The Power of Partnership: From E-Waste to Empowerment
- Jose Vigil
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
On August 18, Tech Exchange proudly delivered 178 refurbished laptops to our partner, Dev/Mission, marking an exciting next step in an ongoing effort to expand digital access across San Francisco. This milestone reflects the power of collaboration, turning a generous donation of computers into tools that help families, students, and job seekers thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Through this partnership, Tech Exchange, Dev/Mission, and SF Public Library are working together to bridge the digital divide, ensure sustainability, and empower communities with the technology they need to succeed.
This effort began when SF Public Library generously donated 485 computers to be shared between Tech Exchange and Dev/Mission. Thanks to Tech Exchange’s streamlined refurbishing process that enables our teams to refurbish between 15,000 and 20,000 devices every year, we were able to quickly step up and take on the refurbishment of these donated computers.
“There is a great deal of mutual respect and admiration between Tech Exchange and Dev Mission; this effort is an example of nurturing and strengthening the ecosystem of digital equity organizations, and city governments throughout the Bay Area coming together to have collective impact. Leo has been doing great work in SF for years, and we are more than happy to partner and support the collective work of our organizations.”
Said Ulises Zatarain, Executive Director of Tech Exchange.
Our Tech Operations and Production teams immediately got to work—testing, data wiping, and refurbishing each device to meet our standards for security and usability. From that first batch of devices, 356 devices were successfully refurbished.
178 laptops were delivered to Dev/Mission to support their digital equity initiatives in San Francisco.
178 laptops are now powering Tech Exchange programs, including Digital
Literacy classes, affordable device distribution across the bay area.
The remaining unfixable devices were e-wasted and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Dan Huynh, Tech Operations Coordinator at Tech Exchange, shared:
“I’m glad to be working with SF Libraries, SF Recycle, and Dev/Mission to help bridge the digital divide. Collaborating with everyone's team has been a great experience. They’re detail oriented and dedicated, which makes our collective impact even stronger for the community."
Enrique Martinez, Director of Production at Tech Exchange, added:
“This collaboration has been great teamwork because we are able to refurbish these devices and have a wider reach. We love partnering with local organizations with similar goals.”
What’s Next
From the original donation of 485 computers, Tech Exchange has already refurbished 356 laptops. The first 178 laptops were delivered to Dev/Mission, and the remaining 178 laptops are supporting Tech Exchange programs.
The second batch of 365 computers is now being processed, bringing the total number of donated laptops to 850 devices. With the success of the first phase, we agreed to a second phase.
Together, we are ensuring that hundreds of laptops are reaching families, students, and job seekers, expanding digital access throughout the community.
Why It Matters
Together, we are creating meaningful change in the Bay Area. By transforming donated computers into usable laptops, they ensure that families, students, and job seekers have access to the technology they need to succeed.
This partnership promotes sustainability, reducing e-waste by giving computers a second life. What began as a donation of 485 computers has grown into a project that touches hundreds of lives—and with the second batch of 365 devices underway, the impact continues to expand.
Together, these organizations are proving that by working in partnership, technology can become a tool for opportunity, equity, and community empowerment.
This collaboration is made possible by organizations committed to building stronger, more connected communities:
Tech Exchange - works to ensure that all families have a computer, Internet access, and technology skills necessary to improve and enhance their lives. We are dedicated to building a community of digitally proficient Bay Area residents who can access online education, employment, health, financial, and civic services.
SF Recycle - Dedicated to reducing waste, conserving resources, and creating a sustainable future for San Francisco by promoting reuse, recycling, and responsible materials management.
SF Public Library - Computers were made available for this purpose through the leadership and engagement of the San Francisco Public Library IT team.
Dev/Mission - mission is to train untapped young adults ages 16–24 for careers in technology, creating a pipeline of diverse talent while empowering communities through technology education and innovation.
📢 Want to get involved? If your organization would like to donate devices or partner with Tech Exchange to make a similar impact, reach out to us at community@techexchange.org
Together, we can bridge the digital divide across the Bay Area and surrounding cities.
