Minnesota CHILL Foundation

11/01/2026

Minnesota’s technology industry is already creating opportunities, and the demand for skilled talent is expected to continue. In 2024, the state’s IT workforce numbered nearly 110,000 workers, with more than 75,000 IT job openings projected over the next decade. Those numbers represent more than jobs. They represent futures waiting to be built.

Will our young people have the skills and exposure to pursue those opportunities? Through CHILL Tech, the Minnesota CHILL Foundation is helping Black and underserved youth explore technology, develop practical skills, and envision themselves in an industry where their ideas and talents belong.

Let’s help prepare the next generation for what’s ahead. We’re raising $5,000 to expand CHILL Tech programming. Join us in opening doors to future careers: https://give.mn/rnivqf

10/31/2026

What if the next generation didn’t just use the technology that shapes our world, but became the minds behind it? Imagine our children designing apps, developing software, engineering solutions, and creating innovations we haven’t even dreamed of yet. That future starts with what we make possible for them today.

The Minnesota CHILL Foundation’s CHILL Tech Program is committed to helping young people move beyond consuming technology to understanding it, creating with it, and exploring the careers it can unlock. Our children have ideas worth developing and potential worth investing in.

Help us raise $5,000 to expand access to technology education and hands-on learning. Your donation can help a young person take their first step toward becoming a creator, innovator, or technology leader. Give today: https://give.mn/rnivqf

10/30/2026

A computer can teach a skill. That skill can open a door. And that door can change the direction of a young person’s life.

Technology is about so much more than screens and software. It’s about access to new careers, the confidence to solve problems, the freedom to innovate, and the ability to imagine a future beyond what seems possible today.

CHILL Tech is helping young people explore those possibilities through technology education, hands-on experiences, and exposure to emerging career pathways. Every young person deserves the chance to discover what they can do when given the right tools.

We’re raising $5,000 to help bring these opportunities to more Black and underserved youth. Make your contribution today: https://give.mn/rnivqf

10/29/2026

The next generation deserves more than a front-row seat to the digital revolution. They deserve the opportunity to shape it.

From artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, the world is opening doors to possibilities that today’s young people should be prepared to walk through. But potential needs opportunity, and opportunity starts with access to education, technology, and hands-on learning.

Through the CHILL Tech Program, the Minnesota CHILL Foundation is working to help young people discover their abilities and see themselves in the future of technology. Because the next big idea could come from a young mind that simply needs someone to open the door.

Help us raise $5,000 to expand technology education for Black and underserved youth. Donate today and help prepare the next generation to lead: https://give.mn/rnivqf

10/22/2026

What an incredible milestone for CHILL Tech! We’re celebrating the success of our workforce development program and the young adults who showed up ready to learn, explore, and build their futures in technology. From hands-on learning to discovering new career possibilities, this is what creating meaningful opportunities looks like!

We’re also grateful for the generous donations that make it possible to provide participants who meet the program’s completion requirements with a laptop, an IT toolkit, and a $200 stipend. Thank you to everyone who helped make these opportunities possible!

Real skills. Real opportunities. Brighter futures.

We provide academic programming for the purpose of educating student scholars for future success.

10/08/2026

Connecting Youth to the Future of Technology

Cindy and Chuck Hill, co-founders of Minnesota CHILL Foundation, recently attended MnTech Talent, MnTech’s flagship talent development conference focused on the future of technology talent in Minnesota. One session that especially resonated with them was “From Access to Impact: A Future-Focused Talent Strategy,” featuring Olivia Jefferson of Best Buy and the Best Buy Foundation and Jermaine Hampton of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

The conversation around creating stronger career pathways for young people through mentorship, skill-building, social capital, and community partnerships reinforced something Cindy and Chuck already believe deeply: preparing young people for the future requires more than access. It requires intentional opportunities that connect them to skills, relationships, and careers.

The session also reinforced their commitment to the work they are building through CHILL Tech and AI. Their first AI program for youth recently launched at The Wood, Brooklyn Park’s new teen center, and was held in the Best Buy Tech Center. Their second session is scheduled for October.

Cindy and Chuck were so engaged in the conversations, taking notes and connecting with people throughout the event, that they completely forgot to take photos. But they left with something even more valuable: new connections, fresh ideas, and confirmation that the work they’re doing with young people is headed in the right direction.

The future of tech talent is being shaped now, and CHILL is committed to making sure young people are part of it.

10/08/2026

“The only way to get people to believe in you is to show them your commitment.” - Nipsey Hussle


Cindy Hill had the pleasure of meeting LeMar T. Green, Re-entry/Post-Release Manager at Minnesota Freedom Fund, during Brooklyn Park’s Juneteenth Celebration this year. As one of the founding members of the Legacy of Brooklyn Park, Cindy has been intentional about creating opportunities for residents to share their experiences, their stories, and their vision for the future of their city.

During one of the Legacy meetings, members were invited to talk about the issues that matter most to them. LeMar shared his vision for supporting individuals who are returning to the community and need help navigating the re-entry process. That conversation sparked an important collaboration, which Shelle has been an important part of. The group is now working toward developing a plan to address this need in Brooklyn Park.

It was especially meaningful for LeMar and Shelle to finally meet face-to-face and continue the conversation around this much-needed work. For Cindy, moments like this are a reminder of what can happen when community members bring their ideas, experiences, and connections together to create meaningful solutions for Brooklyn Park.

10/08/2026

The future of technology needs young people who are ready to build it.

This workforce development program gives young adults ages 18–24 the opportunity to explore IT in, cybersecurity, AI and digital skills, drone operation, hardware repair, and more while gaining practical skills and connections to real career opportunities.

Classes begin October 20 and meet every Tuesday from 6–8 PM at the Brooklyn Park Small Business Center. And for participants who complete the program requirements, will receive a laptop and an IT toolkit to support their continued growth.

Build your skills. Strengthen your future. Register today.

09/30/2026

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending Powering Possibility, a conversation featuring two remarkable women, Maria Hinojosa and my dear friend Chanda Smith Baker. I was especially excited to be there as Maria shared insights from her book, Once I Was You, a deeply personal work that explores her experiences as an immigrant and the broader conversations around identity, belonging, and the American experience.

Maria is an award-winning Mexican-American journalist, author, and founder of Futuro Media Group. As the longtime anchor and executive producer of Latino USA, she has spent decades bringing underrepresented stories to the forefront. From becoming the first Latina hired at NPR in 1985 to receiving the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting, her career reflects a remarkable commitment to journalism that challenges perspectives and gives voice to communities often left out of the conversation. Her work reminds us how powerful storytelling can be in shaping understanding and inspiring change.

Being in a room alongside my Latina and Indigenous sisters and brothers made the experience even more meaningful. I was equally proud to support my dear friend Chanda, whose leadership as President and CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation continues to create opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and elevate voices that deserve to be heard. Watching her journey over the years has been inspiring.

Conversations like these remind me that our backgrounds may differ, but our hopes for our communities and the next generation are deeply connected. I’m grateful for Maria’s powerful storytelling, proud of Chanda’s continued leadership, and thankful to the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for creating space for meaningful conversations like this one.

09/25/2026

Minnesota CHILL Foundation is proud to celebrate Rev. Dr. Tracey Gibson, who was honored at the 2026 Twin Cities International Citizen Awards for her leadership, service and impact. Thank you to International Leadership Institute for an amazing event.

Our co-founder, Cindy Hill, had the pleasure of attending this special evening to support and celebrate Dr. Gibson alongside community and global leaders who gathered to recognize individuals making a difference both locally and around the world.

At CHILL, we believe it’s important to show up for the people who are doing the work — those who lead, serve, open doors and use their influence to create opportunities for others. Dr. Gibson’s recognition is a beautiful reflection of that kind of impact.

The evening also created an opportunity to connect with Dr. Jonathan Kimeli Bii Chelilim, Governor of Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, and Alice Cheptoo Kositany of Eldoret, Kenya. Our conversations even led to an invitation to participate with the Minnesota business delegation traveling to South Africa and Kenya in 2027 — an exciting opportunity to continue building relationships and connections across the globe.

Congratulations again to Rev. Dr. Tracey Gibson and all of the honorees. I’m grateful for evenings like this that allow us to celebrate people doing meaningful work, strengthen relationships and continue building connections from Minnesota to the world.