Per Scholas Columbus Graduates 37 Women Technologists from Tech Women of Color Cohort
On May 5th, 37 women technologists graduated from the latest Tech Women in Color cohort at Per Scholas Columbus! They were joined by friends and family, Per Scholas Midwest Regional Senior Vice President Noah Mitchell, and President and CEO Plinio Ayala.
Attendees heard congratulations and words of forward-looking inspiration from Franklin County Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce; Tonija S. Coverdale, Associate Vice President of Technology Data Management at Nationwide; and Kat Yamaguchi, Programs Director at New Directions Career Center. Before they closed the educational chapter of this journey, each graduate shared “Why” they came to Per Scholas as part of their graduation presentation. We’re delighted to see so many women of color unlocking their potential and heading boldly into the world of IT.
Click here to learn more about the upcoming Tech Women of Color cohort!
Liz Bumiller
Rachel Bates
Frandie Francique
Per Scholas Columbus Tech Women of Color Enhances Racial and Gender Diversity in Columbus’s Tech Industry
Per Scholas Columbus was featured on NBC4! The article discussed how our organization is bringing racial and gender diversity to Columbus’s rapidly growing tech scene, and highlighted our creation of the Tech Women of Color Alliance, which offers training and job placement assistance in the tech industry for women of color.
“We need to make sure that our city represents our citizens, which means that women of color need to be in that space,” Jenn Fowler Howard, our Managing Director for Per Scholas Columbus, was quoted as saying.
Tech Women of Color Cohort Featured in Local News
Per Scholas Columbus launched their innovative Tech Women of Color training in July with an IT Fundamentals cohort. The workforce initiative will train 200 women over the next two years to have in-demand tech skills to launch their tech careers, and was featured on local ABC Television affiliate ABC 6. The training includes a tuition-free, 15-week course and will prepare women with professional development and technical skills.
Per Scholas Columbus Managing Director Jennifer Fowler Howard was interviewed for the feature and discussed how the Tech Women of Color initiative will diversify the tech industry to include more women of color. “Representation matters and I think that because you don’t often see women of color in that space often you don’t think you belong in that space,” Jennifer mentioned.
The first Tech Women of Color cohort graduates on November 4, 2022.