This executive director dreams of reviving her nonprofit’s dilapidated computer lab

Two years ago, Alison Windle, who had just become executive director of the Neighborhood House in Southbridge, walked into the Family Tech Center on the building’s third floor. The room was silent. There was no one in it. The program had shut down eight years ago and no one had used the room since then. The size of the old model computers poking out of giant cutouts of computer desks illustrated just how long it had been.
Knowing there was a need in the community, Windle set out to develop a program to use the space for its intended purpose. The organization didn’t have the money for the equipment or staff, but that didn’t stop Windle. She formed a steering committee and invited volunteers from the tech community to join “and show us what we need to go down this road, [to say] this is what tomorrow looks like in tech, so take this path.”
In the meantime, Windle has found support from Zip Code Wilmington, Delaware Tech adjunct professor Lawrence Kennedy, Wilmington City Councilwoman Rysheema Dixon, among others. Dixon’s Rysheema Dixon Technology Assistance Foundation just gifted the center 12 new computers, but without further funding or assistance, it will be a huge challenge to get five more computers the program needs for Windle to reach her goal of opening the Neighborhood House Empowerment Center in time for classes this September.
Windle envisions the Neighborhood House Empowerment Center as a place for 16-24 year olds who are not employed, who are underemployed, have dropped out of school or would like to continue their education, to receive certified tech-related training, entrepreneurship and job skills classes. Adults would have access to GED classes, skills training, tech education and internet resources. There would be a 5,000-book library supported by Wilmington Library.
These provisions are critical for some of Wilmington’s disadvantaged residents. The Southbridge community in particular has longstanding economic, educational, social and environmental challenges. When asked what major barriers residents face when it comes to technology training and education, Windle explained that many Southbridge residents don’t have computers in their homes, and they rely on the Southbridge Neighborhood House and public libraries to access the internet. Windle says with the Empowerment Center, people would have better access to opportunities acquired through improved tech skills and education.
Just like other Southbridge Neighborhood House programs, the Empowerment Center will offer classes to residents at no charge. That’s a huge undertaking for an organization that splits the time of its executive director between two communities. Windle is also the executive director of the Middletown Neighborhood House. With the responsibilities of two community organizations on her plate and little funding, Windle relies on community support and is not hesitant to ask for insight and guidance. “We would love input. We would love volunteers. Help us get this off the ground,” she asks.
With a lack of funding to serve a financially and socially distressed community with few resources, Windle knows the odds of success for the Empowerment Center are low, but she isn’t backing down, “We’re going to open all those possibilities up for this neighborhood and surrounding areas.”
Reach out if you want to help.