 Chabot Space and Science Center is an educational science center whose mission is to educate students of all ages about Planet Earth and the Universe. In November 2017, the Chabot Center launched Project Create, an interactive learning exhibition with hands-on tinkering and making spaces open to all ages and abilities. Students explore STEAM through the manipulation of real tools and materials in stations including, Marble Machines, Stop Motion Station, Shaping Shadows, Circuit Blocks, Tinker Tailor and more. In collaboration with Tech Exchange, Project Create has a station titled Tech Take Apart where visitors are able to take apart and rebuild computer parts giving youth the experience to dissect technology and its different parts. Tech Exchange provides donated computer parts to support the station. Through this collaboration, Tech Take Apart emphasizes different aspects of the creative process and explores technology in a nontraditional approach. As Tech Exchange and the Chabot Center continue to work together, Project Create empowers learners and uses inquiry as a tool to ignite curiosity. In addition, Project Create also hosts workshops in which youth use disconnected computer pieces to design and build tech monsters. Over the last 23 years, Tech Exchange has diverted over 800 tons of e-waste from landfills using our “reuse-model” approach. With Project Create, Tech Exchange is able to increase its impact diverting their e-waste, while youth simultaneously gain a deeper understanding of each part’s importance through this hands-on approach. Tech Take Apart provides a recycling space for technology that otherwise may have been disposed. Tech Exchange takes pride in connecting with local expertise and partners as we work together to empower learning, uplift and provide tangible resources to the community.
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 Through a partnership between Kaiser Permanente staff, Hands On Bay Area, and the tireless staff at Tech Exchange, we rung in the New Year with a highly successful (and fun!) volunteer project for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to get ready for our upcoming warehouse move! After 20 years in one location, Tech Exchange’s computer refurbishing team will be moving to a new warehouse in West Oakland. We're becoming leaner and gathering our strength to grow, and this move sets us up to focus on efficiently getting computers to our community in increasing numbers! In order to make the move this spring, we need to downsize and spring clean! That means sorting through things, reorganizing our stock, recycling what we can’t use, and getting the new space ready! Over twenty people from Kaiser Permanente came out bright and early on January 16 and did just that! Under the direction of our staff, they went through the warehouse like a whirlwind, leaving us cleaner, ready to host a big surplus material giveaway for the community, and did it with grace and smiles! The Day of Service, "A Day On, Not a Day Off!" began in 1994. Each year, “With an emphasis on creating opportunity for all, Americans of all ages and backgrounds in all 50 states will re-commit themselves as citizens by volunteering in service to one another,” according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. As ever, we are grateful for neighbors who support our events! Tech Exchange wants to give a huge shout out to those generous Kaiser staff members who mopped, sorted, lifted, and cut lunch bread with a plastic knife to make the work light. Hands on Bay Area coordinated the volunteers and arranged for a tasty lunch. And our staff dug in like they always do! Our community, including people who give of their time and money, have helped us increase our ability to help others and we're looking forward to a great 2017! Watch this space for more details of our upcoming Open House on May 4 as part of East Bay Gives– hope to see you there! Our refurbished computer store, classes, and technical support will be located this spring in the Fruitvale neighborhood. Watch for announcements on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/techXorg/. |
