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A Message from Our Board Chair
As we wrap up Women’s History Month, I want to acknowledge the remarkable progress women have driven across our industries and communities. I'm thrilled to share that our Future Is Feminine Program celebrated the completion of its first cohort this March. This initiative, supported by DEED, is dedicated to empowering women by providing free access to tech skills training relevant to the 21st century, promoting enhanced career opportunities, and cultivating leadership for a more inclusive future.
Looking forward, we’re gearing up for Minnesota’s Tech Month in May, which celebrates the power of technology and the acute need for digital equity and opportunities for everyone. In these fast-changing times, we remain committed to helping underserved youth, women and rural communities get ready and thrive in the digital economy through our Discovery Camps, Next Gen and The Future is Feminine programs.
Many of you have asked us how to support this important work, and we’re excited to share an easy way: our Amazon Wishlists!
With immense gratitude,
Sabina Saksena &
The Smart North Team
Celebrating Our TFIF & NEXTGEN Graduates: Empowered and Ready for the Future!
We are incredibly proud to announce that our first The Future Is Feminine (18+ women) and NextGen (youth 16+) cohorts just graduated from their 20-week certification courses in Cybersecurity and UX/UI Website Design along with Workforce Readiness Training. With over 40 participants across our three locations, these folks are ready to take on the world of tech and are actively looking for internships and entry level jobs.
These talented graduates are ready to bring their skills to the tech industry! If your organization or network has internship or job opportunities, reach out to us here!
Our sincere thanks to our various funding partners, as well as TC Energy and Compudot, for their generous donations of laptops to our Grand Rapids and Deer River participants. A shoutout to Dress for Success for providing ongoing access to professional clothing as our female participants step into new career opportunities.
Impact Story: Sara’s Journey into Cybersecurity
Sara first learned about Smart North’s Cybersecurity program through a flyer and shared it with her husband—then realized it was a great opportunity for her, too. She enjoyed the flexibility of working at her own pace and learning from experienced instructors.
The program reshaped her understanding of cybersecurity, showing her it’s more than just coding and hacking—it’s part of everyday life. Inspired by this, Sara is now pursuing an additional certification in Cybersecurity Lead Auditing, expanding her skills and career opportunities beyond Smart North.
Impact Story: Welcoming Sarah to the Team
Sarah Soderberg started with Smart North as an Assistant Tech Hub Coordinator in Grand Rapids and is now the Program Navigator for The Future Is Feminine. She’s passionate about empowering women in tech and guiding participants through their certification programs.
One of her most rewarding experiences so far has been organizing and running the Career Glow-Up event, where participants polished their resumes, updated LinkedIn profiles, received professional headshots, and connected with Dress for Success for workplace attire. Sarah is excited to continue supporting and uplifting women in the community, ensuring they step into the tech industry prepared and empowered!
Tech Hub Insider: What’s New
Deer River:
- Food Sovereignty Project (with SNAP-Ed): Youth are designing graphics highlighting Indigenous fishing practices and earning stipends for their work—$100 per set of graphics and $200 per video.
- Youth Teaching Youth (with U of M Extension & 4-H): Our youth are creating videos about Indigenous cultural practices for Boys & Girls Club students (2nd-4th grade). Soon, they'll edit these videos to present before the state legislature, advocating for expanded cultural education programs.
Grand Rapids:
- Exciting Discovery Camps! Upcoming camps include Photography, Foundational Skills, U of M Leadership Training, and Movie May, where youth will learn storytelling, filming, and editing from a film school graduate.
- Expanding Tech Access! We’re hosting Quest and adults with disabilities for hands-on experiences in 3D printing, VR, and digital creativity, making tech more inclusive.
- Youth-Led Space & Creativity! Youth have personalized their space with artwork, while the Youth and Philanthropy Grant from Northland foundation, added cozy chairs and fun elements to enhance the hub.
Minneapolis:
- Our Tech Discovery Camps! We've launched new youth camps on 21st-century tech, from drones to graphic design.
- Special Event Recap – Josh Minot Visit! Timberwolves players Josh Minot & Jalen Clark visited us for a successful event, signing autographs, playing basketball with our youth, and sharing lessons on consistency and goal-setting.
- Music Discovery Camp Field Trip! Our music discovery camp visited The Armory, met Yung Gravy, shared their songs, and enjoyed his performance!
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