Building Hope Together
Joe Alfaro
Building Hope Together Helps Community Members Build Digital and Financial Skills
Joe Alfaro, a military veteran and program coordinator for Building Hope Together, is helping community members strengthen their digital skills and prepare for today’s changing workforce. The organization offers courses covering Microsoft Word, Google Workspace, Canva and other digital tools.
Building Hope Together also provides financial literacy courses that teach participants practical ways to budget and save money. The courses are open to anyone interested in improving their financial knowledge.
Joe teaches participants how to use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. Students learn how AI can help them create spreadsheets, improve reports and strengthen their writing for work or school. They also learn how to write effective AI prompts and how to protect their privacy by avoiding the use of sensitive personal information.
“In today’s workforce, people need to understand how AI works and how to incorporate it into their jobs,” Joe said. Building Hope Together provides tablets so students can gain hands-on experience. Participants may also use their own laptop or smartphone. The courses also introduce students to Canva’s AI features. Joe teaches participants how to create presentations, flyers and other materials for their workplace, church or nonprofit. In one lesson, he showed a hospital employee how to design slides for a digital flipbook. She was impressed by how quickly the technology helped bring her ideas to life.
Building Hope Together partners with Opportunity Home San Antonio through its Family Self-Sufficiency program. Participating residents take the online courses, including financial literacy, and receive a certificate upon completion. Joe said Building Hope Together hopes to serve 100 participants who want to improve themselves and expand their abilities. “They just need to be open to learning, willing to embrace new technology and ready to take their skills to the next level,” Joe said.
Joe has also used AI in his own creative work. He has written three books—Operation Firebird, Operation Phoenix and Operation Sinaloa—and used AI to help create artwork and promotional video clips. His books are available on Amazon, click here.
Click here for Financially Fit Friday class flyer or click here for Technology Thursday class flyer. For more information or to make a donation contact Joe Alfaro Joe.alfaro@buildinghopetogether.org, call (210) 343-1650 or visit www.buildinghopetogether.org.
