A group of seniors in East New York spent the day learning how to navigate the digital world, thanks to a free workshop hosted by Digital Girl Inc, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit, in partnership with C+C Apartment Management for the Linden Houses, which helped sponsor the event.

The class offered hands-on lessons about sending emails, scanning documents and safely logging into accounts.

For some attendees, this marked their first time using Google Workspace.

“I didn’t know Google even had stuff like that,” said participant Stanley Fields. “They’re helping me actually email other people and hopefully hear back.”

Volunteers stood by to assist with everything from typing to navigating unfamiliar icons.

At one point, seniors completed a mock medical form and submitted it digitally—an exercise designed to simulate common real-world tasks.

“If you want to fill out a doctor form or apply for a job, you’d know how to do it,” said Janet Hunt, who says she's grateful to the many volunteers.

Toni Robinson, CEO of Digital Girl Inc., emphasized the importance of internet safety for older adults, making them more self-sufficient.

“We’re showing them which websites are safe and which are not. Which links they can click and which to avoid,” she said.

The initiative is part of News 12 Brooklyn’s “Rebuilding Brooklyn” series, which highlights community-driven efforts across the borough.

Organizers say the goal is to give seniors the confidence to manage their own online lives—so they won’t have to rely on others who may not have good intentions.

“They won’t catch me up,” Fields added. “I know how they operate.”

Digital Girl says this was the latest of their series of classes at the property and hope to expand the program moving forward.