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The Delavan Grider Community Center on Buffalo’s East Side buzzed with excitement recently as older adults connected with the digital world thanks to a dedicated team of UB students.

At Senior Citizen Tech Day, coordinated by Sonia Grant, a staff member in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, students worked one on one with older adults, helping them navigate their smartphones, tablets and computers. Whether setting up email accounts or troubleshooting devices, the goal was clear: to empower the community through technology.

But the impact stretched far beyond tech tutorials. In the center’s computer lab, students expanded the number of functional workstations from three to eight, ensuring more young students who participate in the center’s after-school program could access technology for homework, research and skill-building. The UB students also upgraded devices to ensure that every computer could perform such essential tasks as resume writing and job searches — critical tools for community members striving for economic empowerment.

“I am incredibly proud of our UB students and the professionalism, care and expertise they bring to this work,” said Monica Miles, assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Education who worked with Grant on the event. “Engaging with the community through STEM-based service not only benefits those we serve but also strengthens our role as a university that listens, learns and actively contributes to meaningful change.”

Candace Moppins, executive director of the Delavan Grider Community Center, also emphasized the significance of the collaboration. “Partnerships like this with the University at Buffalo are invaluable,” she said. “When students share their knowledge and skills with our community, they don’t just fix computers — they inspire. Their presence shows our youth that they, too, can achieve great things in STEM and beyond.”

The initiative was also supported by Christina Escobar, associate director of outreach programs for the engineering school. Several UB student groups volunteered, including Men of Color in STEM, STEMinism and the UB Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

The Delavan Grider Community Center has long been a cornerstone of Buffalo’s Black community, providing essential resources, educational opportunities and a safe gathering space. Through the outreach, the UB students demonstrated that STEM education is about both innovation and impact, Grant explained.

“I am a firm believer that education is freedom, as (activist and writer) bell hooks said,” noted Holliday Sims, a doctoral student in engineering education. “I would absolutely encourage all UB SEAS students who want to see how their work impacts real communities to visit Delavan Grider, their local community center, and volunteer at least once. Something that seemed simple to me — like moving around a few monitors and wires — brought me so much fulfillment and happiness. I also got a few more ideas for my dissertation and research questions.”

Marley Nembhard, an undergraduate student studying computer engineering and mathematics, added that visiting the community center to help senior citizens with their technology “reminded me that knowledge is most powerful when shared.”

“Seeing their faces light up with confidence as they navigated their devices proved that no one is ever too old to learn,” Nembhard said. “As I continue my education in Buffalo, I want to do more for this community — bridging generations through patience, empowerment and the belief that everyone deserves access to the digital world.”

Organizers noted the question most asked by participants: “How soon can you come back?”