Bringing Computer Club to More Durham Residents

A Digital Navigator assists a client during Computer Club at Stanford L. Warren Library.

Kramden is working with Digital Durham and the Friday Institute to bring our Computer Club to more people in Durham. In 2025, Digital Durham selected Kramden and the Friday Institute as contractors to help deliver their American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Durham.

Computer Club is a weekly open lab where community members can drop by to get individualized support with digital skills, socialize with other community members, and work towards their digital goals. The Friday Institute is working with Kramden and Digital Durham to provide data services and is working with Kramden to formalize our Computer Club model.

Computer Club began in 2022 as a way for our clients to get more individualized help with their digital skills needs. Individuals who have completed a Computer Basics course with us can attend Computer Club, held every Wednesday night at our office. There, participants can practice what they learned in the course with assistance from our technology instructors and experienced volunteers.

This project with Digital Durham is bringing the Computer Club model to other community organizations in eligible census tracts across the city. Kramden selected and trained 10 Digital Navigators (DNs) who supervise the Computer Club sessions and offer their assistance to attendees.

Five Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) were selected to host Computer Clubs at their locations. Each location holds one Computer Club session each week. Digital Navigators and Kramden Program Coordinator, Mounir Nessim, are there to support and assist attendees in meeting their goals.

Mounir has led the project, collaborating with the Friday Institute and CBOs to develop a schedule, identify and recruit Digital Navigators, create instructional resources, and ensure program success.

In recent sessions, Digital Navigators have assisted participants with typing skills, organizing and backing photos and important documents, creating resumes, staying safe online, and making the most of AI tools.

Tim Smith is one of our Computer Club participants, attending meetings at the Durham Literacy Center and Student U. Tim was introduced to Kramden through the Durham Center for Senior Life. He says his previous experience with computers was “very limited”, and he was interested in learning how to use a computer to share his artwork.

He told Kramden that “learning how to become more comfortable with the process and procedures has allowed me to network with others and extend my personal and professional experience. I’m now having more people inquire about my professional custom art services available on the Internet.”

Computer Club Community Based Organizations:

Student U is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more equitable education system, so that every student in Durham can succeed. Student U works to empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city.

Learn more about this partner at studentudurham.org

The Durham Literacy Center helps adults meet their life goals by offering learner-centered educational opportunities. DLC provides free instruction and tutoring to adults and out-of-school youth including adult literacy, GED and HiSet prep, English classes for immigrant and refugee adults, and more.

To learn more about the programs offered by DLC, visit durhamliteracy.org

Families Moving Forward helps provide families with children a stable, safe, and loving environment while they are in the temporary crisis of homelessness. FMF offers after=school tutoring, educational enrichment programming, and early interventions to children residing their shelter as part of a multi-generation approach that aims to break the cycle of poverty.

Visit fmfnc.org to learn more about their services and programs.

Durham County Library – Stanford L. Warren Branch has hosted Kramden Computer Basics courses since 2024. Stanford L. Warren offers public computer access, hotspots for checkout, and a variety of assistive technology for patrons to use in the library.

Learn more about the Stanford L. Warren Branch and its rich history here.

The Durham Housing Authority is a long-time partner of Kramden Institute. DHA has hosted many Computer Basics courses at its housing properties. The Computer Club program is a natural fit for the partnership, expanding digital skills programming for DHA residents.