September 4, 2012

Story by Abby Warren

The computer lab at Portland Parks & Recreation's Charles Jordan Community Center offers kids, teens, and adults free access to email, internet browsing, job searching and more.

This valuable community asset was greatly enhanced this week when Portland's Free Geek, through grant funding, more than doubled the size of the lab.

Established in 1997, the CJCC computer lab is open to all public, daily. It is used to facilitate programs that help at-risk youth, to host to summer camps and after-school homework clubs, and offers City learning events and seminars.

Free Geek is a Portland non-profit whose mission is to recycle technology and provide access to computers, the internet, education tools, and job skills in exchange for community service. Their generosity has not only doubled the size of the CJCC computer lab, it has also provided new monitors and dozens of cables and accessories.

Portland Parks & Recreation is working with Free Geek to expand the computer lab's reach to offer free computer lessons at CJCC this fall, and hopefully build a new computer lab at Peninsula Park Community Center.

Charles Jordan Community Center computer lab doubles in size, thanks to Free Geek grant

Casey Parks in the Oregonian