Learning center busy at Chulahoma

Where once stood an old cannery building used by homemakers to can fruits and vegetables is a brand new facility being used mainly for adult literacy and basic computer classes.

The Chulahoma Educa­tional Center is located behind the community center on Highway 4 West. Classes are taught by local volunteers.

The building was rebuilt after the December 23, 2015, tornado destroyed it, leaving the community center intact. District 4 supervisor George Zinn III, along with Rev. McArthur King and others, lobbied the board of supervisors to rebuild the structure, emphasizing its importance to the residents of District 4.

The board of supervisors approved the measure and it was rebuilt using insurance money recovered by the county.

And on June 5 of this year, all-volunteer adult literacy and computer literacy programs were launched at the Chulahoma Educational Center using all volunteers and donated equipment.

Rev. Mildred Mitchell, pastor of Jamison Chapel CME Church and Shady Grove CME Church, is teaching the basic computer literacy classes. These classes are open to the public and free of charge.

You might say, Mitchell is on a mission.

“They (mostly grandmothers) have sacrificed and now it’s their turn. That’s my take on it,” she said. “I told them, you deserve this. It is something they may have wanted to do for a long time. They have raised their kids. I say, you can’t quit, because I volunteer and they don’t pay.”

Some of those taking basic computer classes have home computers and they can send e-mails and look up information on the Internet.

Mitchell said learners are sending e-mails and learning how to send attachments, how to search the world-wide web and other basic computer skills.

Robbie Zinn, wife of George Zinn, and Vadis Lee teach adult literacy. They have their first student hoping to pass the GED after this semester.

Another important volunteer is center monitor Rebecca Young.

Zinn said community churches and the contractor, Sharpe Construction, bought the computers.

Mt. Peel MB Church and Chulahoma MB Church helped buy computers and Wheelock F. Patrick donated a computer.

Computer classes are held from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. GED classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Volunteer Rebecca Young opens the Chulahoma Educational Center at 8:30 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and closes the center at 2 p.m.

The copy machine is available for public use.

Mitchell said the center has been open six months, with the fall session ending November 30. The spring session starts in February 2018. A summer session will begin in June.

Some adult learners are taking both computer classes and GED classes. And some who are learning on the computers are now able to study for the GED online.

Zinn recognized everyone who has contributed to the work of the center, especially Mitchell, his wife Robbie Zinn and Rev. King, Vera King, and the committee.

Advisors and other helpers include Tundra and Milo Gatewood, and Crystal Burton. Also, Jessica Newsom and Bob Milea are night instructors, presently out on  sick leave.

King thanked the Marshall County Board of Supervisors for the use of the center and supervisor George Zinn specifically.

“We thank them for their support in our efforts and for helping us get the program running, especially supervisor George Zinn,” King said.

To inquire more about services, call the center at 662-544-2000, or call King at 662-564-4333 or Zinn at 662-274-0041.