On April 10th, 2018 Per Scholas President & CEO, Plinio Ayala, was invited to speak on a workforce solutions panel to an audience of legislators, congressional staff and business. North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Chair of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and fellow Illinois committee member Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, invited Per Scholas and Apprenticeship Carolina to present innovative workforce models backed by compelling evidence.

The afternoon event, organized by Results for America, treated legislators to a showing of Solutions to America’s Workforce Crisis, a recently premiered documentary, featuring Per Scholas as an evidence-based model increasing income and reducing public assistance for graduates. The film and panel asked lawmakers to consider investments in workforce organizations that are proving impact.

“There has never been a time in our country with so many organizations that have proven social impact, and yet the amount of government spending on these programs is at an all time low” says Plinio Ayala speaking to the room.

Per Scholas’ model is heralded for its innovative approach to serving employers as the primary customer and leveraging wrap-around support services for students using an expansive community network. One Congressional staffer asked what set the model apart. “We work directly with employers to offer feedback on the curriculum we develop. We have staff onsite who can speak the same language as the technical and hiring teams. We are not working with HR departments at these companies, we are working with hiring decision makers, the managers, the supervisors” said Plinio.

Per Scholas has recently launched a series of customized training partnerships that put students in direct hiring pipelines with major technology employers. The customized training offers free hands on skills, career development resources and interview opportunities with leading tech companies. This model is an extension of Per Scholas’ mission to identify local, diverse talent and open the doors to fulfilling careers within the IT workforce.

For Immediate Release: 03. 28. 2018

Contact:

Jake McIntosh, Director, Strategic Communications

[email protected] – 978.578.6821

Dallas, Texas/National Capital Region – Per Scholas has been announced as one of nine National Grant Partners for Best Buy in 2018. Per Scholas is delighted to facilitate a partnership aligned with Best Buy’s initiative to inspire underserved youth to pursue careers in technology. Per Scholas will work closely with staff at Best Buy Teen Tech Centers Washington D.C. and Dallas, TX, to facilitate a series of engagements for local graduating high school seniors and high school juniors interested in careers in IT.

The project’s goal is to help young adults in Washington D.C. and Dallas, TX to identify educational and career pathways, as well as ensure a strong, sustainable pipeline to Per Scholas’ rigorous, hands-on IT training. Per Scholas will work closely with Teen Tech Center operators to understand their student’s unique needs and interests, as well as design a series of activities that fit within the schedules of each Tech Center. Per Scholas is a critical partner in connecting young adults who have become excited and engaged about tech through their time at the Teen Tech Center to the skills and networks they will need to turn that enthusiasm into a career.

“We are grateful to be aligned with a corporate partner like Best Buy, focused on helping young adults bridge the gap between their enthusiasm to fully fledged careers in technology,” says Bridgette Gray, Executive Vice President, Program, Per Scholas. “We are always exploring ways to strengthen accessible pathways and opportunities for youth. Partnerships with corporations invested in similar pathways will result in the future tech workforce and benefit our communities and the industry as a whole.”  

“Best Buy is seeking to prepare 1 million teens from underserved communities for tech-reliant jobs annually by 2020,” says Andrea Riehl, Manager, Community Relations at Best Buy.“ We believe that this work is vital to help solve a skills gap and to put teens on a path to college or careers. However, we can’t accomplish it alone. That’s why we’re partnering with nonprofits focused on tech education who can help us make a greater collective impact.”

For more information about Best Buy’s 2018 National Grant Partners, please visit: https://corporate.bestbuy.com/best-buy-giving-partnerships/.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, we prepare motivated and curious adults who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers as IT professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in six cities across the country: Atlanta; Greater Cincinnati; Columbus, OH; Dallas, the National Capital Region and New York. To date, Per Scholas has trained 7,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology. To learn more, visit www.perscholas.org.

About Best Buy Teen Tech Centers

Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are a place where teens can develop critical skills through hands-on activities that explore their interests in programming, film-making, music production and design. Each location works to bridge the digital divide by giving youth access to tech education opportunities, relationships that help to build confidence, and a foundation for school and career success. A partnership with The Clubhouse Network connects members to a global community of over 100 clubhouses in 20 countries.

For Immediate Release: 03. 28. 2018

Contacts:

Jake McIntosh, Director, Strategic Communications, Per Scholas

[email protected] –  978.578.6821

New York – Per Scholas is thrilled to announce the addition of Eric Westphal to its National Board. Per Scholas is a national workforce nonprofit that provides rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development in careers such as IT in Atlanta, Ga.; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Washington, D.C. and New York. Per Scholas’ National Board provides leadership and guidance for carrying out the organization’s mission of opening doors to technology careers for individuals from often overlooked communities.

Westphal serves as Senior Director, Global Legal and Corporate Affairs for Cognizant.   Ranked No. 205 on the Fortune 500, Cognizant is a leading global technology and business services company, and a Champion Partner of Per Scholas since 2017.   Westphal joined the company in 2011 and is responsible for building and supporting Cognizant’s corporate brand and reputation through programs that drive social change and business value. He leads strategic investments in workforce development as well as initiatives related to Cognizant’s corporate social responsibility program in the United States.

Westphal was central to developing and implementing a recently launched custom Cognizant/Per Scholas training partnership designed to provide U.S. workers with access to skills training and hiring opportunities in the digital economy. In June 2017, Per Scholas and Cognizant announced the first scaled training and hiring partnership, opening a training center in The Bronx with the goal of training 650 individuals recruited from five boroughs. Cognizant and Per Scholas more recently launched a program in North Texas with the goal of training 1,000 individuals over the course of 36 months. Cognizant expects to hire the majority of graduates from both programs. Per Scholas and Cognizant teams work closely to ensure that students receive instruction on nuanced technical job specifications and business acumen.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to support Per Scholas in developing new innovative workforce development approaches that will significantly impact the future of work,” says Westphal. “The benefits of these programs will be seen well beyond the individual students. These are programs that can have positive impact in their families, neighborhoods and the business community.”

“Eric’s executive leadership deepens our understanding of sustainability as Per Scholas moves to scale our impact across the country. His passion for creating opportunity in overlooked communities aligns perfectly with our mission,” says Plinio Ayala, President & CEO for Per Scholas. “Eric’s background, building cross-sectoral partnerships, combines the expertise of public, private and nonprofit leaders and will support shared growth for Per Scholas business partners within the communities we serve.”

For more information on Per Scholas, visit: http://www.perscholas.org

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, we prepare motivated and curious adults who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers as IT professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in six cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; and New York. To date, Per Scholas has trained more than 7,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

For Immediate Release: 02. 20. 2018

Contact:

Jake McIntosh, Director, Strategic Communications

[email protected] – 978.578.6821

New York, NY — Per Scholas is pleased to announce the addition of David Hannigan to its National Board. Per Scholas is a national workforce nonprofit that provides rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development in careers such as IT in Atlanta, GA; Cincinnati and Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Washington, D.C. and New York, NY. Per Scholas’ National Board provides leadership and guidance for carrying out the organization’s mission of opening doors to technology careers for individuals from often overlooked communities.

Hannigan serves as Chief Cyber Risk Officer for Capital One Financial Corporation, a Signature Partner of Per Scholas since 2011. He is a seasoned information security leader with nearly two decades of experience in data-sensitive industries including financial services, online retail, and pharmaceuticals. Prior to his role at Capital One, David was CISO for Sears Holding; CISO and Leader of Technical Operations at Zappos; and CISO, security engineer, and leader of security operations and compliance with the Ernst and Young national security practice. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Hannigan lives in Arlington, VA with his husband, Daniel.

As a founding board member of the Security Advisor Alliance, Hannigan has demonstrated his commitment to lending his wealth of knowledge and insight to the public good. Per Scholas is fortunate to benefit from his perspective, and grateful to welcome him to the National Board.

“It’s an honor to join the National Board for Per Scholas and advance their mission to help more young people thrive in today’s economy,” Hannigan said. “There is an insatiable demand for talent, and I believe one way we can solve that is to expand the traditional pools of candidates. I admire Per Scholas’ mission, as it addresses this problem with a very human approach and literally changes people’s lives. Capital One supports Per Scholas through our Future Edge initiative focused on helping more people get the skills, tools and resources they need to succeed in the 21st century.”

Hannigan’s addition exemplifies the continuing fruitful partnership between Per Scholas and Capital One. As a Signature Partner, Capital One supports Per Scholas sites in Dallas, TX, the Greater Washington D.C. region, and New York City. Capital One advised on the development of Per Scholas’ curriculum and facilities, including the contribution of a new Education Securities Operations Center (ESOC) in Silver Spring, MD. Additionally, Capital One hosted a Future Edge luncheon where they coached students on networking and provided mock interviews. Through the event HEART Empowers Capital One hosted Per Scholas students in Dallas for mock interviews and professional development training, providing key volunteer support through direct engagement with Per Scholas’ student body.

“As Per Scholas expands course offerings and facilities to cover IT Security, we are grateful to have David Hannigan join our National Board,” says Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “David is a leader with extensive experience in cyber risk management and his voice will translate into tangible value for our students.”

For more information on Per Scholas, visit: http://www.perscholas.org

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, we prepare motivated and curious adults who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers as IT professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in six cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; and New York. To date, Per Scholas has trained 7,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

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Wayne Toles works as a Service Desk Manager at DesignDATA, an IT consulting firm responsible for supporting clients across the National Capital Region. His day to day is spent mentoring and most importantly hiring technical talent to work at his desk. This is the hardest part of his job. “When I am looking for new engineers,” Wayne says, “the main thing you need to prove is an ability to communicate — with your supervisors — with your team members- — with your customers.”

Wayne returned from a family vacation and found a new hire working at his desk. This new employee had the communication skills, had the customer service skills and had the technical troubleshooting skills. Wayne asked where he had come from — talent is hard to find and a good referral source is coveted in the IT industry — the response was Per Scholas. Wayne attended the next Per Scholas job fair and hired three graduates on the spot. “They came onboard, I watched them succeed as excellent employees and management started taking notice.”

Three years later Wayne has seven Per Scholas graduates working at his desk. He explained, “I was really trying to work on diversifying my workforce because of my client base…I want my clients to hear people that sound like them, look like them and can relate to them. The only way to do that is to build a diverse team from all different places.” His team’s success has been outstanding. “One of the biggest benefits that I’ve noticed are the soft skills that Per Scholas graduates bring to our helpdesk. Our clients love the diversity represented and the customer service and care our technicians provide.”

Adrian is one of Wayne’s recent hires. Adrian transitioned between jobs while taking classes at a community college, however, the courses were expensive and Adrian did not think he was learning applicable skills relevant to the market. When he came across Per Scholas he thought it was “too good to be true,” — relevant hands on experience and placement support. Most of all, Adrian felt that Per Scholas prepared him with a professional business mindset. In his own words: “Per Scholas changed my life completely by providing me with the skills and knowledge that could have taken four expensive years. I feel more accomplished and independent now that I am A+ certified.”

Wayne hired Adrian as a service desk engineer at DesignDATA where he is currently working alongside other members of his graduating class. Wayne says, “The quality of candidates I receive from Per Scholas is excellent. It has been echoed all the way up to the president of our company and to the CEO of our parent company.”

Doyon, DesignDATA’s parent corporation based in Alaska, has decided to take advantage of Per Scholas training and flown staff members across the country to learn the technical and professional skills taught in Per Scholas classrooms. Melissa Stallings, Senior Director, Per Scholas says, “We are thrilled to partner with DesignDATA and Doyan for what has become a mutually beneficial partnership. DesignDATA is benefiting from the excellence and diversity of our graduates and we are able to provide new careers to overlooked workers across our region.”

“I don’t get passionate about many things,” says Wayne, “but I am passionate about Per Scholas. When I hear colleagues in my networks say they are searching for technical talent I’ll ask – have you considered hiring from Per Scholas?”

Per Scholas is excited to announce its participation in the annual DoMore24 Fundraising Campaign! On June 8th, you can take part in the single largest giving day of the year to support Per Scholas in the National Capital Region.

What is DoMore 24?

Do More 24 is the DMV’s largest annual 24-hour online fundraiser, powered by United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA).

When is Do More 24?

Do More 24 begins at 12:00 AM and ends at 11:59 PM on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

With your generous donation during this ONE DAY of giving, Per Scholas NCR will be better equipped to provide free technology based training and professional development to the thousands of talented individuals from overlooked communities. By matching these future IT professionals with employer partners, we are directly impacting the community and providing sustainable careers in technology to many. In the National Capital Region, Per Scholas graduated 86% of enrollees and placed 81% of those graduates in jobs. We expanded our course offerings to include IT Security training for students interested in pursuing careers in security risk management and asset protection.

That’s not all! If you’d like to get in on the fun, there will be a series of Social Media activities to participate in that we can’t wait to share with you.

If you’re feeling ready to donate now, then don’t fret! Advance Giving is now open and will be officially counted on June 8th during the DoMore24 campaign!

About DoMore24

Do More 24TM is more than just one day of fundraising…it’s the next generation of online giving. It’s a local movement that is leveraging the power of the crowd to support our region’s nonprofits through focused, online giving directed at creating maximum impact. We are building an innovative platform that will allow donation tracking and progress, give users the opportunity to see who else is participating, and experience something you have never seen before: real people feeling the effect of giving in real time.

On March 20, Per Scholas students from the IT Security training held in the National Capital Region attended a “Resume Workshop” hosted by our Signature Partner Capital One. The resume workshop provided students with top-level insight into the cyber security positions that are currently available, salary negotiations and promotions. Furthermore, students received necessary feedback from HR recruiters on what they would be looking for in an IT professional to hire. Per Scholas NCR Senior Director, Program, Melissa Stallings had this to say about the day long event:

“I cannot express enough how much value our relationship with Capital One brings to the quality of our students and our training! The resume workshop was helpful, as it specifically targeted tech positions that our students are competing for. Resume workshops are pretty common, however Capital One offered [our students] a step above the norm by integrating essential tools on negotiating salaries and promotions. Students were also able to get honest feedback from HR recruiters on what they look for and spent their lunch hour meeting leaders across multiple divisions at Capital One. This opportunity gave our students even more exposure and insight into the company, and they were able to practice their 60 second pitch- which they’ve been practicing in Career Development.”

The students came away from the workshop with a renewed sense of purpose and drive to enter the cybersecurity field. One student, Sheku, mentioned that “The workshop that Capital One Bank had with Per Scholas was a great experience. It is everything that a job seeker could ask for…It allowed the attendees to improve their resume, cover letters, social network, and confidence. Per Schola is a great program itself since it prepares the attendees for a real-world job and a real-world technical skill of high importance.”

Per Scholas NCR Ambassador Renique is a graduate of the same IT Security course and currently works for Capital One as a Business Transformation and Integration Associate. She attended the resume workshops and was able to highlight the incredible things that Capital One is doing in the cybersecurity field. Student David stated “I didn’t realize Capital One was on the cutting edge of cybersecurity. They have so many opportunities that advancement is almost endless and they strongly encourage employees to further their education. Capital One would be the ideal company in regards to employment.”

Check out past Monthly Impact Reports here.