Empower Up

Empower Up
Founded 2002 (2002)
Founder City of Vancouver
Type Recycling Center
Location
Origins Recycling events hosted by Clark County
Area served
 Oregon and SW Washington
Key people
 Board of Directors President - Tanya Gray, Executive Director - Michael Holroyd, Program managers - Jerry Hatcher / Jhasen Cooper
Slogan Reuse - Rebuild - Re-purpose - Recycle
Website http://www.empowerup.org/
Formerly called
 CREAM (Computer Reuse Education and Marketing)

Empower Up, formerly known as CREAM (Computer Reuse Education And Marketing), a 501(c)(3), is a computer recycling center in SW Washington. Started in mid-2002, Empower Up takes old electronics in for donation, and recycles/distributes them.

History

Empower Up's history can be traced back to a collection event started by the City of Vancouver 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.

Near the beginning of 2009, due to new laws in Washington, it was recommended that the organization become an independent non-profit organization. With the help of Habitat for Humanity, and Clark County ReStore, the state created a 3-year plan to make CREAM an independent nonprofit. In February 2009, they established a permanent building in Vancouver, where they still remain today.

In April 2010, CREAM's name was changed to Empower Up, with the motto "Technology Reuse In Action", and changed to their current logo.[1]

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. In the future Empower Up wants to promote more artistic ventures with recycled electronic parts and add skills training certifications.

Media

Empower Up has recently received attention from many local and state news sources. They have been featured in places such as KATU local news,[2] The Vancouver Voice,[3] and The Columbian.

See also

References

  1. ↑ CREAM (April 2010). "Empower Up - About Us". Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  2. ↑ KATU News (January 11, 2010). "To Dump, Donate or Recycle? - KATU.com - Breaking News, Sports, Traffic and Weather - Portland, Oregon,". Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  3. ↑ Eric Donaldson (May 6, 2009). "Reused goods - Vancouver Voice". Retrieved April 16, 2010.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 21, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.