Technology Re-Boot

Pictured left: Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest (B&GCMW) staff member Lauren Confort is hard at work at one of the new workstations the B&GCMW received as part of a Sudbury Foundation grant.

For many agencies, keeping up with technology advances  -- especially in conjunction with agency growth – is a challenge. At some point, a major overhaul is required.

That’s just what happened at the Marlborough-based B&GCMW. A one-time capacity building grant enabled B&GCMW to work with a consultant to assess their needs, purchase and install new equipment and train staff. The project featured upgrades to hardware, software and networking that will impact the agency’s communications, fundraising, program development, and financial capabilities.

“The new systems are great – faster, running current software and eliminating a number of daily processing issues we had been facing,” said Fran Hurley, B&GCMW president. "It's been a boon to staff morale as well, eliminating the frustration of slow connections and the inability to perform certain functions."

The final component of the grant will allow the consultant to study how to best update and upgrade the Computers Labs at each of the three Club locations – Marlborough, Hudson and Framingham. Club members of all ages use the labs after school for study and play. Most of the equipment at the Clubs is due for an update but first B&GCMW wants to consider new alternatives based on changing technology and trends, like the use of Chromebooks in Marlborough Public Schools. Looking toward the future, the research study will provide recommendations for state-of-the-art computer labs and address the tricky question of facility-wide wi-fi access to accommodate the increased use of Chromebooks and other devices.

B&GCMW currently serves 3,500 youth age 6 through 18 at its three area locations.

Photo courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metrowest.