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MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

Help me help people get their websites live or sharpen their skills.

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MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

MIGHTYminnow Web School :: Downtown Oakland CA

Help me help people get their websites live or sharpen their skills.

Help me help people get their websites live or sharpen their skills.

Help me help people get their websites live or sharpen their skills.

Help me help people get their websites live or sharpen their skills.

kristin long
kristin long
kristin long
kristin long
1 Campaign |
Oakland, United States
$19,630 USD 96 backers
101% of $19,250 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

above, me wearing a 50 lb toolbelt, showing the electricians where the data ports should go.


The dream

I have taught web development classes for years at Compasspoint Nonprofit Services, AcademyX, Roudpeg, Easel Solutions and Adobe and even sat on a panel at SXSWi.  And as long as I have been teaching people to build websites, I have been dreaming of opening my own web school; a place where people could learn to make websites or make them better. 

The need

Social networking, blogging, tweeting and creating and maintaining websites are now common job requirements, and the skills needed to do these things are increasingly complex.  Add mobile browsing, tablets and touch screens to the equation, and there is so much to make sense of.

As the learning curve steepens, access to live, caring, competent instruction wanes.  Traditional options for in-person classes are being replaced with video tutorials and impersonal online classes.  Our classes will be in-person, customized and taught with a hands-on approach. Even Compasspoint Nonprofit Services, the first place I ever taught a web class, is closing its computer lab.  There is an unfilled need for nonprofits, small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs to find caring and personal help; and for people who make websites to re-tool quickly.

The answer

MIGHTYminnow Web School

Opening in Spring 2012 at 1440 Broadway in Oakland, we will:

  • provide a furnished computer lab and a growing variety of web-related classes 
  • help people get their small business websites up, in a few days or over a weekend
  • support web professionals with constantly updated offerings
  • provide jobs and freelance opportunities in downtown Oakland
  • continue to support the non-profit sector through an ongoing partnership with Compasspoint Nonprofit Services
  • provide discounts for non-profits and unemployed people
  • provide a testing lab with multiple mobile devices, tablet computers, operating systems and browsers so that people can see what their website looks like in all these varying circumstances


The pitch

The lease is signed, the deposit is paid, the chairs are here, but we have a lot more to do.  Desks, computers and software alone will cost about $27,000 if we fully furnish the lab for 12 seats right at the start (we may have to do it in increments).  So we are turning to you, our community, to help fund the initial phase of the school.  And in the spirit always creating a win/win, we are using the perks to give as good as we get.  There is something for everyone!

The highlights

For perks, we have the requisite pens and cups, but we have a few that fall further outside of the box.  Although they may be shipped to you *in a box*.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Everyone who contributes at least $25 to this campaign will get a link to their site from MIGHTYminnow.com on a new "supporters" page.  This is good for your website and makes your search engine ranking rise.

Full day web classes and "Website Weekends"
Pay now for a Dreamweaver, Wordpress, jQuery, HTML or CSS class later, and get a handy discount while you are at it.  Or spend a weekend with us just getting a Wordpress site live for your business, band, art portfolio or passion.  A *tentative* schedule for the first few weeks of classes is located on MIGHTYminnow.com/classes.  Feel free to also request/suggest a class.

Custom training
Rent the classroom, the equipment and the trainer with for a full day class tailored to your team's needs, accommodating up to 12 students including a customized class outline.

Fruit and Fashion

The FruitGuys Fruit and Veggies
Contribute $50 dollars, get a beautiful box of organic fruit and veggies (see what I got this week) shipped to your door, courtesy of The FruitGuys.

Prairie Underground Hoodies
Contribute $160-185 dollars, and get a beautiful, organic cotton, made in Seattle designer hoodie from Camilla and Davora of Prairie Underground.

The partnerships

What does fashion and fruit have to do with MIGHTYminnow Web School?

MIGHTYminnow has a long relationship with the girls from Prairie Underground and we have developed and improved their site since its inception.  We also work regularly on The FruitGuys site and Almanac.  Both companies have been pleased with us and both are fans and supporters of our new school (and we use both of their products!).  When we decided to do social funding wanted to offer perks that would appeal to folks that didn't need web training, so we put our heads together with the girls from Prairie Underground and The FruitGuys and came up with these unique and wonderful perks!

Other Ways You Can Help

Lots of people need websites, and if you don't need help now, maybe you know someone who does?  Or maybe you know someone who likes beautiful clothes? Or maybe someone who eats?  Or drinks out of cups?  Help us spread the word about our campaign, and help your friends to get these wonderful perks and discounts!  There is a sharing toolbar up above for your convenience - please share this opportunity.  Just sharing it with your network could really help my campaign!

 

Top ways to help:

  1. Contribute to the campaign
  2. Spread the word to your networks
  3. Sign up for our mailing list
  4. Plan to take a class

 

Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
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Choose your Perk

MIGHTY writer

$10 USD
Contribute $10 and get a MIGHTYminnow logo pen, and a thank you note written with one. As well as our undying love.
3 claimed

A Cup of Graditude

$25 USD
Contribute $25 and get a MIGHTYminnow mug, a pen, and a link to your site from <a href="http://www.mightyminnow.com" target="_blank">MIGHTYminnow.com</a>.
22 claimed

The FruitGuys Fruit & Veg Box

$50 USD
Contribute $50 and get a medium box of fresh, beautiful, organic fruit and vegetables delivered TO YOUR HOUSE. Also get a pen, a cup, and a link to your site from <a href="http://www.mightyminnow.com" target="_blank">MIGHTYminnow.com</a>.
27 claimed

Wine and/or coffee date

$100 USD
For $100 you get a tour of the School, a walking tour of the neighborhood (top 5 *<a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html" target="_blank">in the world</a>*), a wine tasting with the Mm CEO at <a href="http://www.ulcellars.com/">Urban Legend Cellars</a> or a cup of gourmet, locally roasted coffee. Over coffee or wine you get a 30 minute website strategy session tailored to your site. And you also get a pen and cup, as well as an SEO enhancing link!
9 claimed

Prairie Long Hoodie / Trench

$185 USD
<img src="http://www.mightyminnow.com/indie/d.jpg" style="float:right;margin-left: 10px;" />Prairie Underground Signature Prairie Hoodie, Long Cloak Hoodie, Guinevere or Soft Trench coat. Retail price for these is $253-$264! <a href="http://www.mightyminnow.com/store/" target="_blank">Find your piece</a> on our available inventory list, and "buy" it there. Then come back here to claim your perk. Also get a pen, cup, and SEO enhancing link!
4 out of 8 of claimed

A one day class

$225 USD
Contribute $225 and take a one day class or get $275 in group class credit. Normal class prices will start at $275/day and go up from there. See a tentative schedule for the first several weeks at <a href="http://www.mightyminnow.com/classes">MIGHTYminnow.com/classes</a>. Also get a pen, a cup and a link from our site to yours!
3 claimed

Web, Wine and Wonderful Food

$275 USD
For a contribution of $275 you get a tour of the School, a walking tour of the neighborhood (top 5 *<a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html" target="_blank">in the world</a>*), a wine tasting with the CEO at Urban Legend Cellars, and a gourmet dinner prepared by an accomplished chef. Plus a link to your site on ours!
3 claimed

Two Day Class

$425 USD
$425 gets you a two day class or $475 in group class credit. Normal class prices for two days will start at $475 and go up from there. See a tentative schedule at <a href="http://www.mightyminnow.com/classes">MIGHTYminnow.com/classes</a>. Also get a pen, a cup and a link from our site to yours!
0 claimed

Website Weekend

$525 USD
Website weekend is a two day class (over the weekend) where we work on getting your new website live. Imagine, going from zero to website in a weekend! $525 gets you this, as well as a MIGHTYminnow pen, a Mm cup, and a SEO enhancing link to your (new) site on ours. This class will cost $600 or more when it goes on sale to the general public.
3 claimed

16 hours/2 days of web help

$1,500 USD
Contribute 1500 and get two days of web development credit (16 hours). This is a handy discount when compared to our regular rate! Also get an SEO enhancing link and a MIGHTYminnow coffee cup and logo pen!
1 claimed

Custom Training

$3,500 USD
Contribute $3500 and we will train up to 12 members of your team with customized curriculum in our fancy lab. Also get a link to your site from MIGHTYminnow.com. Everyone who attends training also gets a MIGHTYminnow pen and cup. (If you have questions about this one, please contact us before choosing it).
0 claimed
sold out

Cloak Hoodie/Karate Top

$160 USD
5 out of 5 of claimed

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