Project FINE http://www.projectfine.org
Fatima Said FSaid@Co.Winona.MN.US
Project Fine focuses on integrating new Americans to their new home in Winona. They offer a range of classes and services including technology training from the ground up in multiple languages and opportunities for kids to learn how to code.
From Event to Action: Accelerate Your Decision Making with Real-Time Automation
Project FINE at the broadband conference 2018
1. Mission:
To strengthen and enrich our community by facilitating
the integration of people who are ethnically diverse.
2. Technology Education for Refugees & Immigrants
•Began in 2011 as part of
Winona’s Minnesota
Intelligent Rural
Communities (MIRC)
project
•67 people participated in
hands-on training, very
basic practical curriculum
•48 participants received a
home computer through a
collaboration with PCs for
People
3. Digital Inclusion for Refugees & Immigrants
2012-2013
•2012
•80 participants, 71 computers distributed
•Laptop use
•Technology tutors
•2013
•53participants, 10 computers distributed
•Online research & PowerPoint
•Computer stations & tutoring
4. Connecting Communities 2014
•40 participants
•Social Media
•Safety
•Training
•Community
•Facebook pages for
diverse community
groups
• Hispanic page
908 friends
•Hmong page
1,580 friends
5. .COM (Creative Online Marketing ) 2015
•Focused on building online
presence for local refugee and
immigrant owned businesses
•40 businesses participated
•17 developed an online marketing
plan
•10 created a new website or social
media page
6. Learn To Code 2016-2017
•Coding and app development for
youth from refugee and immigrant
families
•50 afterschool participants
•16 summer day camp participants
•10 volunteer mentors
•Visits to technology-related
businesses and MN State College
Southeast
7. Lessons Learned
Know your audience
Remove barriers whenever possible
Concentrate on what’s necessary
Have patience – learning takes time!
Engage community partners
Blandin
City of Winona
HBC
PCs for People
Winona State University
Benchmark Electronics
Minnesota State College
Southeast
Winona Public Schools
St. Charles School District
Computer donations
(businesses and individuals)
Volunteer tutors & mentors