Rena’s Story
Rena McKissack spent most of her adult life as a caregiver. She owned and operated a daycare for many years, but while focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of being a small business owner, she missed many of the technological advancements of the past couple of decades. “I did everything the old-fashioned way,” McKissack said. “No computers, no computer skills, just filling out papers and filing everything away.”
She would have gone many more years sans technology if not for a car accident that caused a dramatic change in her life. The long journey toward recovery opened her eyes to how the world had changed. She needed to work, but even applying for a job was different. Everything was digital now and she felt like she was a remnant of a different time. A friend recommended she talk to the Louisville Urban League and McKissack signed up for the Senior Tech classes as part of the Urban Seniors Jobs Program excited to learn digital skills. Unfortunately, a second crisis struck.
When COVID hit, McKissack was in class at a host agency and was immediately told to go home. As the city and state shut down, she thought her new education had come to an untimely end. With so many determined seniors engaged in the program, LUL scrambled to find a way to adjust to these new circumstances: they went digital.
The League quickly transitioned to providing basic computer and digital skills training via Zoom, establishing a curriculum with weekly assignments. The digital training model allowed seniors to remain in the program, and expand their knowledge through email, online calendars, and other apps. Support with video conferencing helped seniors to avoid the isolation of the pandemic. Using Zoom and the computers donated by our partner, Spectrum, McKissack was able to virtually meet her cousin’s grandbaby in Columbia, Tennessee.
Prior to working with the Urban League, McKissack was afraid she would break a computer. Now she uses the computer for everything. She even applied for her job on the computer. Rena McKissack is currently a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She studied for and passed the licensing exam online and now works with adults with physical and mental disabilities. She applies her new skills in technology by putting her patient notes in the computer system daily. Furthermore, she continues her education with self-paced, digital courses.
