A Flexible and Powerful Investment in the Future of the Technology Community
Mission and History
KidsTek, formerly The Colorado Technology Community Foundation (CTCF), connects the resources and opportunities of the technology sector with the identified technology education needs of kids in Colorados undeserved communities.
Founded in 2000 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by several of Colorados leading technology executives to enhance our communities and to develop the future technology workforce through opportunity and perspective-broadening experiences for undeserved youth. With a start-up grant from the Anschutz Foundation, KidsTek has raised over $500,000 to date to deliver to technology programs in metro Denver. Through our first non-profit partnership, the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver (BGCMD), we have established a successful technology program for kids, Ages K-12, that is an award-winning model for Boys & Girls Clubs nationally.
KidsTek
KidsTek works closely with targeted Colorado youth (ages K-12) service providers in undeserved communities across Colorados Front Range to provide the following identified success factors:
Technical Resources: Through our community partners, KidsTek provides a technology assessment and plan, equipment, ongoing maintenance and upgrading of hardware systems and software programs. This is funded through the KidsTek Program so the technology centers are fully operational at all times - a problem endemic to non-profit providers.
Curriculum:An education template and supervision as needed around its implementation plus ongoing joint research of new educational tools. KidsTeks instructors engage clients through such project based lessons as animation, web design and digital recording.
Assessment: In partnership with the University of Denver, KidsTek is developing an online survey that will serve as a lesson for clients, as well as a survey for testing pre- and post- skills acquisition and attitude about technology. We want to understand and enhance our impact on the lives of our clients.
Mentoring: Representatives of the technology and government sectors are recruited by KidsTek to serve as one-on-one mentors and group advocates to the KidsTek Program(s) that they adopt through the Venture Partner Program.
Our current partners include the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County and Girls Inc. of Metro Denver. We are currently interviewing additional partners for 2006.
What is the Technology Gap?
In brief, the technology gap is the difference among socio-economic, cultural and gender lines in both access to technology and the type of education and engagement that motivates a child to reap the benefits including long-term academic and job-readiness - of technology in today's society.
Today 60% of all jobs require some type of technical skills in fact Colorado is the 1 high-tech industry employer per capita nationally. In addition, Americans who use a computer at work earn, on average, 17 to 22% more than those who do not. As technical competency becomes increasingly important for future success, our kids must be better equipped to enter the workforce. We must be certain that we provide training and support to our youth that are not as fortunate; so that they may take advantage of the abundance we have created.
KidsTek, understanding that while the problem is national, the solution is local, is stepping forward to facilitate the funding and training initiatives that are imperative to providing equal opportunities to all members of the community. We know that getting computers into classrooms or after-school centers is only the first step; supporting a technology-learning environment is at the heart of overcoming the technology gap. That type of training costs money, but its money well spent. Building bridges pays a dividend in developing trained, self-sufficient and motivated high-tech employees - and impacts the quality of life for the kids we serve.
