seniors transforms the way older adults stay connected to information and the people they love.
Learning should last a lifetime. With gifts made to the Foundation, you can empower the next class of Cyber Seniors to continue doing so.