Digital Harbor Foundation launches outreach program for young makers

The Digital Harbor Foundation announced plans Wednesday to reach children beyond its walls with maker programs.
The Federal Hill nonprofit launched the Digital Harbor Foundation Center of Excellence for Innovation in Technology Education at the White House Maker Faire in Washington.
The center, a new training arm of the foundation, will help other institutions replicate the foundation’s programs, according to a release.
“Our goal is to scale the impact and reach of the innovative maker programs we have created here at the Digital Harbor Foundation Tech Center by providing educational organizations with capacity-building supports,” Digital Harbor Foundation’s executive director, Andrew Coy, said in the release. “We are committed to expanding access to entrepreneurship, innovation and digital exploration inherent in making. We want youth in the United States to be competitive for jobs in the innovation economy of tomorrow, jobs that demand a high degree of creativity, determination, and passion.”
The organization announced its first two partners: Green Street Academy and Barclay Elementary/Middle School. Both Baltimore schools will launch maker programs this fall — with design assistance, training, curricula and site observation by foundation staff. Students in the maker classes will learn subjects like programming, soldering and 3D printing.