Austin Free-NetIt is Tuesday afternoon at the DeWitty Center and Ana Sisnett is a popular woman. The lady at the end of the table has a question about the typing program that she's using. Her neighbor is trying to make a correction to her résumé and she needs Ana's help. The man in the corner wants her to check his cover letter if she has time, and of course, Ana has time. She has time for everyone, including the trio of little girls who are vying for computer time in this constant stream of adult patrons. Ana rattles off something in Spanish and the girls giggle and shoo. They live right across the street, Ana says, and they're regular beneficiaries of Austin Free-Net's free computer and Internet access.
As the coordinator of Austin Free-Net, Sisnett stays busy managing the program's computer services which include Internet classes and Web site design. Offered in conjunction with the Austin Learning Academy and officially inagurated in 1995, Austin Free-Net is funded with national grant money. On the Eastside, that has translated into 10 existing computer labs with two sites soon to come. For more info on Austin Free-Net, call 326-9084.
EASTSIDE LOCATIONS11/12th Neighborhood Lab and Arthur B. DeWitty Center (R38), 2209 Rosewood, Rooms 205, 213, 472-5718
Austin Learning Academy Family Lab, 1201 Hackberry Street, 457-9194
Businesses Invest in Growth Corporation (BIG) (R12), 1009 E. 11th, #216, 494-8044
Carver Branch Library (R35), 1161 Angelina, 472-8954
Cepeda Branch Library (E87), 651 North Pleasant, 499-7372
Oak Springs Branch Library (E120), 3101 Oak Springs, 926-4453
Terrazas Branch Library (S16), 1105 E. Cesar Chavez, 472-7312
Community Empowerment Center (R29), 1210 Rosewood, 494-0760
Our Lady's Family Center/East Austin Media Lab (F60), 1817 E. Sixth, 322-0632
New Lincoln Missionary Baptist Church, 2215 E. Eighth, 477-2714
Two new locations are in the works: Booker T. Washington Apartments and Mt. Carmel Apartments.