Digital Inclusion News
Tech.mn shout out for CTEP Civic Engagement project
Check out Tech.mn's recent post about our very own CTEP civic engagement group as they launch their 3D Printing project with the help of Park Ave. Youth & Family Service's Tronix Team. You can donate to help get their project started.
Consider donating (your computer) during the holiday season!
It's official! Last week we received a letter from the IRS stating that Free Geek Twin Cities is now a formally recognized 501c3 non-profit charity. This means that donations to FGTC are tax-deductible. Since we received the certification in 2011, any donations made this year can be deducted, not just those made going forward. This certification will enable us to work with businesses and other groups that might not otherwise donate their old computers to us if we weren't a "formal" non-profit.
So, come donate your old computer or money to Free Geek Twin Cities and take a deduction. Better yet, come donate your time with us and help us help the needy get nerdy.
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2011 Digital Inclusion Forum - Nov. 3rd, 2011
The TLC is hosting the annual Digital Inclusion Forum on November 3rd, 2011 at the Minnesota Department of Education in Roseville, MN. It's a free event, but you have to register; limited to the first 100 registrants!
The DI Forum is an opportunity for technology professionals as well as interested community members to meet and learn more about the state of digital inclusion in Minnesota. Expect to hear about new ways of implementing technology into youth programming and other community centers, as well as improving already existing technology programs. There will be a chance to connect with other folks who care about the same issues as you and who are doing their part to bridge the digital divide. You'll definitely learn something about your own community and be exposed to new ideas on how to empower citizens by connecting them to the digital world!
If that's not enough for ya, Nexus Community Partners are supplying some breakfast, and parking is free.
When: Nov. 3rd, 2011, 8:30am - 12noon
Where: MN Dept. of Education, Conference Room B (1500 Hwy 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113)
To register, go here: http://2011diforummn.eventbrite.com/
The digital flier with some more information is attached to this post. Check it out!
We hope to see you there! But if you can't make it, the event will be recorded and made available on the TLC website.
Minnesota Computers for Schools (MCFS): Helping MN Schools & Inmates
Have you heard of Minnesota Computers for Schools?
MCFS is an awesome Twin Cities non-profit that manages to provide a great service for two demographics we don't often see in conjunction with each other: schools and inmates. Schools get good deals on refurbished computers for their students while inmates in the Stillwater Correctional Facility get the opportunity to gain technical skills and work experience while serving their terms (a big privelege). The end result--Schools can supply their labs and classrooms with quality computers for about 25% of the cost of new ones. These days, public schools need all the help they can get just to stay afloat and to provide their students with quality equipment on which to learn.
Minnesota Computers for Schools is a national role model in fighting the digital divide. Besides providing a number of inmates with meaningful work each day and saving public schools thousands of dollars on technology, MCFS recycles a truly impressive amount of electronic waste each year. I expect (and hope) to see more organizations follow in the footsteps of MCFS to make a big difference in their own cities and communities.
Read this article from the Stillwater Gazette's Hannah Johnson.
And just think, if you were an inmate, wouldn't you rather be refurbishing computers than stamping license plates?
Comcast introduces "Internet Essentials"
IT Internships for 100 MN Students
Another good story from the folks at Tech{dot}MN about a Twin Cities company sponsoring 1 year paid internships in the IT industry. Read the full writeup here
New Report Sets Sights on an Internet Cafe for Twin Cities Homeless
Open Access Connections, formerly Twin Cities Community Voice Mail, along with several other organizations that make up the Internet Cafe Working Group are spearheading an effort to create a place for homeless individuals to access the internet and develop crucial digital literacy skills. Read the TECH{dot}MN write-up about their efforts and the report they have released here.
Bridge{dot}MN created to connect TC Youth to computers and internet
Tech{dot}MN has helped kickstart a great new program, Bridge{dot}MN, aimed at bridging the digital divide for needy youth and students in the Twin Cities. Several students have already been helped, having been hooked up with a computer, internet access, as well as technical training. Tech{dot}MN donated half of their budget to get the program started, and several local companies have donated thousands of dollars as well. CTEP, Mobile Citizen, and PPL are partners in collaboration. Click here to donate--companies are encouraged to consider donating $100 - $1,000, but individuals can donate any from $10 on up. Click here to learn more details about Bridge{dot}MN.
Link to Tech{dot}MN's post about Bridge{dot}MN's release
Report on homeless access to technology in the Twin Cities
A new report has been released on how people in the Twin Cities who are homeless are marginalized in accessing technology and the Internet, and describes a possible solution. Research was done by Rebecca Orrick, former CTEP AmeriCorps Member, and TLC member on behalf of Open Access Connections, with the support of the University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affairs.
Access the report at: http://openaccessconnections.org/report-on-community-internet-space-for-people-who-are-homeless-released/
