The Henry Street Settlement's ATTAIN lab

Paul Vandeyar and Edmund Allicock are Lab Managers at the Henry Street ATTAIN Lab. “We will be starting our new classes in January,” writes Vandeyar, “The Henry Street ATTAIN Computer Labs will offer FREE computer classes in the month of January. There will be morning and evening courses in Basic Computer Skills, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.”

Some four years ago, recalls Henry Street Settlement’s Executive Director Verona Middleton-Jeter, she was approached by the office of State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver with an offer she couldn’t refuse: To take in a state-of-the-art computer facility which would serve the entire neighborhood. The process required more than a little confrontation between herself, then only a short time at the helm, and subordinate execs, who loved the idea, “provided it didn’t require any part of their own domain.”

Perhaps it is a sign of HSS’ strength that, in the end, the proper place was found, on the ground floor of their youth center at 301 Henry Street. The new lab is a credit to their can-do attitude as well. HSS official Catherine Cullen and State University of New York Center for Academic and Workforce Development’s William Chalmers and Vijay Macwan created a stylish, dimly lit Internet Cafe-like space, with screens and keyboards assembled in groups around elegant desks, with extra comfortable, ergonomically-correct seats.

The high-speed T1 connection, the free software donated by Microsoft and the free email accounts are tempting to novices and the Web savvy alike.

For class schedule or to register for classes, call 212-771-6048 or stop by the lab at 301 Henry Street between Montgomery and Jackson.