Representatives from Omaha’s Metropolitan Utilities District visited the AIM Brain Exchange Thursday to donate 15 iPads in support of AIM’s youth-in-tech programs. The iPads will help AIM expand its free tech education outreach to a wider audience, particularly underserved students who might not get to experience technology otherwise. In this way, M.U.D. and AIM are helping build tomorrow’s tech workforce and closing the local IT talent gap.
These iPads allow students to gain early experience controlling technology. Early tech exposure helps demystify a field that might seem out-of-reach to underserved youth. Such youth often face structural barriers to developing the technical skills that would help them break out of the cycle of poverty.
“We want to get our kids excited about being content creators, not just content consumers,” said Jonathan Holland, Senior Director of Educational Programs for AIM.
To that end, the AIM Brain Exchange helps youth explore, learn and do technology. Students gain hands-on experiences with virtual reality, programmable robots, and Piper Computer kits. A mobile outreach unit also travels to area schools, providing free tech education to students aged 7 to 17.
Holland continued: “We’ve found that if you don’t get kids interested in technology before middle school, they might never be interested. That’s too bad. People who choose a technology career tend to make $1 million more over their lifetime than they would if they didn’t go into tech.”
How You Can Help Build a Stronger Tech Community
As an innovative not-for-profit that helps grow, connect and inspire the tech talent ecosystem through education and career development, AIM relies on the support of partner organizations and community donations to sustain the services we offer to the community. Please consider making a small donation to support our youth-in-tech programs.
Even a modest, tax-deductible donation of $5 will help us reach more youth.
Whether you choose to donate or not, we’d love to see you at the 2019 AIM Tech Celebration awards ceremony. Tech Celebration is an annual awards ceremony recognizing businesses, individuals, students and educators that help shape the future of technology. The event acts as a connective force in the IT ecosystem, providing valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration. This year’s ceremony takes place Nov. 14, 5:30 to 8:30pm at the Center for Advanced and Emerging Technology on the MCC Fort Omaha campus.
As always, Tech Celebration is free and open to the public. Come meet new people, reconnect with old colleagues, and celebrate technology in our community!