Special opportunity to go straight into the laptop build program
Introducing: Laptop Prebuild
Want to volunteer with Free Geek? Need a computer? Join the Free Geek Laptop Department for summer sessions of Laptop Prebuild, a new program designed to prepare volunteers to join the Laptop Build program. Earn points towards a free Desktop computer while gaining new skills.
Get an introduction to the ins and outs of laptop hardware, troubleshooting and repair. Topics include hardware identification, disassembly/assembly strategies, POST troubleshooting, and an introduction to Linux. Students will participate in four one-day sessions, although some may “test out” prior to completion of the four weeks..
Session 1: Wednesdays June 26th-July 17th, 2-5:30pm
Session 2: Thursdays July 11th-August 1st, 2-5:30pm
Volunteers must be 16 or older, or volunteering with an adult. An orientation tour is required, and a Free Geek Linux command line class is strongly recommended.
Email lynnae@freegeek.org with any questions. To pick up an application, swing by the Free Geek front desk, or email Lynnae.
Two Burgervilles Supporting Free Geek Wednesday 3/20
Consider visiting either the Burgerville at 16211 SE Division St or 1122 SE Hawthorne Blvd between 5 and 8pm on Wednesday the 20th to help support Free Geek. They’re both donating 10% of their proceeds from this evening to Free Geek.
Two Portland Non-Profits Set to Complete Major Computer Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Jill Walters, Executive Director, Portland YouthBuilders
jill.walters@pybpdx.org; 503-286-9350 ext 241
Darren Heiber, Director of Public Services, Free Geek
dheiber@freegeek.org; 503-232-9350 ext 111
Two Portland Non-Profits Set to Complete Major Computer Project
200 Refurbished Computers Being Donated to Portland Public Schools
Portland, Oregon – March 5, 2013 Free Geek and Portland YouthBuilders (PYB) announced today that they are near completion of a project to refurbish 200 desktop computers donated by the City of Portland that are being distributed to various Portland public schools.
Through the City of Portland, 200 computers are being donated to Free Geek, who will train volunteers to test the machines and prepare them for refurbishment by students enrolled in Portland YouthBuilders’ Youth Media Program. As a licensed Microsoft Windows refurbisher, PYB will install RAM and hard drives on the Dell Optiplex 960 systems. “Since 2008, the City has been sending its used computers to Free Geek for precisely this type of collaboration: getting quality machines into the hands of students and non-profit organizations,” said Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman who created the program.
To date, more than 140 computers have been refurbished and placed in schools across PPS including 35 at West Sylvan Middle School. “I had the joy of watching an entire class working with no technical difficulties, no frozen screens. Pure heaven for all,” said Susan Scanlon, West Sylvan library assistant and technology coordinator. “Portland Public Schools has over 85 schools, many with obsolete equipment in their computer labs,” added Tony Magliano, deputy chief operating officer for the school district. “This donation will inject new life into technology labs at nine schools. We are truly grateful to Free Geek and Portland YouthBuilders for this contribution to student learning.”
For Portland YouthBuilder students, all of whom are also AmeriCorps members, “the refurbishment effort represents PYB’s focus on vocational training and service to the community. We are delighted to be able to give our young people the opportunity to support Portland schools in a very tangible way,” said PYB’s Executive Director Jill Walters.
Darren Heiber, Free Geek’s Director of Public Services, said he is, “overjoyed to experience this collaboration with Portland YouthBuilders, impacting so many students in the Portland area. Not only do we provide greater access to environmentally-responsible refurbished technology in the PPS classrooms, students in the Portland YouthBuilders’ Youth Media program also get to strengthen their computer refurbishment skills.”
About Portland YouthBuilders
Based in the Lents Neighborhood of outer southeast Portland, PYB (www.pybpdx.org) supports 200 low income young men and women each year between 17 and 24 who have dropped out of high school but are committed to changing their lives. PYB offers a multi-year program of education, vocational training, leadership development, community service, and long term support. Students earn high school diplomas or GED while acquiring the skills, values, and experience necessary to become responsible community members and lead self-sufficient lives. As AmeriCorps Members, each PYB student completes 450 hours of community service and earns an Education Award of $1,468. PYB is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission as a diploma-granting high school, and is an approved pre-apprenticeship program by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. The program is funded 28% through a Federal award of $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Labor – ETA for the YouthBuild Program Initiative. PYB is financed in part with funds provided through Worksystems, Inc. from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Portland Development Commission. Portland YouthBuilders is an equal opportunity employer and an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. TTY1-800-735-2900
About Free Geek
FREE GEEK (www.freegeek.org) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that recycles technology and provides access to computers, the Internet, education and job skills in exchange for community service. We accept donations from the public of most electronic equipment, ranging from computers and printers to stereos, tablets, smartphones, iPods and other mp3 players. Free Geek benefits from a dedicated group of 500 to 600 active volunteers each month. Our volunteers evaluate, test and disassemble various components, which are either ethically recycled to reclaim useful materials or incorporated into refurbished systems loaded with Free and Open Source Software. There are multiple ways volunteers can receive a free computer in exchange for their community service. Many opt for the 24 hour adoption program, others learn to refurbish computers through the build program, and K-12 Portland students are able to volunteer for 24 hours in their communities to earn a free computer via the Plug Into Portland program. We also offer a variety of free classes, open to the public, on a range of topics from building job skills and navigating the Internet, to the use of free and open source software and programming skills. Computer hardware that does not go to Free Geek’s volunteers is granted out to schools, nonprofits and other community change organizations through our Hardware Grants program or sold online and in our thrift store to members of the wider community.
Live Music, Video Games, $3 Drafts and More to Support Free Geek 2/21
Join us for a Free Geek all-ages party Thursday 2/21 7-10pm at Ford Food & Drink and enjoy special guests The Doubleclicks, a geek sister duo from Portland (who happen to have written the Cards Against Humanity theme song). After their set, enter the video game tournament on the big screen with a Free Geek Thrift Store gift certificate grand prize. Don’t forget to bring some cash for the laptop raffle. Thanks to Lompoc Brewing, we’re able to offer $3 pints of Rye IPA and Fool’s Golden Ale with a portion of proceeds going to Free Geek. $5 recommended donation, but more is always appreciated ;)
We have tons of beautiful posters created by Caitlin Hansen Design & Illustration at the Free Geek front desk. Please come by to pick up one, ten or twenty for yourself or to share them around your neighborhood.
Pacific Pie Company to Donate a Portion of Proceeds 2/12 to Free Geek
Tuesday 2/12 Pacific Pie Company (1520 SE 7th Ave) will donate a portion of the proceeds from all sales to Free Geek! They make tasty, tasty sweet and savory pies, so definitely consider eating a lighter diet than usual two or three days before the 12th to prepare your stomach for their amazingness. Please tell your friends, families and anyone you see on the street to visit Pacific Pie Company this Tuesday so you can help Free Geek fulfill our mission.
Free Geek Volunteer Holi-Distro Party
Volunteers are invited to join us Tuesday 12/04/12 from 6pm to 9pm at Free Geek to celebrate the winter holidays and Free Geek’s release of Xubuntu 12.04 at our HoliDistro party! DISCO rhymes with DISTRO so we’re gonna dress up in 70′s gear and play that funky music…come ready to groove!
We will have a fabulous taco bar and ask participants to bring side dishes or desserts to compliment. There will also be a white elephant gift exchange, so start looking for that silly something sitting around your house to regift. You will also have a chance to play around with the new Free Geek-flavored version of Xubuntu 12.04, soon to be found on all our outgoing systems.
This is just one way we want to say a big “thank you” for all your hard work volunteers! You r̶o̶c̶k̶ disco!
Followup from Free Geek Town Hall Meeting
Thank you to all of our volunteers who attended the Town Hall Meeting Saturday, September 22. We appreciate your feedback and are striving to implement many of the changes you have recommended. If you would like to see more about the Town Hall Meeting, and various ways you can keep in touch with Free Geek, please visit our page devoted to the event.
For those who were planning on attending the presentation on similar organizations this Saturday (10/20), please note we have pushed the presentation back one week to the 27th. More information can be found in the Free Geek lobby.
Why Reuse is Better Than Recycling
Free Geek is one of many reuse non-profits in the Portland area. Unlike recycling, which can be very costly and energy-intensive, reusing items is an excellent way to help save our environment and precious dollars. Learn more about how we’re diverting materials from landfills in this informative Oregonian article.
How is Linux Made?
Did you realize that you often come into contact with Linux on a daily basis? Many of our phones, cars, planes and websites are powered by Linux. The amazing thing is that Linux is built collaboratively by people with an amazing range of computer savvy. Interested to know how this process works? Check out this three-minute explanation…and maybe you can help Linux become a better operating system!
Free Geek Spanish Build Program
We were recently featured on Univision for our Spanish Build program. Check out the coverage below (en Español, of course):
