Osiris Organization

Osiris Organization's mission is to provide FREE access to technology, digital literacy, and career training opportunities – pathways that prepare Twin Cities youth and adults from all backgrounds for successful careers in fields of technology.

Established in 1997, Osiris Organization began its work at the intersection of youth development, technology access, and community empowerment. In 1998, Osiris partnered with Hennepin County Corrections to launch a computer training center at the Hennepin County Home School, an adolescent treatment facility. This early initiative blended life-skills education with hands-on technology mentoring, an approach that quickly gained recognition from the youth themselves.

Students saw how transformative the program was and advocated for its reach beyond treatment, requesting computer centers in Minneapolis communities where they could continue learning after returning home. Acting on their vision, Executive Director Bill Roddy collaborated with Powderhorn Park Director Corky Wiseman, resulting in a groundbreaking network of community-based computer centers, with many staffed by Osiris-trained youth.

Over the years, the organization expanded rapidly, building 28 technology labs in Minneapolis parks and, by 2018, 9 additional labs in Saint Paul Parks & Recreation facilities. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the discontinuation of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board partnership in 2020, Osiris remained committed to Saint Paul, continuing its programming there through 2022.

Osiris Organization Today

Osiris Organization has evolved into a strategic community partner focused on digital literacy, technology training, and coding education for underserved youth and families across Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Today, the organization collaborates closely with Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS), expanding access to essential 21st-century skills for students in elementary and middle school.

Our work now centers on closing the digital divide by:

 • Providing culturally responsive technology training and skill-building programs. These include digital literacy and coding foundations, with plans to include game design, AI literacy, and early exposure to tech career pathways.

 • Supporting youth of color in transforming their tech interests into academic and career momentum.  Many young people already engage with technology through gaming and entertainment. We channel that interest into deeper learning, creativity, problem-solving, and early professional exploration.

 • Addressing the persistent underrepresentation of people of color in technology fields.  This challenge is not simply a gap; it is an urgent equity issue. In today’s digital economy, ensuring equitable access to tech skills is essential for economic mobility, community vitality, and future leadership.

 Our Ongoing Commitment

 As Osiris moves forward, our focus is on building inclusive pathways into technology by providing:

• High-quality technology and coding learning experiences
• Accessible, community-centered skill development programs
• Bridges to post-secondary tech opportunities, certifications, and careers
• Partnerships that uplift and empower historically marginalized communities

We recognize that meaningful change requires partnership across education, business, government, and community organizations. Breaking down barriers, elevating diverse voices in technology, and equipping youth of color with the skills they need to lead and innovate are essential to shaping an equitable digital future.

Ensuring that people of color are not left behind is about more than access—it is about honoring and leveraging the diverse perspectives and brilliance they bring to the world of technology.

Osiris Organization remains committed to this mission today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.