Gatlin Education, YMCA and TCU partner to provide free on-line training.

Gatlin Education Services announced yesterday a partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth and Texas Christian University that will offer the economically disadvantaged an opportunity to improve their job-related skills. The program began on June 19, 2006. Gatlin provides free access to its series of online career training courses to qualifying participants at the YMCA’s AMAKA Early Childhood Learning Center in the Butler Housing Community, 1501 Stephenson Street in Fort Worth.

The material will be available to students from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday evenings until they complete their coursework. The computers utilized for the program were recently donated by TCU’s Office of Extended Education. Ranging in value from $1,295 to $1,595, Gatlin’s online courses cover a wide array of subjects including healthcare, business, Internet training and design.

“What we’re providing is a golden opportunity for people to better themselves at no cost, and that’s a chance you can’t get every day,” said YMCA Program Director Ronda Broxton. “You can learn how to be a webmaster, graphic designer, pharmacy technician or veterinary assistant with out having to pay the high cost of college tuition. All we ask is that you show a commitment to follow through with the program.”

The YMCA will supervise and administer the program, and TCU will issue completion certificates to participants. The class size is limited to eight students at a time, with spots opening as participants finish the training. The courses are self-paced, and take an average of 90 days to complete, though students are not given a deadline to finish the training.

“We’re very excited to contribute our part to such a worthwhile community endeavor,” said Stephen Gatlin, founder of Gatlin Education Services. “YMCA and TCU are known for giving back to the community, and it’s something we value as well. When this program becomes a success, we intend to utilize our relationships with colleges and universities to offer similar opportunities in neighborhoods all over the country.”