2002 Member Profiles

(some names have been changed)

Analisbeth - age 12 and Elithanna - age 10: moved to the Clubhouse area in June 2002.Coming  from Mexico, they spoke very little English.  Not knowing much about computers was frustrating for them as they were very interested in making Photoshop montages. As they did not respond well to male staff, female staff interacted with them in Spanish  -  but they remained very insecure and reluctant to follow the Clubhouse code of conduct. After expressing an interest for arts and crafts, they  began to share their time between computers and craft.  Analisbeth’s created a montage of the solar system using paper and an assortment of crafts  - her creation has sparked a wider Clubhouse wide interest in astronomy. After coming to the Clubhouse through summer, they are now better able to navigate Photoshop’s English menu and have started a scrap-booking project using Photoshop and scanned images. Their interaction with staff, mentors and other members has also dramatically improved.

Umi  - age 12: Umi is a very articulate twelve-year-old Somalian girl, who lights up the Clubhouse with her enthusiasm and energy. She is also well known and appreciated for the traditional soup she made for the end of her mother’s Somali computer basics class (in the adjacent computer classroom). Umi began coming to the community computer lab at the Sorenson Center soon after her family arrived as resettled refugees in Salt Lake City . At that time, over three years ago, the Computer Clubhouse did not exist. When it opened Umi became a founding member. In the course of her Clubhouse experiences, she has tried almost  everything the Clubhouse offers. In fact she is often so vibrant and curious that she has a hard time focusing on just one thing to completion. However, this year she has worked on and finished several projects including posters, tee shirt designs, and is now in the process of creating her own web page. She has become very clear and reflective about her projects and the steps involved in their completion. She confidently uses Photoshop with a scanner among other Clubhouse tools. She also enjoys creating music in the music room and dancing.

Hemen age 18:  Walk into the music room on a Thursday afternoon and you can count on listening to the latest rap creation by Hemen. Stories about this remarkable Kurdish student have appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune and on local radio programs. A Swedish record label has accepted his first-of-a-kind Kurdish rap music created and recorded in the small Computer Clubhouse studio. His interest in music began as a young boy in the Kurdistan region of Iraq where he roamed the streets and made street music with other kids, singing and playing drums made from tomato cans. His family left Iraq in 1996 after threats were made to kill his father who had worked as a CIA bodyguard. As he moved to various places to find a settled home, he never thought he would one-day be an international singer and songwriter. But that was before he found his way to the Clubhouse’s music room. The Clubhouse provided him with a professional studio at no cost and a supportive environment in which to work on his music. The resulting songs and CD that tell of his difficult journey and the Kurdish people’s need for freedom, are taking him into lands far from Utah . His current project is an English language rap CD to broaden his audience.

Roger - age 10 and brother Stevie - age 8:  Both moved from the Midwest two months ago as their mother wanted to live closer to her boyfriend in Salt Lake City . When they first arrived they were staying in a homeless shelter, and would play computer games for up to 6 hours on the Internet in the Computer Center ’s adult room while their mother and boyfriend played online chess.  Due to a lack of social interactions, as well as possibly some developmental disabilities, they regularly had outbursts of anger and frustration.  In the Clubhouse environment, they have turned out to be computer wizards. After one session on KidPix, Clubhouse staff noticed that they were really keen on manipulating pictures and introduced them to Photoshop.  On that very same day, they were able to complete fairly complex projects for their age and have since moved on to basics of computer and file management.  Still shy and often unable to express themselves, periodic behavior issues still occur but they are looking forward to Clubhouse time.  Proud of showcasing their creations, both are slowly becoming calm and more patient.

Titus - age 9:  has been a member since the Sorenson Clubhouse opened in November 2001. He generally comes everyday with his older brother and his cousin. At the beginning, constant bickering and teasing with his siblings made it hard for him to keep focused and Clubhouse staff had to often intervene. After a few months, primarily focusing on Contraptions, he expanded his horizons and got involved in video game designs using RPG maker and basic Flash animations. Since then and he has been very creative with technology and engineering tackling projects such as Claymation, Painter drawings or hydraulics propelled Lego vehicles.

Lena - age 12: Lena has been a Clubhouse member since July 2002. She has continued to be attracted to Photoshop and self-portraits. She has become the Clubhouse first female Rapper with her song   “Lena and Basketball”. She has already designed labels and jewel case covers and she will soon have enough songs to complete a CD.  She is also acting as a mentor for less experienced members and was especially helpful during the first Girls Day held on October 3^rd, 2002 .

Eric - age 13:   With his father in prison, he has been in and out of foster homes the last few years. He now lives with his mother, sisters, aunt and cousins.   He is always respectful and courteous, Mike collaborates side by side with most Clubhouse regulars, usually working on LEGOS, or recording his own music. The last couple of months Eric's  family has been living in a motel– during this time he spent a lot of time at the Clubhouse hanging out and visiting with staff and mentors.  In the last week, we learned his family secured a house to rent that is about 10-15 miles away from the Clubhouse – we hope he will be able to continue find ways to come to the Clubhouse.  

Aaron - age 17:  Aaron was a Clubhouse member and AmeriCorps representative this year.  Aaron completed his one-year term on June 30, 2002.  He spent each day at the Clubhouse exploring and learning how to use new tools in graphic design application. Often in the Clubhouse six days per week, he mentored other kids and adults using software applications and helping them explore their interests.  After his high school graduation in June, he will start college at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Aaron was selected to attend the Teen Summit in Boston this July. Aaron will continue working at the Clubhouse part-time as a Clubhouse employee until he leaves for Los Angeles this fall. 

David  - age 15:  David had been working at home on loop-based digital recording compositions.  After discovering the Clubhouse, he brought in loops he had already created for use in Acid Pro.  David visits the Clubhouse about 3 times a week  - he now is engaged in a long- term project to create his own CD. He works and re-works his tracks  often mixing beats, burning them onto a CD to take home to write lyrics.  David encountered some technical problems with importing his beats and using Acid Pro to his music application at home.  When working with staff and mentors, he methodically takes the time to learn the technical aspects and configuration headaches that go with digital music recording. When the music room is being used he has begun to explore programs to create his CD label and inserts.