TechLAUNCH
Digital Opportunity for st. louisÂ
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Tech Skills Change Lives & Transform Communities
Through education, mentorship, and community events, TechLAUNCH empowers diverse St. Louis residents to thrive in our digitally connected world, creating a stronger and more equitable economic landscape. We are helping to bridge our community to the life changing programs and resources available across the Metro.
TechLAUNCH is an initiative of TechSTL and was funded by generous grants from Verizon, the State of Missouri, and Cortex Innovation District. Our goal for the St. Louis region is to support the training of 10,000 underserved residents in foundational tech skills, over a three year period.
Years of Programming
Digital Courses
St. Louis MSA Residents
Driving Economic Opportunity through Tech Education
Increase Digital Confidence and Online Safety for Underserved Communities
It is estimated that over 100,000 residents of St. Louis lack basic tech skills. Across the US, 32 million Americans have limited or no digital literacy skills, including half of Black and Latinx workers. The digital divide creates barriers to job opportunities, online education, telehealth, and more. Also, those without the skills to protect themselves, are often victims of cyber threats.
Address Disparities in Computer Ownership and Broadband Access
Across the United States, White adults are more likely to own desktop or laptop computers (80%) and have home broadband (80%). In contrast, Black adults (69%) and Hispanic adults (67%) have lower rates of computer ownership and their broadband access in the home is also lower (71% for Black adults and 65% for Hispanic adults).
Grow Diversity and Accessibility in the St. Louis Tech Workforce
Professionals from marginalized groups, such as Black, Latino and Hispanic, LBGTQIA+, and disabled communities, are becoming more visible, but representation is still growing slowly. Asian Americans make up 14% of tech jobs, compared to 5.8% of the private workforce, but African Americans and Hispanics are underrepresented.
Our Industry-Leading Curriculum Partners for Digital Literacy
“Digital Transformation is not about technology at all.
It is about people.”Â
JOHN BERSIN
Our Regional Approach to Tech Education
SKILLS assessment
Students will first take the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment to determine their current skills and opportunities
COURSE MATCHING
TechLAUNCH team will match students with regional training opportunities based on skill levels, goals, and lifestyle needs
graduatiNG AHEAD
Depending on the course, students will graduate with new skills, a certificate, or possibly a referral to future programming
REGIONAL WORKSHOP CALENDAR – COMING SOON
Contact us – Want to find out more information?
TechLAUNCH was made possible thanks to generous funding from our key partners:
