Anybody who's been to the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center has probably seen the new computer lab near the TV lounge. It's a place where seniors can learn a thing or two about computers, but there's a bigger story here: The two keepers of this computer lab have a five-phase plan to teach computer literacy to people as far away as South Africa and Mexico.

Andres Romero and Doug Schocke first heard of one another a few years ago when Romero was trying to find a free computer for a young, single mother who was taking classes at Santa Fe Community College and writing all her essays on notebook paper.

"I told her, 'Why don't you just type it?' and she said, 'I don't have a computer,' " Romero said. "I said, 'Well there are computer labs over here.' "

But the woman couldn't use the college computers because she didn't have enough spare time.

Romero had heard Schocke was doing some work with the Democratic Party to provide computers to people who needed them, so he contacted Schocke to try to get a computer for the woman.

At that point, Romero had already founded a 501c3 nonprofit called Cybernetwork NM Inc., which he had hoped to expand throughout the state. When the pair ran into each other at Santa Fe Baking Company and discussed their plans, they decided to "merge talents," Romero said.

Before Romero came along, Schocke was planning to
start a nonprofit of his own, but "hadn't gotten around to filling out the paperwork."

When they merged talents, it became Cybernetwork NM Inc., of which Romero is the president and Schocke is the vice president.

They scrounged up a few older-model computers, and Schocke offered computer classes to seniors in the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center lunchroom. Eventually, an office in the center was vacated and they moved in.

They convinced the state Aging and Long-term Care Department to donate some newer computers and turned the space into a computer guru's dream. It's lined with sleek, black Dell computers that seniors use a few times a week for beginner and intermediate classes.

Making the new lab and reaching out to the first few groups of seniors was Phase I of the pair's program. They are starting Phase II, which includes securing a computer for each senior center in Santa Fe County, Las Vegas, N.M., and Española.

As part of Phase II, they will look to Santa Fe Community College for more instructors to add to their six-person volunteer team in Santa Fe. They will look to students at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas and Northern New Mexico College in Española to help the seniors in those areas.

"We're in the process of working ... to get student volunteers to provide instruction," Romero said.

In Phase III, they plan to work with state and county governments and the private sector. They hope to encourage businesses to donate old computers so Schocke can refurbish them. Those computers will be offered to people who can't afford them — seniors and teens alike.

The pair plan to enlist high school students to help Schocke refurbish the computers.

"It's not a question of just training students in the high school; we want students who are interested in learning about computers," Schocke said. "Any job they get, if they get some knowledge of computer mechanics, then they can basically be the key person in the office — somebody who knows how to fix the Xerox or the printer."

Phase IV is to develop something similar to the Mobile Health Fair Van, but for technology. Romero said they would set up an RV with six or seven computers and travel to senior centers all over the county, offering computer lessons in their mobile unit.

"We're looking at the feasibility of that," Romero said.

Phase V is to take these ideas to other countries. Romero said he's already had inquiries from people he knows in Mexico and South Africa.

The group has applied for grants from the McCune and Kellogg foundations to pay for each phase.

Eventually the duo will move out of their volunteer instructor positions. Romero will become the nonprofit's administrator, and Schocke will be the technology chief.

"Doug will handle all the technical things, like putting together the computers and seeing that they're up and running," Romero said. "I'll handle the administration and management."

They hope to have all five phases completed by the end of 2009.

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3048 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.