Kent was the founding director (1995 - 2000) of Erie Technology Center (ETC), a community technology center (CTC) providing technology services to critical-need immigrant populations in Chicago within Erie Neighborhood House (a Settlement House founded in 1897). Through the award-winning ETC, Kent developed technology programs to extend education & social services for on-site daycare families, at-risk youth, low-literacy adults, English-as-a-second-Language learners, college-bound teens, and adults requiring job training. Selected Erie Technology Center Awards (1995-2000) include:

Urban Leadership Award ($434,000)
Presented by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation ($434,000) presented to Erie to develop innovative community-based technology education centers on Chicago's northwest side.

Learning in a Global Environment ($150,000)
A National Kellogg Foundation Education Grant presented to leverage technology to provide educational services to at-risk youth.

Digital Divide Brdige Grant ($100,000)
Presented by the AOL Foundation to develop innovative connectivity & network solutions for inner-city day care providers with emphasis on childcare information & entrepreneurial resources.

Chicago Spirit Award ($50,000)
Presented by the Sara Lee Foundation to Erie for innovative application of technology to meet community education needs for low-income urban residents

Digital Steppingstones Award for Exemplary Information Technology Public Access
Presented by the Thomas Rivera Policy Institute for exemplary practical uses of information technology in diverse learning environments.