Somali Family Safety Task Force

TL;DR: I am trying to fund 20 Chromebooks for the Somali families living in the South of Seattle.


Here is why this is important.

One of the privileges I have that isn't connected with being white has been becoming friends with many Somali people here in South Seattle. I've been honored to learn about my neighbors' culture as well as their challenges, and their kids' challenge in navigating the school district with the fifth worse black/white achievement gap in the United States (Seattle).

Education has shifted to remote and online due to C-19, to the point where students need home computer access just to complete public school coursework. The machines that can achieve this are relatively low spec / low priced, but many of the families in this community don't have disposable income to invest in this infrastructure. 

The result is that many families have kids trying to get an education in 2020 by either sharing old laptops among many brothers/sisters, or trying to do homework on a mobile phone. This makes me sad.

I have personally purchased a few chrome books for one of the families I know well, and I am confident this will make a huge difference.

I am aware that this is a drop in the ocean, that lots will need to change in the United States. I know there are many people in need. These are just the ones I know directly.


Execution details
I am trying to fund 20 Lenovo Chromebook S330, 4Gb RAM, 64GB eMMC, 14” FHD (1920 x 1080) for the Somali Family Safety Task Force. At the time of writing, these are ~ 310 $ shipped to Seattle. I am allowing for a bit of extra to cover for possible increase in prices, incidental expenses, whatnot.

The Somali Family Safety Task Force will receive all the funds and will distribute the laptops. I have previously donated to this organization, and will most likely continue to do so. 

For those that donate more than 310$, you will receive a personalized thank you note from the kid / family that will receive the laptop.

When we get to 1/2 the goal I will try to get in contact with Lenovo and see if we can get a match. (That's what Twitter is for).

Why 20 chromebook? 
TBH, that felt like a good start. From the word of Farhiya Mohamed, Executive Director for the Non Profit "we can use as many [Chromebooks] as you can give us".

Links
Somali family safety task force: https://www.somalifamilysafetytaskforce.org/
Lenovo Chromebook: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/student-chromebooks/Lenovo-Chromebook-S330/p/88LGCS31095
Seattle schools have biggest white-black achievement gap in state: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/seattle-schools-have-biggest-white-black-achievement-gap-in-state/