These one day Tech Saturday sessions are intended to provide Harlem families with free home computers along with
the skills needed for successful usage with their children. Other topics include understanding wireless options in
Harlem, honesty issues and Internet Safety issues for families.
Primary focus? Harlem families with a child in the 4th grade or above who have
Hi-Speed (cable, dsl) Internet access, or are seeking to acquire affordable and
reliable Internet access; also those who are interested in taking advantage of
online educational opportunities and networking options via
this innovative collaborative program.
click here for The Children's
Storefront
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click here for the the Wireless Harlem Initiative
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www.techsaturdays.org
Our Corporate Supporters |
Click here to download
the one page application form or you can copy/paste it by clicking here and send by e-mail
Experience a Tech Saturday via a Photo Gallery or Musical Slideshow!
The Photo Gallery
from 3/7/09 and the Photo Gallery from 6/6/09
were created by our Tech Friend Clint Gilbert from Piping.Com who drives from Boston each Saturday morning to get here by 8AM; the
password for each is "techsaturdays" which is the admin password for all the free computers.
Our Musical Slideshow is a work in progress and includes some -- not all -- of the instructors.
Our most recent Tech Saturday was 6/6/09. The next one will be in September or October of 2009. Click
here for the e-mail that was sent to over 150 people on our Tech Saturday mailing list on the morning of 5/25/09. If you want to receive an e-mail alert for the NEXT Tech Saturday, please send e-mail to sb@
. If you do not have e-mail, please find a friend or relative who does. E-mail is the primary way to get notified of the next Tech Saturday and to request to be in the lottery for the next Tech Saturday.
Update Summer 2009: we have given away approximately 300 computers so far.
You can call 212-427-7900 ext 333 and leave your name and phone number on the answering machine. This phone extension will also give you the latest update on the next Tech Saturday. If at all possible, please send an e-mail to 
; if you do not have e-mail, please find a friend or relative to do so for you. Being on our Official Tech Saturday E-mail list is the best way to enhance the chance of being chosen via the lottery.
The phone number for "tech support issues" related to the Tech Saturday computers is 866-586-0999, extension 1023 or you can e-mail support AT wirelessharlem.org using the @ symbol of course instead of AT.
- in 2009 we began our "Tech Saturdays for Young Ones" which involved alphasmarts for students in grades K-3
- no money should be sent in until you get a confirmation number
- we will be picking 20 people by lottery ("out of a hat")
- Each person who gets a confirmation number must send in or drop off $20 (cash or money order only; no checks) with "proof of Harlem residency" and the completed application within one week of getting the confirmation number. You can also bring these items to our front office at 70 East 129th Street.
- We apologize for the delay in getting back to you via phone or traditional mail; we also apologize if we sent you the application more than once. All of us have full time jobs and are doing this on the side to help families in Harlem.
- It does not hurt to call a second time since to make sure you are on the list
Steve Bergen (fax is 781-240-0363 or 212-348-2988)
school address is: The Children's Storefront, 70 East 129th Street, New York, NY 10035
The front office is in building 70 which is next to the BP Station on the SW corner of 129th and Park.
Tech Saturdays in 2008 & 2009
- 01/12/08 (1)
- On 1/24/08 -- Thursday morning 8:30-9:30 am -- we hosted a breakfast to publicize this collaboration
and appropriate 2008 planning ... click here
- 02/09/08 (2)
- 03/08/08 (3)
- 05/31/08 (4)
- 05/31/08 (5)
- 09/27/08 (6)
- 10/18/08 (7)
- 12/6/08 (8)
- 03/07/09 (Special Tech Saturday for "Young Ones" grades K-3) (9)
- 06/06/09 (9-11:30 for "Young Ones" and 12-2:30 for Grades 4-12) (10) and (11)
- Special Tech Saturday for Businesses in in the works but not scheduled yet
- more dates to be announced in 2009 and 2010 (not sure when yet)
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Specifics
- There is a $20 fee (cash or money order, no checks) per family to cover the cost of the workshop. After filling out the application and sending in the $20, you
will be issued a confirmation number. Only those with confirmation numbers will be allowed to attend.
- Each family will receive a fully working Mac or PC that is several years old to take home; tech people will boost the computer with as much
software as possible but we will of course be working from the framework of "software honesty" since honesty is one of the "core values" of The Children's Storefront
- The workshop will run from 9am to 1pm; several tech instructors from NYC schools and The Wireless Harlem Initiative will be collaborating to help make this work and there will
be several students from The Children's Storefont who will be working as interns
- The phone number for "tech support issues" related to the tech saturday computers is 866-586-0999 (Saturdays only, 2-4 pm).
- Click here for the one page document to be signed at the workshop.
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Click here for the list of all the software programs we put onto each disk image
Click here for a list of IMPORTANT QUESTIONS we hope to answer at each tech saturday workshop.
Click here for our planning Web page used for January 12th and beyond
Click here
for info on becoming a CORPORATE SUPPORTER of Tech Saturdays!
Click here
to read the testimony of Michael Lewis on 9/29/08 before the New York City Council
Last revised: 6.06.09
Steve Bergen
For Those Who Wish To Donate
- We want and need mice and keyboards (both Mac and PC)
- We want and need flat monitors (not the big heavy ones)
- We DO NOT want printers
- In most cases, we do not want PC desktops since the time to image each one is too involved
- We do indeed want Macs of all types since they are easy to image
- We do indeed want laptops of all flavor (Macs and PCs)
Thanks so much. Interested donors should e-mail Steve Bergen at
Why LINUX?
- LINUX is open source and therefore free
- We are using Ubuntu version 9.4
- LINUX computers do not get viruses like Windows computers so we eliminate that hassle
- LINUX runs faster and cleaner on the older computers with limited RAM which are the ones we refurbish
- LINUX computers do not crash or freeze as often as Windows computers
- The wireless ROK devices install more easily on LINUX computers than Windows computers
- In fact, we now have come to believe that "Lets Instead Never Use XP"
- Click here for a list of the LINUX educational applications that we put onto each computer
Installing the file for the ROK device
- Click here for the instructions ... once you print them out, go to page 3 and circle the top left icon that
says "Mac HD" ... cross out the other 5 icons which are not relevant to you ... now write in big letters on page 3 that you will be choosing 10.4 in that folder ("the operating system that we are using for the
Tech Saturday Macs is what is called 10.4 or Tiger")
- Click here to download the DMG installer file onto a Mac so that you can transport it via
a memory stick or CD to your tech saturday computer ... ZDA211MacUSB_install_4_5_7_0.dmg (2.5 meg)
Generous Quotes from Several Participants
"Cochrane, Deborah" on February 15, 2008 at 4:32 PM wrote:
I want to thank you once again for the efforts that you put forth to
acquire the computers for the SAT TECH PROGRAM. I'm waiting to connect
my son's computer (# 44) TO WI FI service. Thanks for caring for the
young people of the Village Of Harlem and my son.
Deborah Cochrane, Systems Quality Assurance Analyst
Investigation, Revenue and Enforcement Administration
Unique Tucker on January 30, 2009 at 8:51 PM wrote:
Hi Steve,
I thank the Storefront and you for making these workshop possible. My children are really excited about their computer.
They are able to complete their homework assignments and much more. Thanks again!!
Best regards, Unique Tucker and Family
"Milton C. Brown" on January 30, 2009 at 11:24 AM wrote:
Hello,
The computer that my son (10th Grader at Frederick Douglas Academy II in Harlem) received from the Tech Saturday program has been
invaluable in helping him with school projects and assignments. It has also help broaden his awareness of local and international
matters. Great Program!
Brigitte Vicenty on January 30, 2009 at 10:17 AM wrote:
"Making Tech Saturdays available and having an array of programs installed on the computer has allowed my children to expand
their horizons in this technologically age."
Heather Williams on January 30, 2009 at 7:28 AM wrote:
I have been a Harlem resident all my life and Tech Saturdays is one of the best things to take place.
It gives the children of Harlem a chance to become familiar with a computer.
Rhonda Lancaster on February 9, 2009 at 11:28 AM wrote:
Steve, Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing in Harlem with the free
computer initiative. My family is very grateful for the computer for our
daughter. Please feel free to call on me to volunteer for future dates.
Rhonda Lancaster, Agent, New York Life Insurance Company
Update from WHI Regarding "How Much of Harlem is Now Hot?"
