Free Geek Twin Cities (FGTC) has a new home.
The Minneapolis-based non-profit, succeeding at its mission to "keep computers off the streets," outgrew its home in Powderhorn Park after about a year, according to a blog post.
Free Geek found a new spot at 2310 Snelling Ave. with the help of Seward Redesign, a community development corporation in the area.
The larger space should work better for FGTC's growing work. With the help of volunteers, the group collects old computers and other electronics, and either builds new computers with the parts or recycles them. (They do suggest a monetary donation along with your old junk�)
Free Geek either gives the computers to volunteers or sells them in their thrift store.
Parallel to this volunteer recycle/rebuild mission is another, related one: to bridge the digital divide and provide access, skills and knowledge about computers to those who don't have it.
Free Geek has expanded its hours since the move, as well:
Wednesday, noon�5 p.m.
Saturday noon�5 p.m.
Sunday, 2pm�7 p.m.
The move will not be a permanent one, writes FGTC on its blog; Seward Redesign has plans to redevelop the building in the next six months�two years, but the CDC will help FGTC find another new home.
Read more about FGTC's move and mission on their
blog,For a good sense of the Free Geek model, take a look at the below video about Free Geek Portland, where the movement began, and which served as a model for the Twin Cities version:
Source: Free Geek Twin CIties
Writer: Jeremy Stratton