Jews in the D
26 | APRIL 23 • 2020
A
s a population especially
vulnerable to COVID-19,
seniors are heavily dis-
couraged from having any phys-
ical contact with anyone. But all
that isolation gets lonely fast, and
many seniors aren’
t comfortable
setting up videoconferencing
technology like Zoom on their
own.
In response, the Detroit Jewish
Coalition, a partnership between
Jewish organizations based in
the city of Detroit, is launching
a new program, Technology
Buddy 101, to help seniors learn
more about technology so they
can stay connected to their fam-
ilies during this social distancing
period.
Community members who are
interested in becoming a “tech
buddy” for a senior can sign up
online and participate in one of
the volunteer orientations. Check
for upcoming orientation times.
During a phone conference,
the Detroit Jewish Coalition
was brainstorming ideas to
help ensure the connectivity of
the community, especially for
seniors, during this challenging
time.
The coalition includes Repair
the World Detroit, Isaac Agree
Downtown Synagogue, Hillel of
Metro Detroit, Cohn-Haddow
Center for Judaic Studies at
Wayne State University, Chabad
in the D, Detroit Jews for Justice,
Moishe House of Detroit and the
Reconstructionist Congregation
of Detroit.
Becca Steinman-DeGroot,
community engagement special-
ist for Repair the World Detroit
and director of education at the
Downtown Synagogue, came up
with the idea after she was help-
ing her parents get familiar with
Zoom for their services.
“It feels like this is a huge
need, and it is something that
we heard a lot from our fellows
at Repair the World,
” Steinman-
DeGroot said. “Even young
adults in the community have
stated that they have been
helping their grandparents or
their parents get on Zoom or
Facetime.
”
Volunteers must be at least
15 years of age and well-versed
in Zoom, Google Hangout,
Facetime and Facebook
Hangout. This program is focus-
ing on the visual connection, not
just phone calls.
“We’
re just asking that our
volunteers are excited to make a
connection with someone who
is not necessarily versed in tech-
nology, can coach someone over
the phone and [are] interested in
helping create that community
feel,
” Steinman-DeGroot said.
To become a tech buddy, vol-
unteers must fill out an online
sign-up, answering questions
about what technology they feel
comfortable teaching and what
they’
re currently using. After
signing up, volunteers will fill out
an orientation RSVP so they can
participate in one of the virtual
training sessions with members
of the coalition.
“The training sessions will
teach volunteers how to connect
with their Zoom buddy and
about the value connection pro-
vides to our community, espe-
cially our seniors,
” Steinman-
DeGroot said. “We want our
volunteers to feel comfortable
and confident on the phone. We
are not looking for technology
wizards, but just someone who
wants to try and help someone
get online and get connected to
their families.
”
Interested seniors can sign up
through email, but also over the
phone. Seniors will also fill out
what type of technology they are
looking to learn so they can be
paired up with the perfect match.
Any senior who wants to par-
ticipate is welcome to sign up,
not just Jewish ones and not just
ones within the city itself.
“We are anticipating sending
out this information to different
senior life platforms, includ-
ing synagogues and senior-life
groups,
” Steinman-DeGroot said.
“We’
re also encouraging orga-
nizations and synagogues who
have senior participants who
may not be present online to let
them know about this program
so they can become connected to
the community.
”
In addition to helping seniors
become tech-savvy, the coalition
hopes that this program will
make the community stronger
and allow for friendships to
blossom.
“We want to ensure, for both
the needs of the seniors’
mental
and physical health, that they
are connected, not only to their
families, but to their community
as well,
” Steinman-DeGroot said.
“We want no one in our com-
munities to be left out during
this time, and hope that this will
grow a larger support system for
everyone.
”
Email Rebecca.Simon-DeGroot@
werepair.org for more information.
Technology Buddy 101:
Creating Tech-Savvy Seniors
The program engages seniors with community members
who can help coach, mentor and support them through
the use of technology.
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER