Platform by Per Scholas at the Cognizant Bronx Training Center has quickly turned itself into a center of technology learning and innovation in the South Bronx. “It is remarkable to see the growth, especially considering that the first training tracks launched only nine months ago” says James Judge, Managing Director at Platform by Per Scholas New York. “Now, the space is currently training over one hundred students across five separate tracks at any one time. In the morning we are full of students studying before the day’s exercises and we are hosting a guest speaker series in collaboration with Cognizant to bring real world discussions into the classroom.”

Per Scholas Champion Partner, Cognizant, has invested considerable time and resources into the success of their New York flagship pre-employment training location in the South Bronx and a brand new partnership with Platform by Per Scholas in Dallas,Texas. After launching the partnership last summer, six courses have launched including Application Support Management, Quality Engineering, Data Engineering, Security Operations Center Analyst, Java Developer, and Java Basics, an intensive five week Java bootcamp to develop fundamental knowledge in the coding language. New York has enrolled over two-hundred students to date and Dallas has enrolled over sixty students in the last four months. Both locations are training students with material that has been customized to meet Cognizant’s standards and fill their needs in a growing workforce.

The Cognizant Knowledge Sharing Series is an excellent example of the resources and experience employer partners can offer students. Several weeks ago Nitil Kamal, a Client Service Executive at Cognizant, spent a Saturday with Platform students in New York to discuss big data and artificial intelligence trends in the insurance market. Mr. Kamal elevated case studies where big data analysis and smart computer programming can expand business possibilities across a range of sectors. The conversation focused on the impact data analytics can have on profit margins and systems that have been designed to leverage data effectively within a corporation. Specifically, in the insurance business, data analysts are able to predict human and market behavior to determine fraudulent claims. Mr. Kamal commented that he was “very impressed by the technology acumen and intellectual gradient of the students at Platform by Per Scholas.”

“The deep experience and knowledge of the IT industry is probably the biggest asset our partners at Cognizant can provide students,” Judge commented after the day-long conversation. “There are plenty of tech boot-camps popping up in the city, but our main focus is the direct input and feedback loops from one of the most successful employers in the world. Our students are getting face-time with executives and technical teams, and each course module has been identified as a top priority by a hiring partner.”

The knowledge sharing series continues on Tuesday, May 8th, with a visit from Morgan Luniewicz, Consulting Security Engineer with Fortinet. The conversation will examine the software tools and developer knowledge necessary to enter the field.

To read more about Cognizant’s support of Per Scholas, click here. To apply to Platform by Per Scholas’ customized training tracks in New York and Dallas, click here.

To close out the month of April, Per Scholas was hosted by both Salesforce and Amazon Web Services to screen Solutions to America’s Workforce Crisis, a documentary profiling evidence based programs including Per Scholas. Produced by the What Works Media Project, and directed by award-winning producer Mikaela Beardsley and filmmaker Kristi Jacobson, this documentary follows the lives of three young people, two of them Per Scholas graduates, as they navigate training, placement and career opportunities in an evolving market. 

The week started off with a visit to the Salesforce Tower, where Per Scholas students engaged in a panel discussion about the value of mentorship, and how diversity strengthens change and growth within an organization. That conversation ultimately concluded that a diverse workforce can boost a company’s effectiveness and ultimately strengthen an organization.

The Panel was moderated by Esther Nai, who heads up Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Programs across America and Asia for Salesforce. The other panel chairs were occupied by Ashley Morris, who is a part of Salesforce’s Workforce Development and Education committee; Giselle Jaquez, who Manages Corporate Engagement at Per Scholas; and Helena Hill, a current Network Engineering student at  Per Scholas. Helena captured the audience’s attention when she told a motivational story about persevering through difficult times, and deciding to change her career path despite knowing the financial strain it would put her under. Helena fought through those hard times while living in a housing shelter, and still managed to make it to her classes at Per Scholas, ultimately getting her Network+ certification. She is currently looking forward to kicking off a new career where she can use the skills she has learned at Per Scholas.

After the Panel, Per Scholas students were able to break into small groups for speed interview/networking sessions alongside Salesforce employees. The students learned what a typical day is like from a number of Salesforce employees, and also got some insight into what their new certifications mean on the job market.

At the end of the week, we made our way to the Amazon Loft in Soho where we also kicked off the night with the documentary. The beautiful Amazon space was filled with over a hundred people that included partner employers, Per Scholas board members, and the founder of Per Scholas, John Stookey.

The highlight of the night was the Panel discussion hosted by Ken Eisner, the global lead for AWS Educate, with panelists Alba Teta, who is a Per Scholas graduate and a current Amazon employee, and our own CEO Plinio Ayala. The panel covered a myriad of topics including the value of mentorship, continuing education after Per Scholas, and how local companies can contribute to their communities and partner with workforce development organizations. Panelist Alba Teta offered insight into how immigrants with higher education backgrounds and degrees can struggle when they change markets and move to America. Alba also spoke to the training, mentorship, and placement assistance that she got from Per Scholas, and her career launch with Amazon in New York.

As a special treat, Jonathan Silva, one of the students featured in the film, was in the crowd and had great questions about the future growth of Per Scholas. He praised the training program for completely changing his life and putting him on a new path.

Both screenings were huge successes, and Per Scholas students made great connections with Salesforce employees at both events. We would like to thank our hosts at Salesforce and Amazon Web Services for having us, and we look forward to our continued partnerships in the future.

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

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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Per Scholas’ brand new partnership with Grow with Google and Coursera kicked off on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. The partnership is an 8 to 12 month program consisting of innovative courses and hands-on labs that will prepare students for careers in IT. Graduates of the program will receive a Google IT Support Professional Certificate.

Grow with Google, Google.org’s philanthropic initiative, helps job seekers, teachers, and businesses grow their skills with access to free online training and tools. Coursera, a leading online education provider, gives anyone, anywhere access to its platform to learn and earn credentials.

Anthony Pegues and Treniese Ladson, two Per Scholas CodeBridge graduates, spoke to 60 Grow with Googlers at Google’s headquarters in NYC on January 24. Alongside Kelly Richardson, Managing Director of New York, both graduates shared their insights on the important resources and opportunities that training and coaching provide for New Yorkers.

The IT Support Professional Certificate will be available for Per Scholas alumni who are up to three years post-graduation. Through Coursera’s engaging videos and interactive labs, students will be able to learn right from their portable devices. Although the course is online, students have access to in-person check-ins with a Per Scholas career advisor to ensure they are on the path to completion. Upon graduating, students will continue to receive career advancement mentoring from Per Scholas for up to two years.

On Tuesday, January 23, a launch event for the initial cohort was held at Per Scholas in Bronx, NY. “We had a total of 27 [alumni] show up and enroll in the program!” Marisa Briggs, Manager, National Program Team says. “As a group, they are all incredibly excited to be continuing their education with Per Scholas and Google.”

Per Scholas anticipates enrolling three cohorts in the IT Support Professional Certificate program over the next year. The program will begin with New York, with the hope to expand nationally.

Read the full press release here.