Microsoft congratulates the following Unlimited Potential (UP) grant recipients. We are proud to support their work.Canada
Dixon Hall, Toronto
Dixon Hall provides a broad array of programs and services to the community of downtown East Toronto, including literacy, technology, and career training for youth and adults. Support from Microsoft will help Dixon Hall increase the capacity of their two existing CTLCs to include evening and weekend hours, expanding their ability to reach and train additional clients.
United States
Arizona Women's Education & Employment (AWEE), Phoenix, AZ
AWEE provides job readiness and training to unemployed and underemployed individuals in Arizona. The organization's mission is to change lives through the dignity of work. AWEE will partner with Rio Salado Community College to provide technology skills training in three core areas, with college credit for participants upon successful completion. Upon course completion, participants will receive assistance with job placement and job retention (workshops). Funding from Microsoft will assist in the hiring of instructors. Other partners include City of Phoenix, Arizona Department of Education, and Community Services of Arizona.
National Farm Workers Service Center - HED, Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
The mission of the service center is to empower communities by providing service-enhanced affordable housing and addressing the economic and educational needs of low-income families. Support from Microsoft will include software and technology training curriculum to help establish a community technology center for residents of a low-income housing development and the surrounding rural farming community.
NPower Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
NPower Arizona and Communities in Schools Arizona have partnered to create a 16-module classroom-based training to be delivered in Spanish to parents of students in the school during nonschool hours, using UP curriculum as the base training material. Funding from Microsoft will support staff to oversee classes, implement self-paced training modules, and market classes to potential students.
Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP), San Francisco, CA
HPP provides bilingual computer training for the female Hispanic community. A staff of 31 (two-thirds of whom are formerly homeless mothers) provides wraparound services through eight programs, serving 2,400 families annually in eight locations. HPP programs include substance-abuse counseling and referral; a twelve-month on-the-job training program; technology training; family advocacy; and prenatal and parenting education, case management, and home visitation for pregnant women and new moms. This grant from Microsoft will support the salaries of a bilingual instructor and project director and expansion of class offerings. Others partnering with HPP include the California Technology Foundation, the City of San Francisco, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the San Francisco Foundation.
Sacred Heart Community Service, San Jose, CA
Sacred Heart's mission is to change lives and impact poverty by providing essential services and offering tools for self-sufficiency. Microsoft support will help Sacred Heart expand staffing to increase access to technology training for low-income families and students who use the Sacred Heart technology center. Other partners include the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley, YWCA, and United Way. This grant demonstrates Microsoft's commitment to the agency; Sacred Heart received grant support from Microsoft in 2003.
Girls Club of the Mid-Peninsula, East Palo Alto, CA
The mission of Girls Club is to provide activities designed to meet the cultural, educational, aesthetic, social, spiritual, mental, and physical needs of girls to create girl leaders of tomorrow. The Girls Club Technology Enhancement Project provides disadvantaged girls with basic IT competency, serves as an aid to academic learning, supports development of digital arts skills, and provides a foundation in technology skills. The grant from Microsoft will support the Girls Club Technology Enhancement Project. Annually, more than 200 girls are served through this program. Other partners include Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, Adobe, and the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley.
YMCA Mid-Peninsula, East Palo Alto, CA
The Henry Page Computer Center, part of the East Palo Alto branch of the YMCA Mid-Peninsula, will receive software and curriculum from Microsoft to help expand the number of basic computer skills training classes that are offered as well as the hours that the center operates throughout the year.
Learning and Loving Education Center, Morgan Hill, CA
Founded in 1994, the center was established to teach skills, foster hopes, and provide direction to women and their children living in the low-income and extremely low-income areas of Silicon Valley. With support from Microsoft, Learning and Loving Education Center will provide organized training, access to computer technology, enhanced job-readiness skills, access to the Internet, and tools and resources for underserved, marginalized women who lack access to computer technology. The grant from Microsoft will primarily be used to expand the number of bilingual computer training classes available to immigrant women in this community. Other partners include Juniper Networks, Community Foundation of Silicon Valley, and Battered Women's Shelter. In 2002, the organization received its first grant from Microsoft.
Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation (LTSC), Los Angeles, CA
The DISKovery Center, a community technology center located in the historic Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, targets a wide variety of underserved populations and English-language learners. Support from Microsoft will assist LTSC in hiring additional training staff to expand classes that target underserved women.
NPower Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
NPower LA will develop a train-the-trainer program for staff of CTLCs to assist them in providing the highest quality instruction to their constituents. NPower will assist the CTLC staff with skills in the development of technology curricula and effective teaching methodologies. Support from Microsoft will cover staff time in the development and delivery of the train-the-trainer curriculum, and program evaluation.
Street Tech, San Francisco, CA
Street Tech was established in 1999 to provide IT training and professional skills to low-income and underserved adults in the San Francisco Bay Area. Funding from Microsoft will support part of the cost for supervision and instruction of job-related training, including IT basics, A+, and other advanced IT skills training classes. Street Tech also receives support from the U.S. Department of Labor, the City of San Pablo, Community Technology Networks (CTCNet), ChevronTexaco, Wells Fargo Foundation, and SBC.
After-School All-Stars of Greater San Jose, San Jose, CA
After-School All-Stars (ASAS) provides programming targeted toward at-risk youth and adults in the greater San Jose area, including technology literacy and job skills. Support from Microsoft will assist with staff salaries for training in the Miracles program, providing technology training to 210 students during the year. Other partners include San Jose Unified School District, Mexican American Community Services Agency, San Jose State University, Avant!, and Todd Wagner.
Catholic Charities of San Jose, San Jose, CA
Catholic Charities of San Jose is a multiservice provider in Silicon Valley serving 30,000 individuals and families each year. The computer lab at Catholic Charities serves primarily refugees, those seeking asylum, and the working poor. It provides computer skills training, job placement, and other case management services. Support from Microsoft will enable Catholic Charities to hire a part-time volunteer coordinator to recruit and support volunteers who work in the computer lab; it will also allow for expansion of computer training hours. Partners include Stanford, Santa Clara University, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Citibank, and United Way.
Goodwill Santa Clara County, Santa Clara, CA
The Goodwill of Santa Clara County has been providing vocational rehabilitation, job training, and job placement in California for 90 years. The Community Access to Technology Project (CAT) provides technology and job-preparation training to youth and adults who have disabilities and other barriers to employment. Support from Microsoft will help increase community access to the center, provide the salary for the computer lab instructor, and assist with accessibility in the lab.
YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado Springs, CO
The YMCA of Pikes Peak serves a diverse population of all socioeconomic levels. Support from Microsoft will expand and enhance technology training opportunities available through the Computer Clubhouse, bringing technology awareness and education to youth, teens, adults, and seniors. Other partners include the United Way, City of Colorado Springs, and Harrison School District.
Center for Work, Education and Employment (CWEE), Denver, CO
The CWEE was established in 1982 to provide programs to help low-income single parents and families develop and expand their skills, enabling them to obtain meaningful employment and career advancement. CWEE will use Microsoft's funding to assist with programs that enable CWEE participants, alumni, and community members to continue using CWEE's computer center and self-paced computer programs to sharpen marketable technology skills. Funding will support staff time for delivery of classes, as well as equipment maintenance. Other CWEE partners include Adams County Department of Social Services, the Office of Economic Development, and the City and County of Denver.
Urban League Greater Hartford, Hartford, CT
The Urban League of Greater Harford is an affiliate of the National Urban League, established in 1964. Support from Microsoft will enhance the basic computer training and customized curriculum in the recently opened IT Academy, a part of their CTLC, by enabling the league to hire additional staff to teach Microsoft technology and A+ certification to African American and Latino youth and adults. Plans are also in place to expand classes and trainings at the center. Other partners include the City of Hartford, Capital Workforce Partners, United Way of the Capital Area, and several other national and local organizations.
The Study Hall, Atlanta, GA
The Study Hall works to enable youth in the Peoplestown area of Atlanta to become productive, competitive, contributing members of society. Support from Microsoft will enable the Study Hall to expand technology training to serve adults in the community through a six-week training program. The program teaches people how to use technology to increase personal and family productivity
TechBridge - NPower Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
TechBridge, Atlanta's NPower affiliate, will implement a technology mentoring program at two local nonprofit organizations to augment and strengthen existing programs. The technology mentoring program will draw on TechBridge's extensive volunteer network and will focus on mentoring for advanced business applications and job skills using Microsoft Office applications. Funding from Microsoft will be used to support TechBridge's staff time in each of the two centers to organize the mentoring, provide training and mentoring, maintain equipment, and manage the process. Other partners include Accenture and Bell South.
Global Support, Marietta, GA
Global Support, based in Marietta, Georgia, works to empower individual members of our society to attain a higher quality of living by providing skills and supportive services. Global Support will use the Microsoft UP grant to supplement staff in their technical education program, which focuses on increasing computer and technology access and training through curriculum-based classes, increasing the participant's opportunity to earn livable wages and obtain IT employment. Other partners include Fulton County Workforce, CobbWorks, Georgia Department of Labor, local universities, and national funders.
El Valor, Chicago, IL
El Valor is a multicultural, multipurpose organization reaching over 3,000 families through the Chicago area with a mission to support and challenge urban families to achieve excellence and participate fully in community life. Support from Microsoft will assist with staffing for the youth enrichment program and in particular the Girls Online (GO!) Team technology program, targeting girls and technology. Other partners include: United Way of Metro Chicago and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago, IL
Established in 1870, Erie Neighborhood House provides a broad spectrum of services to its clients through skill building, access to critical resources, advocacy, and collaborative action. Support from Microsoft will help with two components of Erie House’s technology training programs, Technology Promoters and Adult Computer Literacy, by funding part-time staff to teach classes. Other partners include: Little Village Development Corporation, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and the Chicago Area Planning Council for Adult Education.
Illinois Migrant Council, Chicago, IL
The Illinois Migrant Council promotes educational, employment, and other opportunities for migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families. The CTC is a storefront on the main street of Cobden, in rural southern Illinois, that provides computer literacy training in keyboarding, operating systems, word processing, Web page development, workforce readiness, academic research, and homework for youth. Support from Microsoft will be used to hire and retain training staff to expand the number of computer literacy workshops provided. Other partners include: Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, local colleges and universities, US Bank, local libraries, and many other local health and human service organizations.
IT Resource Center (ITRC), Chicago, IL
Founded in 1984, ITRC provides nonprofits with technology education and customized services to meet their mission of technology leadership for nonprofit excellence. With support from Microsoft, ITRC will recruit, hire, train, and develop community technology assistants (CTAs) to accelerate the adoption of best practices for CTLCs in the Chicagoland area, thereby adding additional depth and knowledge to this community. Other partners include CTCNet, Alliance for Nonprofit Management, Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, IBM, Accenture, the Chicago Community Trust, and the City of Chicago. In addition to ongoing volunteer support, including participation on ITRC's board, Microsoft has supported the organization with more than $200,000 in cash and software since 2000.
Christian Activity Center, East St. Louis, IL
Support from Microsoft will help "re-ignite" the CAC computer lab (former Intel Club House) by providing software and Microsoft Unlimited Potential curriculum to enhance technology skills training to both children and adults in the East St. Louis community. Training includes after-school and adult programs on keyboarding, Internet research, and a variety of specialized software skills. Adult training focuses on developing marketable skills and confidence to secure employment or advancement to provide a better future for families. Other partners include: McKendree, Greenville and Blackburn Colleges, Greater St. Louis Youth Federation, Intel, and the East St. Louis Housing Authority.
Center for Women & Enterprise, Boston, MA
The Center for Women and Enterprise is dedicated to helping women start and grow businesses and empowering women to become economically self-sufficient and prosperous through entrepreneurship. Through Microsoft support, CWE will provide technology training through updating curriculum and technology workshops utilizing the Unlimited Potential (UP) curriculum in its Rhode Island office as well as the main office in Boston. Partners include: the U.S. Small Business Administration, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Gillette, Bank of America, and local lenders.
United Teen Equality Center, Lowell, MA
Established in 1999, UTEC's mission is to provide safe haven for teens. With funding assistance from Microsoft, UTEC will formally add an Information Technology training module to the Education and Training Component of the Open School curriculum. This module will include basic computer literacy skills and use of advanced business productivity applications, culminating in an IT certification. Support from Microsoft will go towards staff costs to run the IT training module and provide some classroom materials to enhance the classes. Other partners include: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Bank of America, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
North Shore Community Action Program, Salem CyberSpace, Peabody, MA
Salem CyberSpace was established in 2002 as part of the North Shore Community Action Program's commitment to narrow the digital divide in the low-income and immigrant communities of North Boston. Cash and software from Microsoft will support the expansion of Salem CyberSpace's adult and youth technology-training programs. The goal is for program participants to find employment with sustainable wages.
Timothy Smith Network, Roxbury, MA
The Timothy Smith Network is a collaborative of 40 community technology centers working to help the residents of the Roxbury area build the technology skills, knowledge, and confidence to be successful in the information economy. Funding from Microsoft will support a train-the-trainer program based on Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP) Community Learning Curriculum to improve the instructional capabilities of staff and volunteers. It will also be used to standardize, consolidate, and distribute all resources acquired or developed. Other partners include: Boston Public Library, Kinetic City, and ScienceQuest.
Project Garrison, Inc., Baltimore, MD
Project Garrison was established in 1995 to advance initiatives in northwest Baltimore to strengthen the community. Support from Microsoft will assist the Community Technology Center at Project Garrison in hiring staff. Community residents will be able to enhance their skills through increased access to CTC satellites throughout the community and expanded IT skills training.
Learning Independence Through Computers (LINC), Baltimore, MD
LINC provides an array of computer training and other resources to underserved communities and to communities of children and adults with disabilities. Support from Microsoft will supplement staff, enabling LINC to expand its offerings of IT skills training. Partners in LINC's efforts include Baltimore City Pubic Schools, Maryland Department of Education, Baltimore Community Foundation, CTCNet, and Verizon.
Focus: HOPE, Detroit, MI
Focus: HOPE is a civil- and human-rights organization that uses intelligent and practical action to fight racism, poverty, and injustice. With support from Microsoft, Focus: HOPE will increase the technology training offered to clients and ensure that the most up-to-date technology is being taught and used. Other partners include HUD, Department of Labor, City of Detroit, State of Michigan, Wayne County, Ford Motor, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler. Since 2000, Microsoft has provided Focus: HOPE more than $2 million in cash and software.
People Serving People, Minneapolis, MN
People Serving People provides a safe, sober and secure environment for homeless families with services that encompass a community-based organization philosophy including schooling, job development, housing advocacy, job skills training, and a computer center. Support from Microsoft will fund a full-time computer center instructor and a part-time trainer to provide instruction, volunteer coordination, and structure to ensure clients are receiving the instruction and support they need to become successful.
Women's Employment Network (WEN), Kansas City, MO
WEN's mission is to assist women in raising their self-esteem and achieving economic independence through sustained employment. The computer training offered at WEN helps women of various skill levels gain the computer skills and technical knowledge they need to succeed in today's workplace. This grant from Microsoft will support the hiring of staff to deliver training through expanded class offerings.
Connections to Success, St. Louis, MO
Connections to Success (CtS) works to empower low-income, disadvantaged adults with the skills and support necessary to improve their lives. Support from Microsoft will be used to assist with operational costs for two CTC sites in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, which will provide free access to technology training to assist users in obtaining long-term, sustainable employment. Other partners include the Department of Justice, the cities of Kansas and St. Louis, Jones Family Foundation, and Franz Family Foundation.
Partnership for a Healthy Scott County, Forest, MS
Partnership for a Healthy Scott County is a community development organization designed to improve the quality of life for residents of Scott, Newton, Leake, and Jasper counties in Mississippi. The goal of this program is to enhance the two existing technology centers by providing additional information technology training through the use of additional training personnel and to improve and upgrade current technology hardware to have a state-of-the-art technology center. Support from Microsoft will assist in the expansion of classes offered and in upgrading components of the technology center, enabling more up-to-date technology to be taught. Other partners include key community organizations such as the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and other state departments.
Excel Community & Learning Center, Morton, MS
Excel Community and Learning Center had its beginnings in Morton, Mississippi, as part of a Multicultural Neighborhood Initiative of the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa, in 1997. The purpose of EXCEL (Enrichment and eXcellence through Community Educational Leadership) is to further education, promote community building, encourage community service and foster healthy lives for families and individuals by sponsoring programs that are educational, recreational, cultural, and developmental in nature. Funding from Microsoft will create a part-time, paid position from an existing volunteer position and hire a part-time staff member with experience in IT to both teach classes and maintain equipment at the center. Other partners include: Sisters of St. Francis, East Central Community College, City Bank of Morton, and local community organizations.
Children's Theatre of Charlotte, ImaginOn Project, Charlotte, NC
ImaginOn is a state-of-the-art, high-tech facility designed to use technology to enhance existing programming and create a new outlet for learning. Funding from Microsoft will support the technology lab and training for ImaginOn, a regional resource for families, creating a synergy between educational experiences and the critical skills of reading, technology, and learning. Partners in the project include NPower Charlotte, Bank of America, the Arts and Science Council, and the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
NPower Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
NPower Charlotte Region is an affiliate of the NPower National Network, providing low-cost and no-cost technology services to nonprofit organizations. NPower Charlotte Region will work with 14 existing CTCs to significantly increase computer and reading literacy, math skills, technical vocational skills, and computer competency of clients. The populations served span across CTCs operated by three non-profit organizations, the Central Avenue Bilingual Preschool, the YWCA Youth Development Program, and the Boyz to Men Club. As a result of support from Microsoft, NPower Charlotte Region will undertake a strategic planning process to upgrade the IT competency of the CTC instructors, implement standard literacy/basic computer skills curriculum in each of the CTCs, and create a sustainable infrastructure for this group of labs. NPower Charlotte Region’s vision for these 14 CTCs will also create a reusable model for the Charlotte region of how to strengthen and sustain our community’s CTCs.
e-NC Authority, Raleigh, NC
The e-NC Authority was created in 2003 and works in rural North Carolina to make the Internet accessible for its members, especially those in rural areas. Support from Microsoft will help e-NC launch four additional technology centers through its Business and Technology Telecenters (BTT) Program in distressed areas of North Carolina. Microsoft’s funding will specifically support center training staff in providing digital literacy training to entrepreneurs, displaced workers, and others to help grow skills to boost local economies. Other partners include: Cisco Systems, HP, IBM, BellSouth, Sprint, Verizon, and other public and private Internet providers.
Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (AB-CDC)
AB-CDC provides comprehensive support to build the overall assets and capacity of families as part of a larger poverty-alleviation/wealth-creation strategy. Support from Microsoft will enable AB-CDC to hire training and career-coaching staff to help families meet their goals.
Divide County Job Development Authority, Fargo, ND
Divide County Job Development Authority is located in a rural community and works to teach technology skills to a rural population that currently has little access to such instruction. By teaching these skills, the community hopes to attract new business to the area and ultimately fuel economic growth. Support from Microsoft will assist in the hiring of staff for the technology center to operate and maintain the center and teach classes. Other partners include the Department of Commerce for the state of North Dakota, North Dakota State University Extension Service, Divide County School District, the North Dakota Workforce Training office, and Divide County Economic Development Council.
Bryant Neighborhood Community Technology Center (CTC), Omaha, NE
The Bryant CTC is a program of the Applied Information Management Institute. The institute is a nonprofit consortium of business, education, and government agencies created to support and promote IT-related business growth. With the support from Microsoft, the Bryant CTC will increase its offerings of IT skills training for North Omaha's Enterprise Zone residents by hiring additional training staff and expanding the number of classes offered. Other partners include Creighton University and the Department of Education.
4th Street Computer Lab, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
4th Street Computer Lab was established in 1998 to provide vital Internet access and computer education to support the personal and economic well-being of the surrounding community. Funding from Microsoft will be used to hire a part-time IT coordinator to expand the technology training program for individuals in Sierra County over the age of 14. Classes will utilize UP curriculum and will cover technology basics and applications and advanced Web design.
Abraham House, Bronx, NY
Abraham House serves men, women, and children marked by crime by providing tools to assist them in becoming productive citizens. Microsoft funding will support the Abraham House technology center by providing support for staff with training experience and training existing staff to better administer technology classes to clients. Other partners include Robin Hood Foundation, Children’s Defense Fund, and Cornell University.
Broadway Housing Communities, New York, NY
Broadway Housing promotes innovative permanent housing for individuals and families in need, and offers a supporting community to fulfill their basic needs. At the Dorothy Day Apartments, the technology programs provide technology skills training and enrichment to residents, members of the immediate community, and tenant staff of Broadway Housing who currently lack computer literacy. Support from Microsoft will provide partial funding for the positions of Manager of Technology in Education and Computer Lab Assistant and enable the lab to be open 50 hours per week. Partners include: Robin Hood Foundation, NPower NY, City College, New York University, and Bank Street.
Henry Street Settlement, New York, NY
Henry Street Settlement serves Manhattan's Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods by providing 19 program sites and satellite projects in schools, housing developments, and transitional shelters. Software from Microsoft will upgrade 200 computers owned by Henry Street Settlement, enabling students and staff to work on the most current technologies and with the most up-to-date infrastructure.
Housing Works, Inc., New York, NY
Housing Works was founded in 1990 to provide housing and services to homeless New York residents living with HIV/AIDS. Support from Microsoft will expand and improve the Housing Works Job Training Program by upgrading and enhancing its computer training.
NPower NY, New York, NY
Established in partnership with Microsoft, the NPower network is the only national network of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping other nonprofits use technology effectively to pursue their missions. Support from Microsoft will assist NPower NY in two technology programs. The first will work with a cohort of community technology and learning centers (CTLCs) that are run by operators of after-school programs providing IT skills training to K-12 youth throughout New York City. The second will support NPower NY's Technology Service Corps, which trains out-of-school youth, ages 18 to 25, on a core set of hard technology skills, including computer repair, networking, and Web design. Graduates are placed in salaried IT positions at local nonprofits. Microsoft's ongoing engagement with NPower NY includes participation on their board, other volunteer support, and cash and software contributions.
Per Scholas, New York, NY
Per Scholas is dedicated to making the advantages of computer technology available to low-income communities in the United States and offers community residents a unique opportunity to obtain hands-on skills training and gain employment in the computer industry. Students of Per Scholas come from high-poverty communities and face multiple barriers to employment. This donation from Microsoft will be used to support staff of the Computer Technician Training Program in New York, increasing trainings by more than thirty percent, as well as increasing other IT program offerings. The software will be used in both the New York and Miami offices. Other partners include Robin Hood Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and Surdna Foundation.
Cleveland Housing Network, Cleveland, OH
The Community Training and Technology Center is a state-of-the-art educational and training facility featuring 17 computer workstations with high-speed Internet access that is available to the residents of Cleveland Housing Networks’ affordable housing developments. The Center offers IT skill training in basic computers, Internet navigation, and the use of Microsoft productivity applications. Support from Microsoft will provide funding for the IT and instructional staff that support this training program. Partners include: City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland School District, Key Bank, local community colleges, and housing organizations.
Centro Cultural of Washington County, Cornelius, OR
Centro Cultural offers computer literacy courses to Latino families with minimal or no computer or English skills through flexible class schedules. Support from Microsoft will assist in the hiring of training staff, enabling expansion of classes. The program goal is to assist low-income English-language learners in acquiring living-wage jobs. Centro Cultural partners include Intel Corporation, Oregon State University Extension Services, Hillsboro School District, El Hispanic News, and Univision (Spanish TV network).
Sabin Community Development Corporation, Portland, OR
Sabin Community Development Corporation serves youth and young adults in north/northeast Portland by identifying ways that technology can help educators, parents, students, and the community increase their technology skills and work during the after-school timeframe. Microsoft funding will assist with staff costs to support the integration of IT skills programs with youth, local schools, and the community and assist in tracking outcome measurements. Sabin’s partners include: Portland Public Schools, Portland Community College, Oregon Employment Department, City of Portland, and local businesses.
Norristown Police Athletic League (PAL), Norristown, PA
Norristown PAL's purpose is to provide young people in the Norristown area with programs and activities that build character and maturity. PAL offers services to all young people and their families regardless of race, creed, color, religion, or economic status. Software and Unlimited Potential (UP) curriculum support from Microsoft will assist with software upgrades for the technology center in order to teach with the most current technology.
Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center (PVMSEC), Philadelphia, PA
The mission of PVMSEC is to provide employment, training, and related educational services to all facets of the community, especially veterans, regardless of their station in life. Funding from Microsoft will be used specifically for Computer Application Training and Computer Repair Training by providing support for additional staff time to teach the program as well as software and curriculum to bring the technology center up to date.
Employment Opportunity & Training Center (EOTC), Scranton, PA
EOTC provides programs with a mission to promote family stability and self sufficiency. Software and Unlimited Potential (UP) curriculum from Microsoft will support efforts to revitalize EOTC's CTC in order to continue providing training to disadvantaged individuals in the local area. Partners include the Scranton Area Family Center, the U.S. Department of Education, and private funders.
West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center (The STAR Center), Jackson, TN
The STAR Center supports and develops programs to assist children and adults with disabilities and special needs in achieving their educational, employment, and independent-living goals. Microsoft support will assist the STAR Center in expanding its instructional services programs and developing a Job Tracks program by providing funds to hire additional staff. Support from Microsoft enables the STAR center to qualify for a four-to-one match from state and federal matching dollars.
Head Start Greater Dallas, Dallas, TX
HEAD START (HSGD) is in the Greater Dallas area serving thousands of underserved children and their parents annually. Integrated into the learning environment of Head Start youth are computers and educational software. However, the children’s parents rarely have access to technology, are not computer literate, and lack the resources to learn to use a computer at home, affecting their ability to teach or encourage learning for their children. HSGD has expanded its technology programs to reach the parents of the children in the program. Microsoft support will be used to support staffing costs to expand the Computer Literacy Training Program to additional sites during the new school year. Other partners include: Texas Instruments, Dallas Housing Authority, SMU, and Texas Dental Hygienists.
Houston Technology Center, Houston, TX
The Houston Technology Center (HTC) was formed in 1999 with a three-fold mission—to educate those in the community with technology and employment skills development, accelerate the growth of emerging technology companies, and communicate Houston’s technology successes, opportunities, and capabilities. Microsoft funding will provide support for TECbridge, a series of courses designed to prepare under-skilled workers for entry into jobs and careers that require proficiency in the use of Microsoft business applications. Specifically, funding will be used to expand current educational offerings, support IT staff, and increase student enrollment. Other partners include Rice University, Johnson Space Center, the City of Houston, and HP.
Alamo Area Community Information System (AACIS), San Antonio, TX
The Alamo Area Community Information System provides bilingual computer-skills training programs through four community technology centers in low-income neighborhoods. Support from Microsoft will be used to expand the number of classes offered to adults and teens who are underskilled and undereducated. Other partners include Alamo Workforce Development, United Way, and the City of San Antonio.
Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), Grapevine, TX
GRACE provides necessities (food, clothing, financial assistance) to families struggling with limited income or recent crises. Additional programs include transitional housing, a clinic, and a technology center. The Tech Center @ GRACE provides low-cost computer training courses, ranging from introductory to advanced, for GRACE clients and the community at large. Support from Microsoft will assist GRACE in the administration, programming, and marketing of the technology center. Partners include United Way, Vista-AmeriCorps, IBM, and Verizon.
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, Dallas, TX
The YMCA is dedicated to providing comprehensive and critical social and educational programs and services to people of varied ages and needs. Support from Microsoft will benefit five computer labs in Dallas by enabling the YMCA to hire additional part-time and contract staff to teach technology skills classes. Other partners include the City of Dallas, Dallas County, and the United Way.
Washington State 4-H Foundation, Salishan CTLC, Tacoma, WA
The 4-H Salishan Community Technology Learning Center is located in East Tacoma, in an urban, low-income housing district. Salishan CTLC is one of ten 4-H sites across the state of Washington providing technology-based skills training through Washington State University Extension CTLCs. Funding from Microsoft will support increased staff hours which will in turn increase hours of operation and technology training at the Salishan CTLC. 4-H partners include: Tacoma Housing Authority, Washington State University/WSU Extension, local community colleges, and the Metropolitan Development Council.
Byte Back, Washington, D.C.
Byte Back partners with organizations and volunteers to provide affordable computer skills to under-served members of the community. Byte Back empowers, serves the community, builds confidence, educates, and helps people get better jobs. Support through Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential (UP) program will fund staffing and operations of the Community Computing Academy, the Fast Track Program, and the Technology Internship Academy. Specific outcomes include substantial redesign and improvement of the Community Computing Academy and continued growth in Byte Back’s ability to assist internship graduates in obtaining IT employment.
Capitol Hill Computer Corner, Washington, D.C.
Capitol Hill Computer Corner's mission is to narrow the "technology gap" in the community by integrating technology into academic and career opportunities. Funding from Microsoft will support short- and long-term sustainability of Capitol Hill Computer Corner’s youth technology programs through program staffing, staff development, and evaluation. Other partners include: Capital Area Food Bank, Good Samaritan Foundation, and NPower.
Community Preservation & Development Corporation, Washington, D.C.
The mission of Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) is to create vibrant communities through partnerships and innovation. CPDC accomplishes this by creating financially sound, socially responsible affordable housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. In cooperation with community residents, it develops community programs that strengthen communities and increase opportunities for growth. Funding from Microsoft will be used to support training staff and to continue providing IT and office skills training.
Latin American Youth Center, Washington, D.C.
The Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) was incorporated in 1974 by Latino immigrants to address the void of culturally sensitive programs for the emerging Latino community in the District of Columbia. While maintaining our original name, the LAYC has evolved into a multicultural youth and family development center that today serves over 5,000 children, teens, and adults from the District’s Latino, African-American, Caribbean, Asian, and African communities. Funding from Microsoft will fund one-full time staff member for the program and operational costs for adult computer literacy classes, which have exceeded enrollment expectations and grown tremendously over the first two years of the program.
NPower Greater D.C. Region
NPower Greater D.C. Region is an affiliate of the NPower National network dedicated to ensuring that nonprofits of all sizes can use technology to work smarter and achieve more. Funding from Microsoft will be used to support the “Bolstering the Bridge” program, which will support CTCs by strengthening technology infrastructure, increasing staff and volunteer know-how, and facilitating vibrant information exchange between participating CTCs.