Tech Connect, a program that support seniors across Milwaukee County with digital literacy and technology education, has been stripped away. The executive leadership team at Serving Older Adults, the organization that runs the Tech Connect program, abruptly eliminated the program in late August, leaving staff without jobs and seniors with less access to technology services.
“My heart sank because usually when there’s big changes to a program, there’s some type of forewarning,” said Greg Faludi, who attended the program at the Washington Park Senior Center. “Most of (us seniors) weren’t even aware and were going about our regular day.”
Tech Connect was a free and low-cost technology education program at five local senior centers that offered classes and one-on-one help with emailing, texting, video chatting and other services with phones, laptops and tablets.
Three former employees of Tech Connect, who asked to remain anonymous so they wouldn’t impact their future job prospects, told NNS that 13 staff members were terminated and classes stopped as of Aug. 25. They said scheduled appointments, events and classes were canceled without notice to seniors.
“As part of an ongoing evaluation of the organization and programs, (Serving Older Adults) has made the decision to restructure the service delivery model for Tech Connect,” read a letter sent to one of the former employees that was shared with NNS. “Unfortunately, as a result of this restructuring, your position is being eliminated, effective today.”
NNS reached out to Serving Older Adults to confirm the number of employees that were terminated but did not hear back.
Entering a redesign period
On Sept. 1, Serving Older Adults announced on social media it is transitioning into a new redesign model for the Tech Connect program called SOA Digital Connections, and that some classes may be temporarily postponed or rescheduled.
“We aren’t stepping away from this work. We’re building a more sustainable way to continue and grow it,” read part of the post.
The new model “will utilize trained Digital Navigators and Tech Coaches, along with community partners and volunteers to provide technology education and support,” said Shannon Downie, chief programing officer at Serving Older Adults. “While this transition resulted in changes to how technology services are delivered, (Serving Older Adults) remains committed to providing technology education, support, and resources to older adults in our community.”
No timeline has been provided for the launch of the revamped program.
Despite the announcement that a new program was in the works, Faludi, 66, and Jan L., also a Tech Connect participant at the Washington Park Senior Center, said they felt unsupported and wished the organization understood how crucial the program is.
Jan.L asked NNS to identify her by first name and last initial, as she feared that her remarks would affect the former employees involved.
“We are an incredibly vulnerable population,” Jan L. said. “I feel that there should be funding that is dedicated to this program because it has the potential to keep seniors safe and save seniors thousands of dollars.”
According to Serving Older Adults’ annual 2024 report, Tech Connect served 867 older adults through 4,172 program hours.
In June 2025, the program also received a $20,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant. A page dedicated to the program on the Serving Older Adults website is no longer active.
Seniors left hanging
Faludi said he often attended the Tech Connect program to receive assistance with his Lenovo computer. Trainers there taught him how to confirm appointments and message doctors, until one day he couldn’t get help.
“I went to the bulletin board where they normally had different classes and lectures, but it was completely blank,” Faludi said. “If it wasn’t for (an employee) reaching out, I wouldn’t have known.”
Faludi describes the lack of communication by the Serving Older Adults’ executive leadership team as unkind and unprofessional. He said many of the seniors are now left without alternative resources for help with technology.
“I can live without them, but that‘s not the point,” Faludi said. “For older people, it’s a little stressful because this isn’t our nature and we didn’t grow up with computers.”
Jan L. attended Tech Connect twice a week and learned how to send emails, navigate certain apps, stay safe online and more. She said the program ending left her with nowhere to turn.
“It’s very challenging because I now have to figure things out by myself and if I have a question, I have no one to go to,” she said. “I don’t have family I can rely on for technology and I go to the library, but they don’t have ongoing classes.”
Built relationships gone
If you were a senior impacted by the temporary elimination of Tech Connect, former employees still want to help. They advise you to do a YouTube search of the device challenge you’re having or try visiting the free Tech-splanation sessions at a Milwaukee Public Library branch.
As for Jan L., she said she will miss the relationships she built through the program.
“I feel stuck in another way because questions that other classmates would ask, I would learn from them, so now none of that is happening anymore,” she said. “It’s another great way for seniors to socialize, build community and learn the digital challenges.”
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