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INFO - BITS Byte Back’s Online Newsletter | May 2014 Table of Contents 

Our 8th Annual Community Computer Day

Games, BBQ, and

By: Erika Baumann, Computer Instructor

Learning: Our 8th Annual Community Computer Day 

Success Story: Raphael Hagos

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Student Spotlight: Michael Williams

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Volunteer of the Month: Matt Snyder

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Byte Back Students Testify Before DC City Council

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Heartbleed Virus Exposes More Dangers in the Digital Divide

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Five Questions with an Instructor: Kara Young

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Do More 24 Challenges a Community to Give Back

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Byte Back’s New Staff Members

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Games, BBQ, and Learning:

Additional Resources Upcoming Events Volunteer Opportunities

Rain couldn’t stop Byte Back’s 8th Annual Community Computer Day, as more than a hundred people including students, Brookland residents, volunteers, and staff gathered to celebrate on May 10th. Sponsored by Comcast, this year’s event featured a series of technology workshops, a DJ, a raffle, lots of food, and a kids’ area with a moon bounce, face painting, balloon animals, cotton candy, hula hoops, and games. Byte Back was also joined this year by the Mobile Tech Lab, ConnectDC’s 48-foot truck containing six laptop work stations Ralph Gainer won a laptop computer refurwith wireless Internet access and a printbished by First Time Technology. er. The lab is used to provide computer training to areas of the city with limited access to technology, and to supplement community outreach activities for local organizations. Dozens of Community Computer Day attendees took advantage of the lab, taking a break from the outdoor festivities to check their email or surf the web. In addition to the open Mobile Tech Lab, Byte Back staff and volunteers hosted ten hour -long workshops throughout the day to give students and local community members a chance to learn about technology topics that are not typically covered in Byte Back classes. These included creating websites with Weebly, protecting computers from online threats, learning about computer hardware, using the Internet for healthier cooking, and creating a profile with LinkedIn. Several workshops focused specifically on job search skills, such as writing an effective resume or interviewing. A highlight of the day was the raffle for prizes that included gift cards and various types of technology. Among the enthusiastic winners was Timika Clay, a current Office Track student at the Hill Center, who went home with a brand new tablet. Specialized computer workshops, such as The grand prize – a laptop computer refurbished this one on web design, were offered for by Ronald Wade of First Time Technology – free throughout the day.

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went to Ralph Gainer, who said he plans on using it to go online and use websites like eBay. Despite the weather, Community Computer Day was a success. Kelley Ellsworth, Byte Back’s executive director, said, “I just loved how the rain brought us all together and made it feel like one happy family. It was so great to see people dancing in the rain!”

Success Story: Raphael Hagos By: Jessica Bates, Communications Associate Just a few months ago, Raphael Hagos was working in a bar. His only background in computers was the time he’d spent working at Circuit City. With a “basically useless degree” in political science and “no preparation for a career,” he decided to reconsider his options. Enrolling in Byte Back’s certification classes gave him what he needed to land a job he could get excited about. At first, Raphael wasn’t sure that the IT field was for him and he says it didn’t really click until he got to do some hands-on learning in Byte Back’s PC Hardware class. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, wow, this is fun!’” he says. “After that, everything started to move faster.” It had been awhile since he’d been in a classroom and he Continued www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395 | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

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appreciated the structure and guidance that his teachers gave him. They also gave him some much-needed advice on how to kickstart his new career. “They gave me a proper path. IT is a vast, vast field. I spoke with [my instructors] Mike and Scott about what I was really interested in and [they told me] the proper path to get there,” Raphael says. Though his classes gave him the knowledge he needed, his internship solidified his new skills. “As great as the classroom was, and it was great, I think [First Time Technology] gave me something else I didn’t have – a place to apply that knowledge” he says. “The [classes] teach you the process and the [internship] teaches you that sometimes these processes are going to have hiccups. It taught me how to adapt.”

Raphael Hagos

Raphael got a chance to show off his new skills during his job search. At the interview for his new job, he was asked to fix a real computer problem in front of three managers. “There was no pressure, because it was all stuff I’d seen before,” he says. “I knew that if I didn’t know what it was right off the bat, I knew what to look for.” His performance earned him a new job as a General Dynamics contractor at the US Patent Trade Office. He describes the position as “better than entry-level” and a job that he would have been nowhere near qualified for a year ago. Byte Back Job Developer Abdullah Alnassar describes Raphael as a hardworking and focused student. “I think his experience shows that if you work hard and participate in all aspects of the program it can very quickly get you the necessary requirements to get you in the industry,” Abdullah says. Raphael credits Abdullah and other Byte Back staff with helping him to strategically target his job search: “They were the people I needed. The right people at that point in my life. They laid it out for me” Though his new job is keeping him busy, Raphael takes time to keep in touch with his classmates. “I made a lot of friends who I talk to literally every day,” he says. He and his fellow graduates area already supporting each other’s new careers by sharing new job postings and advice. Raphael’s thrilled with his new career, and he’s happy he decided to make a change in his life. “It’s a fresh start. I’m in a professional setting, I’m getting security clearances, things like that. It’s a big change. Things are great.”

Student Spotlight: Michael Williams By: LaTierra Piphus, Computer Instructor Enterprise DC student Michael O. Williams knows an opportunity when he sees it. After working for postsecondary institutions for 20 years, Michael noticed a “gap” in service when it came to student conversion rates, or getting potential students converted into enrolled students, then getting that same group of enrolled students converted into graduating students. Recognizing the assistance he could provide to this and other proprietary schools gave him just the spark he needed to further develop and expand his business venture, The Better Image Group. Michael’s approach helps schools attract more students by ensuring that these students are satisfied with the quality and cost of the education they receive. Proprietary or for-profit institutions have been facing challenges Continued www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395 | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

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such as the economic downturn, the rise in post-secondary education costs, and new restrictions by the federal government. New regulations require higher graduation rates from for-profit schools like University of Phoenix, Strayer and DeVry. Schools that fall short of these requirements may lose access to financial aid from the government. With his experience, Michael knew that these schools would need additional help finding and retaining students. His business and development consulting enterprise utilizes his wealth of firsthand experience with proprietary schools to train and develop departments like admissions and academic affairs to recruit, retain and reward the student populations they serve. As a student in Enterprise DC, a program created and implemented by Michael Williams Byte Back, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF), and the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC), Michael spends four hours a day, four days a week in class at Byte Back. Though he already has extensive industry knowledge, these courses are helping him gain critical business skills in areas like graphic design, QuickBooks accounting, web design and Microsoft Office products. His next steps are to acquire his DC business license, contact people in his network as possible investors, and reach out to proprietary schools as potential customers. Let’s wish Michael well as he continues to generate more and more opportunities, both large and small.

Volunteer of the Month: Matt Snyder By: Erica Young, Computer Instructor It’s been an exciting month for community volunteer Matt Snyder. Matt recently accepted a new job, celebrated his birthday in April, and was chosen to be our volunteer of the month! Matt first became interested in volunteering with Byte Back after seeing our office on his way home. This turned out to be a happy coincidence. “I already had an urge to be involved in computer literacy,” he says. “It’s amazing how there can be such a big gap for people...because of their economic background, age or other factor.” Matt has been teaching a Microsoft Office class twice a week since March, while working full-time as a senior IT analyst with the federal government. Matt loves teaching and says his favorite part is seeing “everyone so happy to be there and so engaged in what they’re doing.” It is clear that Matt is not the only one who enjoys the class. One student described him as “the bomb teacher” with “the bomb class.”

Matt Snyder

His advice for other people thinking of volunteering with Byte Back is “to trust your students and go in and have fun. They learn more when it’s fun and more interactive.” Matt gets his students more involved in the learning process by letting them come to the podium and teach back a lesson to their peers. Byte Back and his students have been lucky to have Matt as an instructor. If you see Matt, be sure to wish him happy birthday and congratulations on his new job as a Business Analyst, which he will start this month!

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Byte Back Students Testify Before DC City Council By: Jessica Bates, Communications Associate Earlier this month, the DC City Council Committee on Education met to discuss the upcoming budgets for many critical education resources in the district. Byte Back students and staff came to support the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Two Byte Back students, Michael Watson and Sharon Chambers, testified about their own positive experiences with Byte Back’s OSSE-funded classes. Executive Director Kelley Ellsworth testified about the efficacy of these programs and the positive impact they can have on individuals and communities. Below are some excerpts from the testimonies. You can view a full video of the hearing on the DC City Council website.

“This class has given me confidence in my abilities and made me employable in the IT field. I will be receiving my A+ certification within the next few weeks. At this juncture, I am able to compete with people who are half my age or less in the current job market. It has increased my level of competence.” Michael Watson, Byte Back student

“For a while, I have all but given up seeking employment after a number of disappointing interviews that yield no jobs. However, my enrollment into the Byte Back School has re-energized and encouraged me to move forward. I am now on solid ground and recognize that the sky is the limit.” Sharon Chambers, Byte Back student

“This year, Byte Back received a grant through the partnership between OSSE and DOES to provide computer literacy and computer certification class to 307 unduplicated district residents. As of the end of March, the mid-point of the evaluation period, we have already served 265 individuals or over 86% of our goal.” Kelley Ellsworth, Byte Back Executive Director

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Heartbleed Virus Exposes More Dangers in the Digital Divide By: Yuris Martinez, Community Engagement Coordinator In early April, a major flaw in the security software used by over 500,000 websites was discovered. This breach affected some of the most heavily visited websites like Facebook, Yahoo, Google, YouTube, and Wikipedia. This security bug, nicknamed Heartbleed, has exposed millions of usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers. Even more worrying is that this flaw has been undetected for two years. One way to understand the severity of the Heartbleed bug is to imagine a home. You go on vacation not knowing your front door has a broken lock. Until you fix the lock it is entirely possible that someone will walk into your home or already has. There is no way for you to check if you were affected while your lock was broken. Although the attention on the Heartbleed bug has decreased in the recent weeks this does not mean accounts are now safe. Nearly a month after the flaw was publicly announced there are still 300,000 websites at risk from the Heartbleed bug. A Pew Research survey released on April 30th found that only 39% of adults that heard about the security flaw took steps to protect their information by changing their passwords or canceling their accounts. The survey also found that adults who took steps to protect their accounts tended to be well educated and earned more money than other adults in the survey. This data suggests that low-income individuals, those most affected by the digital divide, may be especially vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug. Many low-income individuals lack the computer skills and access to stay informed about online attacks. Even if they feel their information is at risk they may lack the skills to secure their online information. Incidents like the Heartbleed virus make the need for computer access and literacy skills even more critical. While we wait to learn more about the impact of the Heartbleed bug we can take steps today to protect our information and be safer Internet users.

Tips for Online Safety Not every website has been affected by Heartbleed and most websites have fixed the problems with the bug, but you should still check your online accounts. This website allows you to paste a web address and check if the flaw has been fixed for that website. If it has been fixed, change your password. If the website has not fixed the Heartbleed bug, change your password for now and then change it again once website has been fixed. Here are some tips everyone can do to stay safe: 

Create new and different passwords for all your online accounts, so if one password gets exposed it does not affect your other accounts.

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Change your passwords on a regular basis.

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Write down your passwords if you need to, but don’t leave them in plain site by your computer or store them in a file on your computer.

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Use a long password made up of numbers, letters and symbols (no one should be able to guess your password). Check out this link for more tips on creating secure passwords.

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If you ever feel a site is unsafe, you should change your password or cancel your account.

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Keep your computer secure by updating your software on a regular basis.

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Be suspicious of any website or email that asks for your personal information and NEVER give away your password in an email.

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Five Questions with an Instructor: Erica Young Interview by: Kara Young, Computer Instructor Q: What has been your favorite moment as a Byte Back instructor? A: I just love teaching our students who are so excited and eager for learning technology. I’m an excited person and I feel like my energy bounces off of their energy and I’m excited to teach students who are so willing to learn. Q: What is your favorite lesson or concept to teach, and why? A: I really like teaching the lessons on the Internet in PCB1. I really find it fun to come up with ways to explain the Internet and search engines in a way that I don’t usually think of them. Q: What do you like best about living in the D.C. area? A: I’m a brunch enthusiast and I like that brunch is a big deal here. I also like that I’m able to experience different areas of the city while also being so close to cool nature areas.

Erika Young

Q: What do you most hope to convey to the students you work with? A: I would probably want to tell them that I’ve enjoyed having them all in my class. They’re the ones that have made my experience with Byte Back so fulfilling. I get really excited when they email me outside of class. I want to be as supportive to them as they are to me. I have the best students in the world, along with the best cat in the world. When are you going to ask me about my cat? Q: I was just about to. How’s your cat and please go into detail. A: Let me start off by saying that I have the best cat in the world. She is doing well but I miss her a lot. That’s all. I don’t want to, you know, bore the audience.

Do More 24 Challenges a Community to Give Back By: Eric VanDreason, Computer Instructor What can be accomplished in 24 hours? The answer may conjure thoughts of your daily routine: dropping off your kids at school, clocking in and out at the nine to five, watching your favorite television show and making dinner for your family. But if you ask our students what can be accomplished in that time, you might find a radically different perspective. In just under 24 hours of class time, a student completes one of our beginner’s courses. They will finish the class knowing how to access the Internet, how to send an e-mail, and develop an identity in the digital world. In less than 24 more hours, they may master the basics of a Microsoft Office program like Word or Excel, or fulfill the career preparation requirement in their A+ Certification. This time changes the type of jobs a students are qualified for, how they communicate with their friends and family, and their relationship to continuous learning. What a difference a day makes, indeed. The type of progress I see as an instructor on a daily basis is an inspiring example of just how much positive change and growth is possible in such a short amount of time. This is why I’m excited to share some information about an event that will allow our community to contribute to the work being done at Byte Back, all happening over the course of a mere 24 hours. Continued www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395 | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

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Do More 24 is a local movement sponsored by the United Way of the National Capital Area that brings together nonprofit organizations like Byte Back and people like you committed to making a difference. You have the chance to give $24 or more for a limited time -- a 24 hour period happening only on June 19th -- to support us in our mission to improve economic opportunity for our communities. Last year, Do More 24 raised more than $1.3 million which allowed nonprofit organizations like ours to fill holes in their budget, buy desperately needed new equipment, and launch new and improved programs and services. Since the big day isn’t for a few weeks, I hope you become a part of our social media community by following us on Twitter (@ByteBackDC) or by liking us on Facebook (Byte.Back.DC). Follow us to see reminders in the coming weeks about what our students have achieved and the ways your contribution can make an impact on the future of our students. What can we accomplish together in 24 hours? I’m excited to find out on June 19th.

Byte Back’s New Staff Members Anthony Clark Anthony is a technology educator and writer who is passionate about helping people understand and use computers to improve their work, advance their careers, and enrich their lives. He spent eighteen years as an IT trainer and consultant, and earned a Master of Science in Management and Systems from New York University. His nonprofit experience includes serving as the Director of Information Technology for the former Pope John Paul II Cultural Center and as a volunteer for the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. He recently took a three-year detour from IT to work as a legislative director, speechwriter, and committee professional staffer in Congress. A native New Yorker, Anthony has called the DC area home since 1989. Ameer Ludd Ameer Ludd is a recent graduate of University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Information Security Systems. He previously worked as a concierge, and he has interned at Raytheon, a technology company. Ameer attended Luke C. Moore high school in Brookland, where he first became interested in information technology after taking a computer repair class there. He completed Byte Back’s Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) training class last year and is now IC3 certified. In his new role as logistics coordinator, Ameer will be managing our donated computer equipment, including working with donors and picking up and organizing the donations. Nicole Owens Nicole is the Chief Operating Officer for Byte Back. Prior to coming to Byte Back, Nicole was the Division Head of Recreation & Leisure Activities for the City of Norfolk, VA. She oversaw 22 recreation facilities, over 200 staff, a $2.5 million budget, citywide programs, and community relations. Nicole holds a BA in Journalism from Norfolk State University and is pursing her MBA with an emphasis in Not-for-Profit Management from the University of Dallas. Nicole served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia and the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. She was named one of Inside Business' Top 40 under 40 in 2013. Nicole is passionate about helping people. In her spare time she enjoys reading, attending concerts, spending time with loved ones, and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs. www.byteback.org | 202.529.3395 | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

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Additional Resources Job Resources for Veterans: Be sure to check out Comcast’s jobs and education resource portal for veterans and their families, which features up-to-date tools and information to help smooth the transition from military service to civilian life – and Next Steps for Vets, a web portal hosted by NBCNews.com in partnership with NBCUniversal and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, that provides veterans and military spouses with employment and education opportunities.

Upcoming Events 

Library Workshops: Byte Back and the DC Public Libraries are now offering a series of one-day workshops at libraries around the city. Check our website for our upcoming topics and locations.

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Tours of Byte Back: Would you like a guided tour of Byte Back? For more information and to arrange a tour, please contact Development Associate Lydia Vanderbilt at [email protected] or by calling (202) 529-3395.

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Do More 24: Support Byte Back during this 24-hour local fundraiser on June 19.

Volunteer Opportunities "Volunteering is the most effective means to give back to your community and to continue to develop the human spirit." - Ted Frazier, Volunteer Instructor We have several exciting volunteer opportunities coming up! These include: 

Supporting Special Events: Teach a workshop or lend a hand at an upcoming event

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Teaching Workshops: Lead a series of short classes on a variety of computer topics

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Mentoring: Work closely with a student on his or her personal goals

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Become a Board Member: Give back to your community by helping us carry out our mission. You can join a specialized board committee such as our Sustainability Committee.

If you'd like to learn more about these opportunities, or if you are interested in volunteering with Byte Back, please email Ashley Luttmer, Byte Back's director of volunteer services, at [email protected].

About Byte Back Founded in 1997, Byte Back seeks to improve economic opportunity in the Washington, D.C. area by providing computer literacy and job training for disadvantaged communities. Byte Back offers courses ranging from basic computer literacy to Microsoft Office to internationally recognized computer certification preparation. Byte Back is licensed by the DC Educational Licensure Commission as a postsecondary educational institution.

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