Empower Up
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Empower Up
OR:
Empower Up on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

Empower Up, formerly known as CREAM (Computer Reuse Education And Marketing), a
501(c)(3) A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
, was a computer recycling center in SW Washington. Started in mid-2002, Empower Up took old electronics in for donation, and recycled/distributed them.


History

Empower Up's history can be traced back to a collection event started by the
City of Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The ...
and Clark County in June 2001. The success of this collection prompted the city to start another collection in January 2002, to collect only reusable computers and monitors for the community. Due to the success of the second event, comments by sponsors, and the general public showed an interest in these collections. In mid-2002, after both an event for re-usage and recycling of computers, departments of the City of Vancouver created the program Computer REuse and Marketing, or CREAM. This new organization would have a permanent location, permanent collection sites, and mobile collection units to travel around the area. CREAM would also make sure of the proper disposal of materials in electronics not suitable for redistribution. By 2008, CREAM had distributed 250 refurbish computers to needy families (with the help of Salvation Army Family Services), and recycled 3.5 million pounds of
electronic waste Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage recycling through material recovery, or disposal are also considered e-waste. Informa ...
. Near the beginning of 2009, due to new laws in Washington, it was recommended that the organization become an independent
non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
. With the help of
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity is a Ch ...
, and Clark County ReStore, the state created a 3-year plan to make CREAM an independent nonprofit. In February 2009, they established their first permanent building in Vancouver. In April 2010, CREAM's name was changed to Empower Up, with the motto "''Technology Reuse In Action''", and changed to their current logo. In October 2013 Empower Up moved to 3206 N E 52nd Street Vancouver Washington 98663 on St Johns Road. They expanded the Reuse store and added an eBay store. On 27 August 2016 Empower Up was shut down permanently, citing "economic pressure".


Media

Empower Up has recently received attention from many local and state news sources. They have been featured in places such as
KATU KATU (channel 2) is a television station in Portland, Oregon, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside La Grande–licensed Univision affiliate KUNP (channel 16). Both stations share studios on NE ...
local news, ''
The Vancouver Voice ''The Vancouver Voice'' was an alternative newspaper serving Clark County, Washington, Clark County and Southwest Washington (state), Washington in the United States, with a focus on the area's largest city, Vancouver, Washington, Vancouver. It ce ...
'', and ''
The Columbian ''The Columbian'' is a daily newspaper serving the Vancouver, Washington, and Clark County, Washington area. The paper was published for its first decade (1890–1900) as a four-page daily that was meant as a counterweight to the local Republic ...
''.


See also

*
Free Geek Free Geek is a technology related non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, launched on April 22, 2000. It started as a public event at Pioneer Courthouse Square. In September 2000, it opened a permanent facility as a drop off site for el ...
*
Nonprofit Technology Resources Nonprofit Technology Resources (NTR) is a charitable nonprofit organization (NPO) inside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that "serves low-income people in Philadelphia by recycling used computers, providing hands-on work experience, and assisting comm ...
*
World Computer Exchange World Computer Exchange (WCE) is a United States and Canada based charity organization whose mission is "to reduce the digital divide for youth in developing countries, to use our global network of partnerships to enhance communities in these co ...
*
Computer recycling Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics. Although the procedures of re-use, donation and repair are not strictly recycling, these are oth ...
*
Digital divide in the United States The digital divide in the United States refers to inequalities between individuals, households, and other groups of different demographic and socioeconomic levels in ''access'' to information and communication technologies ("ICTs") and in the '' ...
*
Global digital divide The global digital divide describes global disparities, primarily between developed and developing countries, in regards to access to computing and information resources such as the Internet and the opportunities derived from such access. As with ...


References

{{Reflist


External links


Empower Up Home Page
Organizations established in 2002 Non-profit organizations based in Vancouver, Washington Recycling organizations Recycling in the United States Clark County, Washington 2002 establishments in Washington (state)
Charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...
Charities A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a cha ...