What Is ASET?
ASET — Adult Social Education Technology — is Building Minds Building Communities' advancement pathway for adults and seniors in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn. As one of B2MC's Access & Advancement Pathways, ASET serves as a primary entry point into the B2MC ecosystem — connecting adults and seniors to the digital skills, practical knowledge, lifelong learning opportunities, and community connection needed to navigate and thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
ASET is free. Every adult and senior is welcome.
Why ASET Exists
Digital exclusion does not stop at age 18. Across Bedford-Stuyvesant and communities like it, adults and seniors face growing barriers as government services, healthcare, banking, employment, and civic participation move online. Many residents who built this community — who raised families, ran businesses, led congregations, and shaped neighborhoods — now find themselves navigating a world that has changed faster than the resources available to support them.
At the same time, social isolation and loneliness among adults and seniors have reached levels that public health officials now recognize as a national crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General has identified loneliness and isolation as a public health epidemic — one that disproportionately affects older adults, particularly in urban communities where digital exclusion limits access to connection, services, and support.
B2MC believes that every person possesses value, potential, and purpose — at every age. ASET exists because the opportunity to learn, grow, stay connected, and participate fully in community life should never have an expiration date.
What Adults and Seniors Learn and Experience
ASET programming is practical, accessible, and designed for real life. No prior technology experience is required. Participants move at a pace that works for them, in an environment that is respectful, encouraging, and community-centered.
Community, Connection, and Belonging
ASET is more than a skills program. It is a community.
Research consistently shows that social isolation and loneliness among older adults carry serious health consequences — including increased risk of cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, heart disease, and premature death. For many adults and seniors in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the loss of regular community connection — through work, congregation, neighborhood, or family — creates a quiet but significant toll on wellbeing.
ASET addresses this directly. Every session is a gathering place — a consistent, welcoming space where adults and seniors connect with peers, engage with caring facilitators, share experiences, and build relationships that extend beyond the program itself. Learning happens alongside connection, and connection is itself part of the work.
Digital literacy amplifies this further. When adults and seniors gain the ability to video call family members, connect with faith communities online, access telehealth from home, and stay informed about their neighborhood — technology becomes a bridge back to the people and places that matter most.
Mental Health and Wellness
B2MC recognizes that the wellbeing of adults and seniors encompasses far more than digital skills. Mental health matters. Emotional resilience matters. The ability to process life transitions — retirement, loss, changing family dynamics, health challenges, and the rapid pace of change in the world — matters deeply.
ASET programming acknowledges the full humanity of every participant. While ASET is not a clinical mental health service, B2MC is committed to creating a program environment where adults and seniors feel seen, valued, and supported. Participants are connected to B2MC's broader wellness resources, including MindBuilders™ — B2MC's community wellness program providing free workshops, peer support, and healing-centered education for adults, families, and seniors navigating stress, grief, and life transitions.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Part of Something Larger
ASET is part of The BUILD Initiative™ — B2MC's community development framework for Building Up Individuals and Local Development. Adults and seniors in ASET are not simply program participants — they are experienced, knowledgeable community members whose growth strengthens the entire community around them.
ASET connects naturally to B2MC's program portfolios, including Digital Empowerment by Design™ and MindBuilders™, as well as the B2MC Knowledge Hub™ — a growing library of practical resources, guides, and community-centered content available to all.
Who Can Participate
ASET serves adults and seniors of all ages residing in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant and Stuyvesant Heights in Brooklyn, New York. The program is free, open to all, and requires no prior technology experience. Participants enroll directly — no parental or guardian consent is required.
Register for ASET
Complete the form below to get started. A member of the B2MC team will follow up with next steps and scheduling.