“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
- Margaret J Wheatley
Over the past
year, we have been on a journey of change and growth. Together, we have
built a new home for Minnesota Computers for Schools in Minneapolis,
developed an impactful internship program for our students and rolled
out a volunteer program to allow us to engage on a deeper level with our
supporters.
We are humbled and forever grateful for how far our
community has brought us in just 12 months and how far it will take us
in the years to come.
The dedication of our community has
paid off in major ways and it is reflected in the successes of our CORE:
IT students, in their hope and excitement for their futures. They are
dedicated to making a better life for themselves and for their families
and the support of our community makes it possible.
Thank you for being part of our community.
Tamara Gillard
Executive Director
Minnesota Computers for Schools
Everyone deserves access to the technology necessary to develop skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce.
Unfortunately,
research shows that at-risk and minority individuals are not
participating as much as they could in the IT field due to lack of
opportunity and access to technology and skills training.
But we are changing that.
Minnesota Computers for Schools works collaboratively with schools and educationally focused community organizations to provide technology solutions and skills training to individuals in need.
We refurbish donated computers and place them in schools and educational nonprofits that serve an at-risk population.
Our
free CORE: IT classes provide students with technology certifications
and the opportunity to pursue internships, employment and further
education.
Our recycling program follows the highest standards to protect donors’ data and the environment. We are dedicated to secure information destruction processes and recycling end-of-life electronics.
Responsible
manufacturing and respect to data security are paramount to our
technology recycling and refurbishing work. MCFS follows rigorous
standards set by leading entities such as NIST, HIPAA, NIAP and
Microsoft to ensure that every piece of equipment that enters our
workshop is handled according to industry best practices. We take our
policies seriously, undergoing yearly audits that result in the
following certifications:
In
addition, we are also registered with the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency and licensed by Washington County Department of Public Health and
Environment to operate a Hazardous Waste Facility in the State of
Minnesota.
After the tragic death of Officer Joe Gomm
at the Stillwater Correctional Facility in July 2018, the Department of
Corrections made the difficult decision to cease industry jobs for
offenders, except for small assembly. As a result of this decision, our
operations were discontinued immediately and our 2018 plan was put on
hold.
Over the months that followed, we began to build a
new operations model that would allow us to keep our doors open while
better serving our students, schools in Minnesota and the community as a
whole. We are happy to report that we moved into our new space in
Minneapolis at the end of 2018 and the organization is thriving.
Thank
you to every single person who supported us during this time of
transition – we are excited for what the future has in store for MCFS!
Our unexpected move in July 2018 caused a major delay in obtaining NAID certification.
We are happy to report that after moving into our new space in early 2019 we anticipate final NAID certification in September 2019.
In
addition, we are also registered with the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency and licensed by Hennepin County Department of Public Health and
Environment to operate a Hazardous Waste Facility in the State of
Minnesota.
Our new space in Minneapolis has a dedicated classroom and we are working hard at getting ready to offer classes in house.
In 2018 we piloted a youth training program at Murray Middle School and 18 youth completed the program and earned a computer.
We’re laying the groundwork to begin offering A+ and Network+ classes this fall at the MCFS classroom in Minneapolis.
When our shop at the Stillwater
Correctional Facility closed, one of the challenges we faced was
replacing our 35 offender workers. Many of our CORE: IT students had
expressed interest in an internship that would allow them to continue to
refine their skills while gaining valuable work experience so it didn’t
take long to decide to create a paid internship program.
Student
graduates apply for our 6-month paid internship where they continue
their hands-on training in computer repair and recycling. Our internship
program offers individuals an opportunity to build up their resumes,
put their skills to use and continue to learn more about the IT field –
all while earning a livable wage.
One of the greatest advantages of
our new centrally-located warehouse is the opportunity to engage with
the community on a deeper level. In the spring of 2019 we began opening
our doors to volunteers and we couldn’t be more thrilled. So far, we’ve
welcomed nearly 100 individuals, three corporate groups and four youth
groups to our warehouse to help out with computer repair and recycling.
It takes a small village to achieve our mission and we rely on the support of individuals, schools, nonprofits, companies and government organizations. A big thanks to our 2018 donors – we are grateful for your support and dedication to closing the digital divide.
Alec Papierniak
American Honda Foundation
Anna Lovegren
Avtex
Barbara Doyle
Barbara Vincent
Best Buy Foundation
Boston Scientific Foundation
Boyum & Barenscheer
Bremer Bank
Cara Berger
Catherine Settanni
Davd Scheffler
Deb McGahey
Debra Gramza
DEED Pathways to Prosperity
Desiree Culpitt
Diana Clem
Doug Swenson
EcoLab Foundation
Elise Balderrama
Eric Henly
Erin Wait
Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation
Gary Urban
Greg Quale
Greg Sharpe
Gwen Papierniak
Jacob Dalton
Jennefer Meyer
Jerry Sosinske
Jerry Vincent
Joel Krogstad
John Ashby
John Gardner
Julie and Craig Murphy
Kade MeddKaija Bergen
Kate Rubin
Katie McMahon
Kay Winchell
Ken Schuster
La Vang
Lee Yang
Lisa Peterson-de la Cueva
March Family Foundation
Marla Haley
Mike Linnemann
Minnesota State - IT Center of Excellence
Neal Lewis
Otto Bremer Foundation
Otto Doll
Poehler-Stremel Foundation
Russell Fraenkel
Subaru Foundation
Surly Brewing Co.
Tamara Gillard
Thomas Tieman
Todd Vincent
Tom Osowski
Travelers Foundation
Victoria Yarwood
Vinoth Gopalakrishnan
Wells Fargo Foundation
We believe that in our new space, with our new model we can make a larger impact than ever before.
In 2019 we will work to:
• Expand technology training programs for youth and adults in our
on-site classroom space in Minneapolis.
• Build out our workforce program team to include an additional instructor,
recruiter and a navigator who will help students secure an internship
or full time employment after graduation.
• Bring on new partners and engage with the community in new ways.
