Free adult classes being offered at the Anderson Teen Center

Photo by Michael Woodward

Anderson resident Richard Reinders learns to type among free classes for adults.

A variety of free classes and internet access for adults is available at the Anderson Teen Center. Adults now have a chance to make use of the classroom and dance studio space during the daytime while youths are not there. After running the program since January, another round of six-week classes will begin Sept. 7.

Besides providing computer use from 10-12 p.m. Monday thru Friday, classes include a Zoomba exercise class from 12-1:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, a basic computer class on Tuesdays from 12-2 p.m., an English as a Second Language class on Thursday from 12-2 p.m., and a cooking class on Friday from 12-2 p.m.

"It makes access easier to a population that may not have access ... to health information or computer classes," said Barbara Jackson, senior project coordinator of Anderson Partnership for Healthy Children.

"People who come here like it because of the social skills they're gaining," Flora Flores-Perez, special project coordinator said, adding that many of the people who started the class were quite shy.

Anderson resident Richard Reinders, 54, came to the teen center on Friday to make use of software that has helped him learn to type. He said he's improved from using one or two fingers to type. He now knows where the keys on the keyboard are and types about seven words per minute.

Spearheaded by Anderson Partnership for Healthy Children, the program was provided in part by Project Share as well as Mercy Medical Center with a grant through Catholic Healthcare West.