Paying It Forward: SUNY ATTAIN at the Drew-Hamilton Community Center
Monday through Friday, Ana Calderon-Eugene can be found at the ATTAIN lab in the Drew-Hamilton Community Center in Harlem, hosting digital literacy workshops, tutoring high school equivalency subjects, and helping area residents with career preparedness.
Ms. Calderon-Eugene, who runs the lab herself, provides both one-on-one mentoring and structured lessons, helping everyone from teenagers to retirees on a drop-in basis.
“I have a thriving community of adults and seniors who are seeking to reinvent themselves, hit their own personal goals,” Ms. Calderon-Eugene said. “Not just preparedness to reinvent themselves for a job, but preparedness to reinvent themselves for a new career environment.”
ATTAIN, which is an acronym for Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking, is an initiative spearheaded by the State University of New York (SUNY) to bring digital literacy and career readiness programs to underserved areas within the state.
The lab, which is self-directed and open from 10 a.m. through 6 p.m., has 18 workstations and other resources for attendees to learn and practice new skills.
“It’s great if you come in every day,” Ms. Calderon-Eugene said. “But once you’re hitting your own goals, that’s what’s most important.”
The lab was physically closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. Now, after several months of being back open, attendance and participation are increasing.
“I am starting to see younger adults that want to complete their high school equivalency. They’re coming in and working diligently,” Ms. Calderon-Eugene noted. “They’re committed. They’re doing it for themselves, which I also emphasize.”
Whether it’s to develop digital literacy or resume staples such as Microsoft Word or Excel, or even to learn how to use basic computer functions, Ms. Calderon-Eugene stresses that she can help.
“I have adults that have goals after having a whole career. They maybe have never obtained their GED, but it’s a goal for them.”
She is actively trying to combat the fear, reluctance, and misconceptions that some attendees — who may not have had conventional educational or career paths — have to overcome.
“The biggest challenge that adult learners have is fear — we don’t want to get it wrong!”
Ms. Calderon-Eugene leads the lab, troubleshoots the computers, and conducts the tutoring and mentoring. She also conducts outreach and drives engagement within the community.
To raise awareness, she has been reaching out to small businesses, family daycare centers, and other nonprofits. She wants everyone to know: “We are available, and we are a free service.”
Ms. Calderon-Eugene often hosts workshops during which attendees can work towards various certifications. Most recently she focused on Microsoft programs, which she believes are important for attendees to learn: “People would complete the coursework and then work towards getting certified, which is great for your resume. It shows that you’re current, relevant, and upskilling — which every adult should be cognizant of.”
Ms. Calderon-Eugene knows how transformative education can be. As the daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to complete college, she said this position is a way to pay her experience forward.
“I find this job incredibly enriching, and I’m seeing everything turn the corner now,” she said. “People are starting to come in; my phone’s ringing. Word’s getting around, and the village is pleased. Word of mouth in the urban environment really works, and you have to depend on it.”
The Drew-Hamilton Community Center isn’t the only ATTAIN lab in a NYCHA development. There are multiple ATTAIN labs throughout the city, and you can learn more about them here.