We're not okay with leaving anyone behind!

Central Washington.?It is the place I call home.?I was born and raised here. I chose to move back to the area after college and planted roots among the apple and cherry trees on the farm where my husband and I raised our family.?This place I call home is rural, remote and the population is sparse. It has a mere 300,000 people who live in an area that covers 1/4 of Washington State. It is also beautiful. The mighty Columbia River, the many lakes and basalt cliffs that dot the landscape and of course the fertile soil that supports the many hundreds of crops that are grown here that feed others around the world.

Like myself, there are many that choose to gravitate to this area for all those things I mentioned above and many other reasons.?But this area I call home is not for everyone. Yes, as with everything in life, there is always a flipside to all good things. Things here move at a slower pace and things take longer to implement.?There are areas that need improvements and when it comes to many of the most rural areas in my region the needs are drastic. Although while only a few hours’ drive from Redmond (Microsoft's HQ), it is notably different in demographics, barriers, and access to the digital economy.?There is a lack of access to technology and infrastructure, and digital inclusion is a priority need. Barriers like geographic distance, language, and prior educational attainment (prerequisite knowledge) prevent local businesses from adopting technologies that could improve efficiency and livelihood.

That is why when I was approached five years ago with an offer from Microsoft to run their TechSpark program here locally, I was overjoyed. I would now be able to keep my feet firmly planted in an area I was already fully invested in and care about; while getting to address the pain point areas around me that needed some extra attention with the resources that Microsoft would be able to bring to the table.

Microsoft TechSpark, was originally launched in 7 states and Juarez, Mexico, with a mission to support economic growth and innovation in underestimated communities across the United States by partnering deeply with local organizations, businesses, and individuals to provide resources, support, and training in areas such as technology, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. The program’s mission is to help bridge the digital divide and ensure that all communities, regardless of their location or economic status, have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing technological landscape.

Fast forward to today, I am excited that we announced the TechSpark expansion into all 50 states where we will be sharing our community engagement framework, lessons learned and resources available. There will be opportunities to apply to receive a mix of funding, insight from TechSpark veterans and technical assistance both in-person and virtual support.?Microsoft is inviting government, business, and nonprofit leaders to join us as we continue our learning journey and find inclusive ways for all communities to address the digital divide and drive economic growth.

It has been so much fun but also at times so challenging doing this work over the last five years. Much of our work we've concentrated on here in Central Washington has been focused on CS education, Digital Skilling, Tech Enablement and Digital inclusion. As an outsider, it is often easy to see what the needs are, but the real challenge comes in finding the right partner to help you achieve your goals. I have been so lucky to have found some incredible partners.

My first project was when I worked with local partners North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) and Apple STEM Network, where I worked with the incredible Dr. Sue Kane, to conduct a regional landscape assessment of computer science and digital skilling opportunities for students across the region. The feedback captured by that survey was then used to strategically, and systematically, address barriers and expand regional access to digital skills training, computer science education, and postsecondary credentials.

“We're not okay with leaving anyone behind as the technology frontier accelerates across our region. Our work with Microsoft TechSpark is helping us ensure that youth have the skills they need to thrive in tomorrow’s economy.” - Dr. Sue Kane, Apple Stem Director.

Prior to TechSpark, there had never been a single Code.org regional workshop for educators in the 6-county TechSpark region. Just not equitable for rural areas where they must travel to training and school districts don’t have substitutes. TechSpark advocacy not only brought the Code.org training to the region to expand access for small rural districts, but Code.org endorsed a regional trainer to provide ongoing professional learning opportunities for K-5 teachers in the region. Since then, hundreds of educators have received Code.org Fundamentals training and an ongoing partnership between Code.org and NCESD supported 12 workshops in 2020 alone, training a total of 145 elementary educators in virtual CS fundamentals workshops.?Additionally, we have hosted over 2,100 students and parents at Hour of Code events over the last three years.

Next, we partnered with NCESD to help us expand the TEALS program from two schools to 27 schools. As of the fall of 2022, 27 of 29 school districts are teaching computer science.?In the span of four years, we went from 15% of the area schools having CS to 90%. Huge accomplishment and a definite win for these rural students.

Another wildly successful partnership was with regional nonprofit, NCW Tech Alliance to develop a local portal for access to the LinkedIn Learning digital training, skilling and credentialing pathways and have a “skilling competition.” Following great local success, it was rebranded and relaunched nationally as the Community Skilling Initiative.

The program aims to help job seekers and professionals gain new skills for in-demand roles in the digital economy. The Community Skills Initiative website puts resources in digital skills and foundational skills together in one easy-to-navigate platform. 80+ courses are available in English and Spanish for free. Over 1,600 individuals from nine states have participated with over 5,300 certificates completed.

"NCW Tech Alliance has always been committed to bringing people and technology together and our work with Microsoft TechSpark has now empowered us with new programs and resources to meet people where they are at – in their language and at their level.”

?- Jenny Rojanasthien, NCW Tech Alliance, Executive Director

Last November, Microsoft TechSpark in partnership with the Apple STEM Network, NCW Tech Alliance, Microsoft Teals, and NCESD hosted the very first Eastern Washington Computer Science Fair in Wenatchee, WA. We had over 800 CS students from around Eastern WA attend. Our hope was to create a sense of excitement and send a loud and clear message to the rural high school CS students that they are?wanted, worthy and needed?in CS careers at a critical moment.

In closing, the examples I've focused on above are just a small sampling of the projects we've taken on over the last five years. What we've done in Central Washington can be replicated in your community - and that's why this news is so exciting. I'm so appreciative to all of our partners in Central Washington -- your passion, patience and perseverance to create a long-lasting impact is contagious. Together we have made real progress to this place we all call HOME.

Now, I am excited and thrilled for all the communities across 50 states that now have the opportunity to find their partner and together make progress in the areas they call home. I'm looking forward to personally working with some of you and helping you unlock the magic of TechSpark through the TechSpark Community Engagement Fellowship program.

To learn more about how to get your community involved please visit our website to view our?TechSpark Playbook?or register for our?webinar on March 1st?that will discuss the new TechSpark Community Engagement Fellowship program.

Through the?TechSpark?program, Microsoft partners with communities to understand their unique regional challenges and to explore solutions, programs, and partnerships that will be most effective at the local level.