The two men were instrumental in helping Better Beginnings in Hightstown bridge the digital divide by locating computers, refurbishing them and training people to use them.
By: Mark Moffa
HIGHTSTOWN A Rutgers University graduate student and a bilingual Air Force sergeant. It may sound like an odd pair, but the two were the perfect weapons to help battle the local digital divide.
Better Beginnings last week recognized East Windsor native Jeff Eder ("Mr. Jeff") and Air Force Sgt. Freddy Jara Almonte ("Sgt. Freddy") at the center’s graduation ceremony for volunteering their technological expertise to the organization.
Both men responded to the center’s call for computer mentors when they saw a posting online through a Web site for volunteer organizations.
According to a release from Better Beginnings, Mr. Eder "started to make an ‘impossible’ dream become a possible reality: to place a computer in the home of every student and family as a way of closing the divide."
Mr. Eder, who received a master’s degree in public policy from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers in May, said he was able to solicit about 10 used computers from Rutgers, and about a half-dozen from Princeton University.
Those computers, along with others obtained from friends or through the Internet, were used to replace older computers at the center’s office or donated to families through a raffle.
Mr. Eder, who graduated from Hightstown High School in 1995 and was president of his senior class, attended the University of Maryland, graduating with a degree in government and politics in 1999. He soon will be starting a public sector career in New York.
He said he heard of Better Beginnings growing up in the area, but never knew exactly what the organization did.
"It’s not just a day-care center," he said. "They coordinate a lot of activities."
Better Beginnings is a not-for-profit child-care center providing affordable child care and early childhood education. The center also serves as a conduit for other services, including computer access, substance abuse and violence prevention programs, adult workshops, and literacy programs.
Mr. Eder said his work in obtaining the computers represents less than half the battle against the digital divide.
"It’s not so much having the computers, it’s really more about the education part of it and learning what they can do with it," he said.
Sgt. Almonte tried to fill that role. He taught bilingual computer classes at the center Wednesday evenings and repaired some of the computers Mr. Eder obtained so they could be raffled to families.
"I like to help out the community wherever I’m stationed," Sgt. Almonte said.
He said Better Beginnings provides a needed service Spanish bilingual education unrivaled by most Head Start programs.
Born and raised in Elizabeth, the 16-year Air Force veteran said he often encourages others to volunteer.
"I like to bring my troops and other people to help out," he said, recalling one specific occasion in which the troops brought a humvee for the children to see.
He said he encounters many intelligent Spanish-speaking people, particularly adults, who are eager to learn, but have difficulty due to a language barrier or financial strife.
"I know how they feel because I grew up that way," he said. Sgt. Almonte said his parents were forced to work low-paying blue-collar jobs despite being intelligent and hard-working.
He said he enjoys empowering those in similar situations with the skills to succeed in today’s technology-driven society.
Sgt. Almonte is also leaving the area: He was scheduled to leave for Korea today, Friday, and plans to retire from the Air Force four years from now in New Mexico.
Both said, however, that their experiences at Better Beginnings will remain with them forever.
"I wish I was there longer because there was a lot more I wanted to do for the school," Sgt. Almonte said. He was able to teach adult bilingual classes in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel, and established a network for the center’s computers.
He will draft lesson plans for instruction of Microsoft Powerpoint and Access, however, and e-mail the plans to the center.
Mr. Eder said he now has a greater appreciation of the need for organizations like Better Beginnings, and of the need for volunteers.
"I would encourage more people to get involved," he said. "You can establish relationships that will last a long time."