The Seven Valleys Senior Center in Callaway hosted a celebratory event on Wednesday, Jan. 3, in recognition of a Community Challenge Grant the center received from AARP. The grant provided the Senior Center with a computer, projector, and internet for one year!

Suzan DeCamp and Sandy Marino, representatives from the Nebraska State AARP office, came out to Callaway to help celebrate.

“It just so happens that one of the focus areas for this grant is to increase digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills,” explained Callaway Economic Development Director Amber Harrison.

Callaway was one of only 310 awardees chosen from across the nation. With this project people throughout the community can utilize these tools in several ways. They can project the computer screen onto the wall or onto the television. They can also cast any smart device to display on the projector screen. The internet allows access to online streaming services through the user's personal log-in as well as access to many online classes like those offered at no cost through AARP's seniorplanet.org.

Harrison said that Carla Kimball's work on Digital Equity through CNEDD started conversations on getting the Senior Center internet.

'Callaway’s Seven Valleys Senior Center is bridging the digital equity gap in Central Nebraska! Through grant funds received from AARP, Callaway seniors now have access to a computer, projector, and the internet! Actually, anyone can access the internet from outside the facility even after hours,” Kimball shared. “This is just the beginning. Digital skills and literacy training are next on their way down the road map to digital equity.”

Kimball invited everyone to check out the Central Nebraska Economic Development District’s roadmap to Digital Equity in Central Nebraska at: https://cnedd.org/centralbroadband/ The Senior Center is available to rent for a wide variety of events. The facility works great for meetings, classes and business events, football/volleyball watch parties, movie parties, birthday parties, bridal/baby showers, memorial services, holiday gatherings, and graduation parties. The center offers a full kitchen, tables, chairs a pool table, and now the ability to project your favorite sports movies and presentations!

For more information or to reserve the center for your next event, contact Joan Longmore at 970-630-2146.