Only two New Yorkers made the list of Time magazine's "25
Most Influential Hispanics in America," and their influence
can hardly be called positive.
The entertainer Jennifer Lopez was chosen because she rose from
humble beginnings in the Bronx to being known to the world as J.
Lo.
The current national director of the American Civil Liberties
Union, Anthony Romero, is the other. Mr. Romero was listed as No.
5 in the book "100 People Who Are Screwing Up America"
by Bernard Goldberg. Under Mr. Romero's rule, the ACLU has become
an absolutist organization that rejects all government efforts to
fight terrorism.
Surely, New York can muster up less dubious nominees, but, as I
counted only two Hispanic names among the 20 or so writers of the
article, perhaps the problem is a lack of familiarity with those
whom we Hispanics consider truly influential.
In this town, those who make a positive difference in our lives
are rarely showered with attention, unless they are politically
connected with a liberal elitist agenda. One of our true heroes
is virtually unknown, but what he has accomplished is nothing
less than extraordinary. With private donations, his nonprofit
organization does far more for the poor of the city than many
government-financed programs do.
Plinio Ayala, born and raised in the Bronx, is CEO and president
of Per Scholas, a unique organization that provides free - I
repeat, free - computer training to those in need. Closing the
digital divide is not only a possibility but also a reality,
thanks to Per Scholas, which operates a huge facility in the
South Bronx.
The organization trains disadvantaged men and women between 18
and 55 for jobs as computer technicians. Unquestionably, the jobs
of the future will be in high-tech industries, but the problem is
that too few workers can afford the training and certification
that are required for those positions. Per Scholas offers
qualified applicants an intensive three-month program, which
includes three weeks of an on-the-job internship paying minimum
wage. It offers two courses of study: computer technician
training, which leads to A+ certification, and office equipment
repair technician. The next class starts Friday and ends December
9. Interested parties should contact Linda Lopez at 718-772-0599.
Per Scholas was established more than a decade ago with the
express purpose of bringing technology to nonprofit organizations
and low-income families in all five boroughs. A key part of its
activities involves the recycling of computer equipment from
large corporations. A licensed recycler, to date it has recycled
more than 300,000 computers, trained more than 800 computer
technicians for careers in the field, and helped more than 25,000
families gain access to information technology.
Only computers from corporate offices, equipped at a minimum with
Pentium III processors and having a speed of at least 533
megahertz, are accepted for donations to the program. They are
then thoroughly reconditioned, tested, cleaned, and packaged for
shipment.
Per Scholas also offers complete lowcost computer systems for
only $245. Each comes with new peripherals, keyboard, CD-ROM
drive, modem, network card, sound card, and speakers, and a
one-year guarantee.
I visited the operation at 1231 Lafayette Ave. in the South
Bronx, which is in a converted mint facility. Its 100,000 square
feet is a beehive of activity. Old computers must be disposed of
properly. If they're working they can be donated, or their owners
must pay fees to have them removed by certified recyclers. Per
Scholas has a $1.3 million machine that shreds the equipment and
sorts and converts it into reusable raw materials. Leaded glass
that might otherwise end up as hazardous waste in landfills is
disposed of properly, and valuable materials including copper,
aluminum, and ferrous metals are separated for sale and reuse.
The company charges only a very small pickup fee. Anyone needing
to dispose of a computer can contact Angel Feliciano at the same
telephone number.
My guide, Damon Howard, the managing director, explained that in
addition to the training, students are given career guidance
skills, such as practice interview sessions, dress codes, and
assistance in writing resumes and filing applications.
Once again, I am learning about the unsung heroes in our city,
and they are legion. Mr. Ayala may be the engine that's moving
the community into the 21st century, but it would be a much
harder job without the cooperation of the many corporations and
foundations that have partnerships with Per Scholas.
Throughout my tour, one question kept popping up in my mind: Why
hadn't I heard about this wonderful program and Plinio Ayala
before?
But maybe my priorities are completely out of whack and I'm just
not on the same wavelength as Time magazine. Then again, has
anybody over there seen "Gigli"?