IT Support graduate Darius Jones featured in The New York Times on December 13, 2015.

He shared, “I really didn’t want to give this program up. If I had to tread through snow to get here, I would have tread through snow.” Read the full article here.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Marty Rodgers of Accenture quoting Margaret Mead in his keynote address at the inaugural Beta Bash 1.0.

October 7, Per Scholas welcomed more than 100 guests — including alumni, partners, employers, and our biggest fans — to the Fillmore in downtown Silver Spring for the first ever Beta Bash 1.0.

Amid the networking and celebration, guests got a hands-on experience of the Per Scholas training by taking the Tech Challenge, a series of challenges developed from the Per Scholas curriculum and administered by the students walking guests through each challenge: Defeat the Board (how to reset a password account), Perfect Your Pitch (deliver your personal job interview pitch) and Connect the World (how to setup a network). Completing the challenge successfully was marked with a formal graduation token, a Per Scholas lapel pin which each student receives upon graduating from the Per Scholas training.

The live program was opened by graduate Chrystal Banks who captivated the audience with her through college, to motherhood, to Per Scholas, and now to a spot in the General Assembly web developer course on a full scholarship. She eloquently relayed the importance of supporting organizations like Per Scholas, saying, “Your being here is so powerful. Your being here matters. It creates opportunity. It changes lives.” You can read her full remarks here.

Chrystal was followed by keynote speaker Marty Rodgers, Managing Director of Accenture and Accenture Federal Services. He began, “Like Chrystal, it is my fondest hope that my children will grow up to change the world. If we bet on people like Bridgette Gray and we bet on organizations like Per Scholas, and we have courage to collaborate, we can change communities.” Marty inspired the crowd with his person story of his name, explaining that a name defines who and what you are. Per Scholas, he emphasized, means “through education”; and through education, we can achieve anything.

Marty was followed by Managing Director Bridgette Gray, who was glowing from the outpouring of support from the local community. In addition to thanking partners and supporters, Bridgette awarded two organizations, Dynamic Network Solutions (DNS) and MagView each as a Corporate Partner of the Year. Collectively the two firms have hired 20% of the NCR graduates. Accepting the award on behalf of DNS, Jason Coke shared with the crowd, “As a small business, it’s really hard to find talent. Per Scholas has changed the way we hire. We get high quality candidates on a consistent basis.”

Bridgette then announced the news of Per Scholas and partner Symantec launching a cybersecurity training track for veterans in the National Capital Region in the coming year. Symantec has made a substantial investment in the project as a part of its Cyber Career Connection (SC3) initiative earning them the Innovator of the Year which was accepted by Cheri McGuire of Symantec. Bridgette presented the award with, “Innovation is hard. It’s easy to avoid. It’s easy to say no. It’s hard to put skin in the game and say yes. It is a huge honor to recognize Symantec for saying yes to innovation.”

The program was closed by Per Scholas National Capital Region Advisory Board Chair Ed Glabus who rallied the crowd to get involved with Per Scholas in specific ways:

• Connect with Per Scholas on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Invest in our training
• Volunteer time to work with students to build their professional development
• Hire our graduates like the 50+ other companies in the NCR
• Become a thought partner and help lead Per Scholas to the next phase of growth
• Join our local advisory board to use your leadership to build the future of Per Scholas

There was undeniable enthusiasm from a strong community of champions to expand the impact of Per Scholas well into the future. We thank all of our sponsors — Symantec, Accenture, Capital One, Catholic Charities, Dynamic Network Solutions, IronBow, and MagView; our advisory board, local staff, the event team at The Event Studio, and all the people who showed up to support the work we do.

We will be posting the photos from the evening as well as the photobooth on our Facebook page by next week.

To get involved in our work, you can go to perscholas.org or contact Managing Director Bridgette Gray at bgray@perscholas.org.

Per Scholas National Capital Region graduate Chrystal Banks opened up the Beta Bash 1.0 with a speech about her journey into technology through Per Scholas.

See a copy of her remarks below.

GOOD EVENING!

It is such an honor to be kicking off the first-ever Beta Bash event in support of Per Scholas.

My name is Chrystal Banks and I am a Per Scholas graduate.

Can all my fellow tech nerds make some noise?!

I am incredibly passionate about technology and I don’t even know where to begin to express what Per Scholas means to me.

I grew up here in the DMV. As a kid, I was really close to my dad. Anything he was doing, I wanted to do. He was always fixing every electronic device that existed. Computer systems, gaming systems, sound systems, you name it. We weren’t rich but somehow managed to always have the latest technology!

It was the 90s. New technology was hot.

My first computer had a Windows ‘95 OS and I will never forget it.

This is how I first started to learn technology. I would hook things up with my dad. Everything he did I was right there with him.

He would be really proud of me.

When I went to college, it wasn’t obvious for me to study technology. I was 18, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life yet. So I studied sociology because it interested me, but I had no idea what I was going to do with a degree in Sociology.

After my freshman year on campus I hit a few rough patches and had to take some time off.

I’d work retail, places like Starbucks, H&M. … Jobs just to fulfill my immediate needs.

But I knew I could do better for myself. This was a very discouraging time for me and I know some of you can relate.

After some years off, I went back to school focused and ready to plan for the rest of my life. I was a junior college … when I had my beautiful son Eli.

Being a new mother, full-time student, and working to pay the bills became too much. I once again had to stop my classes.

During this time I shared a small apartment with my mother, three siblings, and my son. My room was a very tiny den.

It was a really rough time. And I had no idea how to get past it. Lost and depressed doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt.

I was attending an information session for jobs with the Census Bureau when someone came in to talk about a different opportunity.

A training that would teach me technology skills, provide me IT certifications, and help me launch a career in tech —- And it was FREE.

I think I might have asked the guy a hundred questions.

The program was Per Scholas. I will never forget this day.

You ask the world to give you signs … and this was my sign.

My dad passed away a few years before —- and I just knew … I just felt this had to be his sign. And I knew that this was my opportunity. Nothing was going to stop me.

I’ve never been so motivated, I applied the same day!

The day I got accepted to Per Scholas was one of the best days of my life. The life I wanted to create for myself and my son.

I am sure you can hear the passion in my voice and that passion was met by everyone at Per Scholas. My fellow classmates. My instructor. The entire staff.

Everyone was there learning from the beginning together and we supported one another along the way.

Once we graduated and we all began to interview for jobs, I’d get a text from everyone wishing me luck. Even Bridgette would send me notes of encouragement.

With every discouraging moment, there was a community to keep me lifted up.

It wasn’t long after I graduated that I landed my first job in tech at Strayer University as a tier 1 Help Desk technician. From there I have gone on to work for ICMA-RC’s Help Desk.

I’m great at my job! I take pride in what I do.

Coming in with the basic skills Per Scholas gave me, it’s up to me to take the initiative to build on that, and I’ve done that. I ask questions. Beyond tier 1, I want to know everything.

And I am so happy and blessed that I get to continue learning. ON MONDAY I will begin a course at General Assembly to become a web developer —- and I got a full scholarship.

Sometimes I can’t believe it.

I’ve been doing the pre-work for the course and I’m knocking it out of the park!

When I get home from work, my fingers are itching to get to programming. I love every minute of learning to use Github, ruby rails, terminal… I cannot wait until my first day!

In tech —- and in life —- you have to constantly grow. The moment you stay still is the moment you stop your success.

I am my son’s role model. I want to provide him a great education and a better life. He is so smart, and I want to nurture that.

He’s only been here for two years and we spent most of that time living in a den with no windows and no door. I know he won’t remember that, and I don’t want him to. I want him to have a normal childhood, carefree and not grow up worrying about having food on the table.

I want to avoid that struggle at all cost —- and I am closer and closer to that point and have never been so confident.

Per Scholas really changes lives.

I cannot emphasize that point enough.

I am smart. I am extremely hard working. I just didn’t know where to go or what to do to begin and put my potential in action. My situation is not unusual. There are so many like me and we just need that door opened —- and we are ready to sprint through it.

I found Per Scholas and I am flying.

Your being here is so powerful. Your being here matters. It creates opportunity. It changes lives.

It is such a honor to be here tonight. I get the honor of acknowledging those of you who helped to make my opportunities possible. Accenture and Symantec, our presenting sponsors tonight. Thank you! Also supporting tonight are Capital One, Catholic Charities, DNS, Iron Bow and Magview. We so appreciate your collaboration.

I also want to recognize the Per Scholas board and host committee who helped make tonight possible. Thank you.

What I go on to achieve will be in part because you believed in me. And I cannot say thank you enough.

Thank you all and thank you Per Scholas!

A tech gala. No ball gown required.

Join us for a night to celebrate the vibrant tech ecosystem in the Capital Region, and Per Scholas as an innovative, effective means to building successful career paths for the future tech workforce, presented by Accenture and Symantec.

Help us further spark economic renewal and untapped talent in the National Capital Region. Join us on October 7 at Beta Bash 1.0 and change the future of our communities.

With your support we will transform communities, businesses and the local tech workforce. Purchase or your ticket and share with friends. Your ticket gets you unlimited beer and wine as well as food.

Thank you to presenting sponsors Accenture and Symantec, as well as supporting sponsors Capital One, Dynamic Network Solutions, Ironbow, Catholic Charities and MagView for their generous support.

• Celebrate with our growing tech community
• Party with innovative entrepreneurs and companies
• Enjoy amazing food and drinks
• Invest in the future of the Capital Region’s booming tech ecosystem

We are still offering Silver, Gold, and Platinum sponsorship levels. To sponsor the Beta Bash, please contact Bridgette Gray or click here for benefits for each level.

BETA BASH 1.0 HOST COMMITTEE

• Martin “Marty” Rodgers, Accenture
• Bill Varner, ManTech International
• Ed Glabus, Veterans Consortium
• Steve Jarboe, Accenture
• Charles Britt, Northern Virginia Community College
• Barbara Ebel, State of Maryland/DWDAL
• Ellie Giles, Montgomery Business Development Corporation
• Monsignor John Enzler, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Greater Washington
• Lisa Paro, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Greater Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SILVER SPRING, MD – Sept. 24, 2015 – Cybersecurity giant Symantec invests $375,000 in it’s newest Cyber Career Connection (SC3) partner, national IT workforce development organization Per Scholas in the National Capital Region, to train military veterans for careers in cybersecurity.

As the economy continues to improve and headlines tout large numbers of job creation, the reality in low-income and middle-class communities shows the economic recovery has not hit everyone. In the National Capital Region, unemployment is at 5%-8% with 10%-16% of residents below the poverty line, and 45%-59% of adults lacking post-secondary credentials (DC, MD; Opportunity Index, 2014). Yet tech positions, accessible through training and credentials, are plentiful and growing. By 2018, regional businesses will grow their non-management IT workforce from 198,851 to over 219,456 positions (CareerBuilder/EMSI Analyst, 2014). Between turnover and new job openings, there are approximately 9,800 annual openings that residents, if properly trained, could fill.

To address this gap, the Per Scholas workforce development approach is driven by the understanding of the business community and where the pain points are in hiring. That information is used to build training programs tailored to the skills that are currently in demand in information technology. Upon opening its doors in the National Capital Region, Per Scholas heard from employers eager to fill cybersecurity roles.

The National Capital Region (NCR) had more than 23,000 job postings for cybersecurity in 2013, and 2015 projections show this number grew to 33,000, the most nationally. Growing demand is only part of the challenge employers face. The pipeline of talent is also scarce given cybersecurity qualifications.

Recognized by the White House as an effective model, Per Scholas has a track record and an independent study that proves several weeks of training is sufficient for its students, who are adults unemployed or in low-wage jobs, to acquire the skills and certification needed to succeed in entry-level IT roles. In less than one year of operation, Per Scholas of the National Capital Region trained 100 technologists with a 92% graduation rate, and 86% of those graduates have already landed jobs at average starting wages upwards of $39,000 annually.

Chrystal Banks graduated from Per Scholas in late 2014. A former barista at Starbucks and mother to a 2-year-old son, Chrystal nearly completed college before the cost of school became more than she could manage on her hourly salary. When the opportunity of Per Scholas was presented to her, she jumped on it eager to make a career out of a natural knack she had with technology. Chrystal graduated and began working on the Help Desk at a local university that earned her both a stable income and stable schedule. She is soon to begin an advancement course to learn web development at General Assembly. “Coming with the basic skills Per Scholas gave me, it’s up to me to take the initiative to build on that, and I’ve done that,” Chrystal shared. “I have a job. I have a nice apartment. My son is smart, and I get to nurture that. I have resources and a stable work schedule that allows me to be there for him and support his growth.”

Through the SC3 cybersecurity program, Per Scholas will provide military veterans tuition-free training in IT support and cybersecurity. The first eight weeks of training facilitated by Per Scholas will prepare participants with the foundation of IT infrastructure and support leading to the CompTIA A+ certification. The second phase of the training will be provided in partnership with Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) and provide four additional months of training that leads to Network+, Security+ and Ethical Hacker Certifications and entry-level employment assistance into cybersecurity.

Referral partners for this program will come from Paralyzed Veterans of America, Easter Seals, the Center for Women Veterans, and the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to ensure the training is offered to two of the most overlooked but talented groups of people. The training will be conducted at Per Scholas, 700 Roeder Road, 1st Floor, Silver Spring, MD. Any questions should be directed to Bridgette Gray at (301) 557-9200 or to nationalcapitalregion@perscholas.org.

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ABOUT

Per Scholas is a national nonprofit offering tuition-free, high-quality technology job training and career development to unemployed and underemployed individuals. Since 1998, more than 5,000 have enrolled in its job training programs. For more information, visit perscholas.org, Twitter @PerScholas and Facebook.