National Multifamily Council, Washington, D.C., as well as a number of local business owners and leaders and Residents of Valley Garden Apartments Commonly called a "Neighborhood Network Computer Learning Center," the Valley Garden center adopted the name "Activities Center" to recognize the expanded function of the center in providing a wide variety of services to the apartment residents. In addition to providing a wide variety of computertraining courses to residents, the center will also

Left to Right, Cynthia Yarbrough, Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, Senator Jeff Sessions, and Ferdinand Juluke

computer technology to empower residents of HUD insured and assisted housing to become more self sufficient and employable. A wide variety of courses are available, including basic, intermediate and advanced courses in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and other Microsoft and advanced courses in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and other Microsoft products, as well as other popular software packages. The Activities Center also hosts youth activities, including a Boy Scout Troop, Girl Scout Troop, after school tutoring and reading programs, and other educational study and software programs. Elderly activities include health screenings and social activities. Carolyn Harris, the Director of the Activity Center, gave guided

tours to those attending, including Senator Sessions and Mayor Spencer, shown at left. The management company, Oxford Properties, Inc., has set aside four renovated one bedroom apartment units for the Community Center, Neighborhood Networks Center and Youth Activities Center, as well as offices of the director and assistant director. All computers are internet accessible via a high speed ISDN and/or cable modem line, and residents of Valley Garden are encouraged to "surf the net" as a part of the overall learning process. All residents have their own individual e-mail addresses available, and many have received e-mail from distant locations around the world. The “Age & Distance” record is held by an 88 year old resident who has sent and received e-mail to a relative in Egypt.

In view of the Friday morning timing of the opening, a surprising number of Valley Garden residents attended the opening and enjoyed light hors d’oeuvres. A number of local businesses, many of whom attended the opening, provided valuable services and contributions in the renovation and opening of the Activity Center. Those donations included materials and services, and included painting, electrical work, flooring, blinds, cabinets, light fixtures, cable modem access, telephone installation, and many more. In all, contributions from local businesses totaled more than $10,000.00 toward renovation and moving the center. The center uses software donated by Microsoft Corporation, and additional computers are being made available by HealthSouth .

These business partners are an invaluable part of the ability of the Activity Center to provide services, and illustrate the positive impact gained by business and non-profit service organization alliances. The new and enlarged center will provide services to the better than 600 adult and school age residents of the 302 unit community and to the surrounding neighborhood.