Tech Exchange

 Tech Exchange is a nonprofit that refurbishes computers in order to donate them to local schools and sell them at accessible prices.

According the Tech Exchange site, "since 1999 Tech Exchange has provided over:

• 10,000 computers to Oakland Public School families free of charge
• 10,000 computers to Oakland Public School classrooms and community access labs across Oakland
• Over 1,000 laptop computers to students and community members in Oakland
• Diverted over 700 tons of electronic waste from landfills for productive use or responsible recycling"

How to help the Tech Exchange?

• These are the ways in which Tech Exchange would like help: Increasing donations (funding, hardware), volunteering to teach the adult ed program.

Digital Divide members:

• Adult Ed: Tamao is helping revive their adult computer ed program and is looking at a few Saturdays/month to see how things go. If any individuals from the Digital Divide group or community members would like to help teach computer ed classes, please post a comment here. Initially we will work on basic skills (using a computer, writing docs, creating emails accounts, starting a blog, finding free/cheap tech learning resources on the web) and then work our way up depending on the audience. 
• If Digital Divide would like to assist Tech Exchange as an organization, you can help give awareness to Tech Exchange so that they can get more donations.
• If the Digital Divide group would like to do a field trip with Tech Exchange, the best introduction would be to volunteer for one of the volunteer hours to help refurbish their equipment. 

Community members:

•  If any community members would like to help teach computer ed classes, please post a comment here. Initially we will work on basic skills (using a computer, writing docs, creating emails accounts, starting a blog, finding free/cheap tech learning resources on the web) and then work our way up depending on the audience. 

Related Links

• Digital Divide
• Free Computer Access
• Electronic Recycling