HASI helps ‘reboot’ lab for high-schoolers

Thien Phan, Marcos Posada, and Columbia Nunez, computer whizzes with the Brighton High School PowerUP Computer Center after-school program, enjoy their new and improved computer lab. The new “rebooted” center, dedicated yesterday, was made possible through a partnership with the City of Boston, the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (ABCDC), with funding from the Harvard After School Initiative (HASI). The lab gives Brighton High students state- of-the-art computer classroom space, provides space for an after-school program that teaches high schoolers Web development and programming skills and after-hours computer courses for community residents, both taught by Allston-Brighton CDC staff. HASI also supports the after school program with technical support through Harvard faculty. “Because of great partnerships in this city, this unique center gives an entire community access to state-of-the-art technology. When cities, communities and institutions work together, there is no limit to what we can do,” said Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 16.