Innovation Lab

Join us for Innovation Day: May 18, 1-4 p.m.

We're celebrating Tech Month! All ages are invited to Innovation Day to explore tech resources and opportunities. Tour the Innovation Lab at George Latimer Central Library (90 W. 4th St.) and explore the equipment Take part in fun activities (green screen demos, laser engraving, 3D printing, and paper circuits) Learn about Level Up at the Library, a weekly time for ages 12-18 to play with more tech tools No registration required. Refreshments provided.

Powering an Inclusive Digital Economy

The City of Saint Paul believes strongly that all jobs are tech jobs. Saint Paul has the people, leadership, and businesses to build the most inclusive tech economy in the world. There is a wealth of untapped human potential in our City. Our linguistic, ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity gives Saint Paul a competitive advantage.  

Tech for All is the City's initiative to connect organizations and programs focused on creating an inclusive digital economy. Tech For All is working to accelerate Saint Paul’s economy by connecting Saint Paul residents, especially residents of color and women, to wealth building job opportunities — many that are going unfilled — and investing in tech-based education for Saint Paul’s future workforce. Tech For All centers racial and gender equity with a focus on engaging those who are not already engaged in the tech community. 

There are four focus areas of Tech For All:

  • Students

  • Career Pathways

  • Entrepreneurs

  • Community   

Creating Essential Educational and Employment Pathways

More than 7,000 tech jobs remain vacant in our region while people of color in the region remain disproportionately unemployed and underemployed. Tech For All is working to create essential educational and employment pathways to build an inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone. All people in Saint Paul need access to these jobs that can be life changing. These jobs create opportunity for low-income, people of color, and women to build wealth and reduce inter-generational poverty. 

Saint Paul’s Tech Leaders Share Their Unique Career Journeys

Meet Nehemiah, Tech Tinkerer Turned Civic Innovator

Nehemiah, Full Stack Developer

Nehemiah Dacres, a passionate full stack developer with a decade of experience, fell in love with computers and gaming in high school. Earning his B.A. in Computer Science, he embraced the open-source community and Linux, which led him to participate in civic hackathons. As part of the Code for America brigade in St. Louis, MO, Nehemiah organized hackathons and mentored students in community organizing and civic innovation.

Now thriving as an Information Systems Tech Analyst IV at Office of Technology and Communications (OTC), Nehemiah values the City’s connectedness and the chance to positively impact Saint Paul residents. He encourages aspiring tech professionals to experiment, play, and tinker with technology to discover their passions and shape their careers.

Meet Rachael, Blending Art + Tech to Forge a Data Career

Rachael, Junior Business Intelligence Developer

With a B.A. in Studio Arts and 3+ years of experience, Rachael Givens-Copeland showcases how creative individuals can forge unique tech careers. As a Junior Business Intelligence Developer at OTC, Rachael combines her passion for technology, data, and art to craft impactful data visualizations for City initiatives.

Driven by curiosity, Rachael explored data’s impact on daily life, earning her Google Data Science Certification. Her OTC Data Team internship offered hands-on experience and understanding of data’s importance for the City and its residents. Rachael’s graphic design and data analysis skills enable her to create compelling, accessible data visualizations.

After her internship, Rachael joined OTC as an IS Information-Technical Analyst I, expanding her skills in business intelligence and data science. She urges students to explore tech opportunities and emphasizes the value of creativity in the tech industry.

Meet Chong, Launching a Tech Career Through Certificate Programs

Chong, Systems Support Specialist

Chong Yang’s journey into the tech industry demonstrates the power of leveraging certificate programs to build a career in technology. While his initial interests lay in biology, Chong discovered his passion for technology through programs like the IT Ready certification through CompTIA. Certificates equipped him with the skills necessary to enter the industry, enabling him to secure professional experiences with Ecolab, CenturyLink, and Mercy Hospital before joining the City of Saint Paul as a PC replacement Systems Support Specialists II.

In his role, Chong excels as the first point of contact for new technology, testing devices and advising colleagues on their specs. Chong’s story offers valuable insights for students who wish to enter the tech industry through alternative educational options, such as certificate programs, bootcamps, or online courses.

Explore City Tech Resources and Events

Teen using VR headset in Createch studio

Createch

Createch is created by teens for teens, ages 12-18, to use tech and maker tools to explore talents and purse their interests and spark new passions.  

Explore Createch
A woman uses a guitar in the Innovation Lab recording studio

Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab is a tech-infused maker space for hobbyists, artists, entrepreneurs, artist, inventors, or for people who are just plain curious.

Explore the Innovation Lab
Forge North entrepreneurs

Full Stack Saint Paul

 Full Stack leverages the power of tech and innovation to drive sustainable, equitable economic development in Saint Paul.

Explore Full Stack Saint Paul
Students who received assistance from the City to pursue tech training

MSP TechHire

The City of Saint Paul offers scholarships each year to offer tech training and accelerated boot camps to community members. 

Explore MSP TechHire
Mayor Carter tosses a drone with students
Mayor Carter tosses a drone with students

Pop Up Recreation Truck

Pop Up Recreation is a traveling video game and technology truck for youth. Additional activities will be on-site from our partners at Saint Paul Public Libraries, the Science Museum, and more! Follow us to locations all over Saint Paul. This is a free activity. No pre-registration is required.  

Explore Pop Up Recreation

Last Edited: May 1, 2024