Riverside Senior Center Launches California's First Senior-Focused Digital Learning Hub

The Janet Goeske Foundation will celebrate the launch of California’s first AT&T Connected Learning Center designed for seniors on Thursday, featuring elected officials, community leaders and a laptop giveaway for 100 members.

The event at the 25,000-square-foot facility marks a milestone in AT&T’s national initiative to establish at least 100 Connected Learning Centers across the country by 2027. While most centers operate in Boys & Girls Clubs and tribal communities, the Riverside location is the first to focus exclusively on older adults.

“We are the first senior center in the state of California to have a digital learning center,” said Danielle Nelson, executive director of the Janet Goeske Foundation. “Twenty-five percent of seniors have never used the internet, so this directly addresses the digital divide.”

AT&T provided $50,000 in funding, fiber internet service for three years, 19 desktop computers with self-guided curriculum and 100 laptops with software and IT support for members. The technology will be housed in a dedicated space with volunteers providing digital literacy training.

The launch coincides with National Senior Citizens Day and will feature remarks from Riverside County Supervisor Eduardo Garcia, Congressman Mark Takano, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and other regional officials. Distribution of laptops to lottery winners begins at 2 p.m.

The Connected Learning Center is one part of Nelson’s broader transformation of the facility since March 2024. She established a senior resource team that provides case management services through partnerships with 40 organizations.

“We don’t say ‘here’s a list, go call these people,’” Nelson said. “We say ‘come in, we’ll sit down with you, we’ll figure out what’s going on with you and we will plug in services for you.’”

The center now serves 100,000 annual visitors through programs including a mental health hub launched this week, veteran support services, virtual travel experiences for mobility-limited seniors and upcoming free legal services and produce distribution. The facility operates with 150 volunteers and serves 400 daily visitors.

Nelson plans to expand the model regionally through a “senior tour” that will visit other centers, mobile home parks and assisted living facilities across Riverside County and the Inland Empire. The goal is resource sharing rather than centralizing services.

The strategy responds to demographic projections showing the region’s senior population will grow 600%, driven by medical advances, aging baby boomers and relatively affordable housing compared to Orange and Los Angeles counties.

“The senior population is growing, so we want to make sure that when you think about aging, this is the place that you want to be,” Nelson said.

Despite serving a population that contributes $8.3 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, the foundation currently has no grant funding secured compared to the typical $200,000 to $300,000 by this point in the fiscal year.

The center is pursuing a $4.5 million expansion that would add a west wing, additional parking through acquisition of property across the street and facility renovations including updated bathrooms, flooring and lighting.

Future programming will include housing navigation services, virtual medical consultations and potential integration of 3D printing and robotics in the digital learning space.

More Information: The launch event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Janet Goeske Foundation, 5257 Sierra St. in Riverside. The event is free and open to the public. Visit jgf4seniors.org for details.