Tech Wellness Project

Timeframe: 2020-2022

Description:
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Day One Tech (DOT) launched the Tech Wellness Program (TWP) with funding from the Oregon Health Authority to address critical needs within Black, Brown, Indigenous, Immigrant, and Refugee communities. These families faced compounded challenges due to established inequities, making at-home learning especially difficult.

TWP provided vital technical support and outfitted dozens of homes with technology and learning equipment to create engaging and comfortable at-home learning environments. Families received items such as LED keyboards, gamer chairs, headsets, mice, desks, lap desks, and LED lights to make remote learning not only functional but fun and appealing.

The program also included a highly successful virtual STEM initiative, using a "YouTube"-style videocast to deliver engaging lessons, paired with LEGO STEM Kits distributed to families. TWP provided $40,000 in LEGOS and STEM supplies and $60,000 in home learning equipment, reaching hundreds of children across East Multnomah County.

Impact:

• Innovative Learning Spaces: Transformed dozens of homes into tech-friendly, engaging learning environments for kids.
• Virtual STEM Success: Reached hundreds of children with a unique virtual STEM program that combined entertaining, educational content with hands-on LEGO activities.
• LEGO STEM Kits: Distributed $40,000 worth of LEGOS to foster stable play, creativity, and evaluation, using LEGOS as a Montessori-style tool to support child development.
• Community Support: Provided $60,000 in essential home supplies to families, reducing stress and creating accessible spaces for learning during a global crisis.

Collaborators/Partners:

• Oregon Health Authority
• Oregon Ask

Ongoing Work:
We continue to bring education to where people live, meeting families and youth where they are. By understanding the power of technology and entertainment as tools to engage youth, we develop programs that reach kids in ways that resonate with their interests and experiences. LEGOS remain a central part of our approach, providing a stable and versatile tool for play, creativity, and evaluation in our programs.

Timeframe: 2022 - 2023

Description:
In 2022, Day One Tech partnered with the City of Gresham to launch two groundbreaking initiatives that brought STEM and technology experiences directly to the community.

The first initiative involved creating a one-of-a-kind LEGO Trailer, a mobile STEM lab designed to deliver LEGO-based activities to parks across Gresham and surrounding areas. This small trailer, attached to our Day One Tech truck, brought hands-on STEM experiences to kids where they live and play. In 2024, the trailer was repurposed into the STEM Ice Cream Truck, an innovative program that provided accessible cold treats alongside STEM activities in parks and neighborhoods. This initiative made STEM education both fun and approachable, meeting kids and families in their communities.

The second initiative was a collaboration with the City of Gresham’s Summer Kids in the Park (SKIP) program. Together, we launched Tech in the Park, a unique video gaming experience at Main City Park. Using a giant movie screen, a dozen computer monitors, and generators, we transformed the park into an outdoor tech arena. Kids and families participated in one-of-a-kind video game competitions, bringing technology and recreation together in an exciting new way. Following its success, the program was expanded to two additional parks in East County, making Day One Tech one of the few organizations to run such programs in park settings.

Impact:

• Community Engagement: Delivered hands-on LEGO and STEM activities to parks across Gresham, reaching hundreds of kids and families.
• Innovation in Accessibility: Brought accessible treats and STEM experiences directly to communities through the STEM Ice Cream Truck.
• Tech in the Park: Introduced groundbreaking outdoor video gaming events, creating safe, engaging spaces for families to gather and play.
• Program Expansion: Successfully replicated Tech in the Park at additional locations, solidifying our reputation as a leader in outdoor tech engagement.

Collaborators/Partners:

• City of Gresham
• SKIP (Summer Kids in the Park) Program

Ongoing Work:
We continue to use the LEGO Trailer and STEM Ice Cream Truck to bring activities to kids throughout Gresham and East County. Our commitment to innovation and community building remains at the forefront as we develop new ways to create safe spaces for gathering, learning, and play.

Timeframe: 2023 - Ongoing

Description:
The Day One Variety Show is a groundbreaking program that introduces youth to video and audio recording technology, fostering creativity and technical skills. Supported by the Mt. Hood Regulatory Commission, MetroEast Media, and the Black Community of Portland (BCP), the program provides an entry-level experience in modern recording techniques. Using tools like GoPros, drones, and video cameras, participants document youth programs, lead videography projects, and produce content showcasing their voices and talents.

This program has been incorporated into over half of our school programs, offering hands-on opportunities for children of color to share their stories and perspectives in media, online, and on television. With the support of our partners, we’ve also developed a fully equipped video recording newsroom and recording stations for both video and audio within our Makerspace, now accessible to the public and program participants.

Impact:

• Technical Skill Development: Introduced youth to video and audio recording technologies, empowering them with entry-level skills in media production.
• Community Representation: Produced programs and content that amplify the voices and talents of children of color, ensuring their stories are heard across various platforms.
• In-School Engagement: Ran this program in over half of our school-based initiatives, integrating media production into STEM and cultural education.
• Makerspace Expansion: Created a video recording newsroom and recording stations, now a public resource for the community.

Collaborators/Partners:

• Mt. Hood Regulatory Commission
• MetroEast Media
• Black Community of Portland (BCP)

Ongoing Work:
In 2025, we will begin showcasing our youth's work through live broadcasts in partnership with MetroEast Media. This initiative will highlight the coverage, creativity, and interests of our participants, ensuring their voices continue to resonate across the community and beyond.

Timeframe: 2023 - 2024

Description:
The Family Code project was a pilot program designed to introduce engineering and coding through a culturally responsive approach. In partnership with the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, Portland State University, and the Oregon Department of Education, this program aimed to identify how traditional coding pathways often fail to connect with kids from diverse backgrounds.

We started with conventional methods of teaching coding to elementary-aged students, gathering data on their experiences to understand gaps and challenges. Using this feedback, we collaborated with educators of color to remix traditional curriculum and develop a culturally responsive solution tailored to the needs of our students.

The program was implemented in three schools and two affordable housing complexes, providing hands-on learning experiences and fostering interest in engineering and coding. Additionally, we brought the program to community events, sharing our newly developed curriculum with a broader audience.

Impact:

• Culturally Responsive Curriculum: Created and piloted a culturally adapted coding curriculum designed to connect with kids from diverse backgrounds.
• Hands-On Learning: Engaged students in three schools and two affordable housing complexes with dynamic coding and engineering activities.
• Community Outreach: Expanded the program to community events, reaching families in informal learning settings.
• Lasting Influence: Incorporated methods and lesson plans from this project into ongoing school programs, emphasizing our commitment to remixing traditional curricula to meet the needs of our kids.

Collaborators/Partners:

• Portland Metro STEM Partnership
• Portland State University
• Oregon Department of Education

Ongoing Work:
While the pilot program has concluded, the lessons and methodologies developed through Family Code continue to inform our teaching practices. Remixing traditional curricula remains a cornerstone of our approach, ensuring that all students can see themselves reflected in STEM education. We are eager to expand this program further once additional funding becomes available.

Timeframe: 2023 - Ongoing

Description:
In partnership with the East Metro STEAM Partnership, Day One Gaming (DOG) had the incredible opportunity to participate in one of Oregon's first-ever E-Sports competitions at Mt. Hood Community College. Our team of teens, all from East County, competed in Rocket League and brought home first place! This program was a one-of-a-kind initiative combining mentorship, cultural appreciation, and relationship-building while educating participants about the global market and career potential of E-Sports.

Impact:

• First Place Finish: Celebrated a major victory at Oregon’s inaugural E-Sports competition.
• Community Engagement: Provided teens with a platform to connect, learn, and compete in a collaborative environment.
• E-Sports Practice Center: With support from the East Metro STEAM Partnership and the MESD (Metropolitan Education Service District), we established our own E-Sports practice center within our MakerSpace. This center now serves as an open space for East County teens to play, practice, and hone their skills.
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Collaborators/Partners:

• East Metro STEAM Partnership (EMSP)
• Metropolitan Education Service District (MESD)

Future Plans:
Building on this success, we are actively expanding our E-Sports presence. The Day One Gaming (DOG) team will support new teams and launch local competitions starting in late 2024, with exciting plans for further development in 2025.

Timeframe: 2023 - Ongoing

Description:
Mech League is a dynamic robotics program developed in partnership with the East Metro STEAM Partnership and supported by ESSER 3 funds. Building on our very first pilot robotics program, Mech League combines robotics, culturally responsive education, and entertainment to engage youth in innovative ways.

The program utilizes a variety of robotics platforms, ranging from beginner-friendly Hex Bugs to complex VEX Robotics, as well as RC cars and analog coding games. These programs were implemented across more than a dozen schools and multiple apartment communities, providing hands-on opportunities for kids to explore robotics at their own pace and interest level.

In the summer of 2024, we introduced the Day One Robotics Tour, bringing robotics pop-ups to community events across the region. This effort showcased a variety of robotic activities and engaged hundreds of kids, sparking excitement and curiosity around entry-level robotics.

Impact:

• Extensive Outreach: Connected hundreds of kids to robotics through programs in over a dozen schools, apartment communities, and summer community events.
• Varied Learning Platforms: Offered robotics experiences using Hex Bugs, VEX Robotics, RC cars, and analog coding games, ensuring accessibility for diverse skill levels.
• Robotics Pop-Ups: Launched the Day One Robotics Tour, creating high-visibility opportunities for kids and families to engage with robotics in informal learning settings.
• Program Growth: Expanded our robotics and technology programming, reaching new communities and building excitement for STEM education.

Collaborators/Partners:

• East Metro STEAM Partnership
• ESSER 3 Funds

Ongoing Work:
In 2025, Mech League will reach new heights with the launch of our inaugural robotics competition season, hosted at our MakerSpace in East County. These competitions will bring together students from our programs and community events to celebrate their hard work, creativity, and technical skills. We remain committed to providing accessible, culturally responsive robotics programs that inspire and empower youth.