Laucher and Graham have long said that they don’t receive federal or state grants, but they have subcontracted with others that do. This episode looks into the money Mined Minds takes in on the non-profit side. It includes an interview with Ami Gatts, the president of a local workforce development board that administered a federal grant to Mined Minds, and goes over Mined Minds’ most recent tax documents.

Episode 3: Taken for Federal Granted

In the Appalachia region of the U.S., a region once dominated by the coal industry, mines have continued to close one after another. In answer, two tech consultants have established a free coding bootcamp called Mined Minds to retrain out of work coal miners and others for work in tech. What they promise seems like it could improve the socioeconomic status of communities around the world. 

But some believe they aren’t as beneficial as they come off. Several ex-learners have criticized the bootcamp, saying they were promised employment upon completion of the program and were fired days later. Others have filed a class action lawsuit against them on charges of fraud. Code Burst investigates Mined Minds, their efficacy, and whether their model can work for others.

Code Burst is produced as a collaboration between CKUT 90.3 FM and eLearning Inside News.

Technology

In the Appalachia region of the U.S., a region once dominated by the coal industry, mines have continued to close one after another. In answer, two tech consultants have established a free coding bootcamp called Mined Minds to retrain out of work coal miners and others for work in tech. What they promise seems like it could improve the socioeconomic status of communities around the world. But some believe they aren’t as beneficial as they come off. Several ex-learners have criticized the bootcamp, saying they were promised employment upon completion of the program and were fired days later. Others have filed a class action lawsuit against them on charges of fraud. Code Burst investigates Mined Minds, their efficacy, and whether their model can work for others. Code Burst is produced as a collaboration between CKUT 90.3 FM and eLearning Inside News.

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Episode 3: Taken for Federal Granted

Episode 3: Taken for Federal Granted