Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
South Lake Technology Resource Center (STRC) founders Sterling and Benita Reed have just opened their first SLTRC location housed within Hands of Hope America, Four Corners Community Center, located at 16605 Sunrise Lake Boulevard, Suite 3, Clermont.
STRC is a non-profit 501-C3 organization within its Random Outreach Foundation designed to help South Lake area residents with educational and technical resources.
Sterling Reed enthusiastically notes, “We have begun to build our first South Lake Technology Resource Center while partnering with Hands of Hope to help build tomorrow’s leaders today! We are building a foundation that will support the needs of our community, especially focusing on the underprivileged and those without the financial capabilities to buy equipment or to enroll in any basic or advanced educational workshops. We look forward to someday soon having a larger second facility, closer to the Downtown Clermont area.”
Computer stations were recently installed at the Center, along with ten new PC and Apple computers, which will primarily assist all students ages 14 years old and up, as well as adults. Children below 14 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Participants can take advantage of their facility, computers, equipment and workshop classes. The new facility will allow the use of various resources such as resume building and self-taught software applications on the center’s computers. In addition, SLTRC is developing a wide range of educationally-based programs to help its participants with Foreign Language Classes, People Skills, Management Skills, Marketing, Computer Repair, Computer Backup & Recovery Systems, Data Security Services, Search Engine Optimization strategies, Cloud Services, Computer Networking, Cabling of Mac & Linux, Basic Introductions to the World Wide Web, Mobile Repair, Social Media, IT Services, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security Forensics, Internet, Photography, Architecture, Electronics, Robotics Technologies, Hardware & Software Specialties, Website Design, Typing Classes, Graphic Design, Game Making Technology, Leadership, Android Development, Critical & Cognitive Thinking, as well as much more. Registration is available for a variety of courses.
The South Lake Technology Resource Center Board of Directors include Otis Taylor of Give a Day Foundation, Evelisse Bookhout of Hands of Hope, Sterling and Benita Reed.
Sterling Reed notes, “It will take our full community involvement and support to make this a success! Sponsors with financial and equipment donations will always be welcome. With generous donations, volunteer work, grants and services, we will be able to do so much more.” Some strongly discounted services such as computer repair and website design services will be available to families and businesses alike to further offset the basic costs for this program as well as to support growth with more services and equipment going forward. Clermont City Mayor Tim Murry applauded the new organization stating, “this new SLTRC service will be a valuable resource to help prepare our youth to enter the workforce, as well as to help young adults remain competitive in the business world. Many thanks to Mr. Sterling and his team for being willing to take the chance to provide these services for our South Lake Community.”
Sterling and Benita Reed are originally from Chicago. The Reeds have successfully settled in Clermont, bringing their Vibrantek Solutions, LLC Company with them. They offer expert Computer Repair Services, Computer Technology Training, App Development, Website Design and Development. This includes copy and content writing as well as professional graphics and photography services. Sterling Reed shares, “You may be a businessperson who requires creativity in its website design or an individual who wants to keep abreast of the ever-changing and trending software. We offer a variety of professional IT-based services with a one-stop solution. We have a diverse multi-talented team who can accomplish your work within the stipulated time to meet most any challenge.”
The Reeds are using their technical knowledge and expertise to not only provide a business service to the community but to offer the South Lake residents the resources to improve technical skills.
Learn more about For further information, contact Sterling and Benita Reed of Vibrantek Solutions at 708-942-7484 / toll-free at 855-942-7484. Email Sterling@Vibrantek.com, or visit: www.Vibrantek.com.
South Lake Technical Resource Center is now open within the Hands of Hope Center for Social Services located at 16605 Sunrise Lake Boulevard, Suite 3 in Clermont. Visit the website at STRC to learn more.
Hands of Hope America Four Corners Community Center offers many diverse services including a food pantry, a clothes closet, youth outreach, marriage counseling, immigration assistance, case management services, tutoring, SNAP Program assistance and Zumba classes. It’s a community-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals and families facing food insecurity and America’s at-risk youths through mentorship, leadership training, team building, counseling, tutoring and more. For further information, visit HANDS OF HOPE, call 352-432-3824 and email: Info@HandsofHopeAmerica.org.
The South Lake community is invited to visit the center on April 2
