N.C. Central University has teamed up with the Durham community to form five new community computer labs.

NCCU hosted an information session on Thursday, March 21 to introduce the first of the five labs, the C.C. Spaulding Computer Center, to the public.

The labs were made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Washington DC, and TOP, Technology Opportunities Program.

The session began with a speech by Principal Therman Flowers of C.C. Spaulding Biosphere Magnet School, where the new lab is located.

Next, the C.C. Spaulding Chorus performed a choreographed song welcoming everyone to the new lab.

Later in the program, Marcia Bradshaw, project director and a sponsor from NCCU and Principal Investigator Kenneth Chambers gave a brief overview of the program, its sponsors and its goals.

According to Chambers, the Durham version of TOP is Community Access to Technology (CAT), which is to be known as TOP CAT.

TOP CAT was outreached from another program called Campus of Learning, which requested funds to provide computers for NCCU, the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, McDougall Community, and several other communities and schools.

According to Chambers, the labs are targeting three needy groups: youth, parents and senior citizens who have little computer experience or do not have access to their own computers.

TOP CAT is planning to work with organizations such as the Durham Literacy Council to put programs together for the community.

“We really look forward to this being a strong, positive initiative for our community,” said Chambers.

According to Bradshaw, structured programs that will be offered in the computer labs and survey forms will get the opinion of users to see what they would like offered in the labs.

“The community and NCCU are partners ... we really do have the opportunity to support one another,” said Marcia Bradshaw.

“When I arrived in Durham, what I saw was community computer labs ... this is the realization of a dream that I had,” she said.

With 22 accessible computers and a network printer, the C.C. Spaulding Computer Center is the largest of the five labs.

Each lab will be staffed with 4-10 monitors, coordinators and tutors, consisting of NCCU students, employees and volunteers.

The C.C. Spaulding Computer Center opened March 23. It will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m.-3.p.m.

“The computer labs are a great beginning source for enhancing your computer experience,” said Randy Gaillard, a self-employed handy man. “I enjoy them because it motivates me to pursue my personal endeavors.”

The Fisher Memorial United Holy Church lab opened March 27 .

In about a month the First Antioch Baptist Church lab will open.

There are no set dates for the locations at Shepard Middle School or the NCCU Community Service Lab.

There are no fees to access the labs, but visitors are asked to fill out registration packets.

“Everyone in the community should take advantage of this opportunity to have access to computers in their community,” said Bradshaw.