The Oak Hill Collaborative has been around since 2012, providing free beginner-friendly technology classes across Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. 

From the basics of how a device operates to more complex digital skills such as resume writing, the Oak Hill Collaborative offers over 70 different class topics to meet the needs of its students. 

Patrick Kerrigan, executive director, said everyone deserves to be connected to what matters most. 

“We have residents who need technology skills to access their bills and schedule telehealth appointments, but lack the ability to get online. They are scared they are going to break something,” Kerrigan said. “We also teach classes to help adults with job readiness and workforce development. Whether in an office space where they need to know Microsoft applications like Excel, or they need to learn online interviewing techniques, write a resume, and apply for jobs online.”

There is a growing need for employees to better technology skills. The National Skills Coalition cited that 92% of all jobs now require digital skills, yet a third of employees have the foundational skills necessary to enter today’s job market. 

That’s where the Oak Hill Collaborative steps in. 

“We start with beginner-friendly classes because everyone starts somewhere different,” Kerrigan said. “If you don’t work your way up to more complex digital skills, you miss critical areas for improvement. If you want to get a job in an office, it’s a must to know how to type efficiently, then you can learn Microsoft Word and how to type job-specific documents. Now, you can type faster and put your skills to good use.”

River Travis, 31, started classes with Oak Hill Collaborative in 2025, looking to familiarize himself with technological developments and for job readiness. 

“I use technology to stay informed,” Travis said. “I also use it for researching jobs, to stay up-to-date on job fairs, creating profiles on LinkedIn and Indeed. I have recently applied for various jobs using the Internet. It seems mandatory now, and to try to accomplish everything from a cellphone is not as easy.”

Technology access is a major barrier for many residents across the state. The Oak Hill Collaborative offers a Hardware 4 Homes Program alongside its educational classes where qualifying residents who complete eight classes can earn a free, refurbished laptop for personal use. Prior to starting classes, Travis only owned a cellphone.

“Oak Hill Collaborative has provided me with a boost to my confidence in interacting with others and using technology,” Travis said. “There are points in time where I have struggled with various aspects of new technology, and to have a resource that exists knowing someone is willing to sit down and help me get reacquainted with something that is different is helpful.”

For others, the access to education and technology is life-changing. Betty Jackson, 74, had never owned a computer and – prior to classes with Oak Hill Collaborative – she didn’t know how to power one on either. 

Jackson said couldn’t afford a device, but thanks to the Oak Hill Collaborative, she now owns her first. 

“I’ve never owned a computer. It’s amazing. I find myself waking up in the middle of the night going and getting on it. I can’t believe I have one. It’s been a blessing to me, you don’t know how much it’s occupied me, and my thinking, and everything,” Jackson explained. 

Oak Hill Collaborative offers classes weekly with a rotating schedule. To get started with classes or for more information, call 330-406-0731 or email oa******************@***il.com.

About: The Oak Hill Collaborative’s main office is located at 507 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

– Article by Elizabeth Coss, Communications Coordinator, The Oak Hill Collaborative.

Oak Hill Collaborative

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