Per Scholas Pittsburgh is excited to announce our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania! The partnership will launch a program for individuals in the region to launch high-growth tech careers.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA), a provider of education, recreation, and healthy lifestyles programs for individuals ages 3-24, and Per Scholas announced this new collaboration to connect underrepresented individuals to information technology (IT) careers, eliminate barriers to employment in this growing field, and enable learners from diverse backgrounds to pursue living wage careers in the Pittsburgh region. This workforce development initiative is generously funded by the Henry L. Hillman Foundation.

“There is an incredible amount of opportunity in Pittsburgh right now for individuals aspiring to join the tech workforce,” said Todd Derby, Managing Director of Per Scholas Pittsburgh. “At Per Scholas, we provide the necessary training to ensure that diverse and resilient Pittsburgh area residents can get access to digital careers and take advantage of thriving wage opportunities.”

Read the full press release here!

Per Scholas became the first organization to sign the Vibrant Pittsburgh DEI Pledge. Signatory organizations commit to taking collective action to create a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable Pittsburgh region.

“Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is at Per Scholas’s core. We believe that talent is ubiquitous, but unfortunately, we know opportunity is not. That’s why we’re passionately committed to removing barriers, increasing access, and advancing economic equity through rigorous tech training,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “We’re proud to be a signatory of the Vibrant Pittsburgh DEI Pledge and look forward to being a meaningful contributor to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging progress here in Pittsburgh.” 

Per Scholas Pittsburgh Managing Director Todd Derby will lead our contributions to this essential work. To learn more about Vibrant Pittsburgh, visit www.vibrantpittsburgh.org. 

Per Scholas was awarded a generous grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation to train 100 learners for high-growth technology careers, developing a diverse graduate talent pipeline and spurring economic inclusion and growth in Pittsburgh.  The grant, totaling $100,000, is set to stimulate ‘new-economy’ jobs locally in Pittsburgh, and we are so appreciative of this grant and the opportunity to make an impact in our local community.

Click here learn more about the grant and R.K. Mellon Foundation.

Pittsburgh Natives Drive Equity in Tech in Per Scholas Leadership Roles

Pittsburgh, Penn. (June 28, 2021) – Last Friday, 20 learners successfully graduated from Per Scholas’s inaugural Full Stack Java Developer course in Pittsburgh, powered by TEKsystems, a full-stack technology and talent services provider. For more than 25 years, Per Scholas has advanced economic equity through technology, and this course marks the national nonprofit’s first graduation in its three-city expansion in 2021. In May, Per Scholas launched inaugural tech trainings in Phoenix and Seattle, with learners expected to graduate in August.

Franklin Reed, Executive Director of Inclusion & Diversity at TEKsystems, delivered remarks during the virtual celebration, encouraging graduates to keep climbing in their technology careers. “This is a game-changing approach to addressing some of the challenges we see as the country’s largest IT talent provider,” he said. “The partnership between TEKsystems and Per Scholas is a tremendous connection, driving our ability to address the labor shortages that exist in IT as well as some of the diversity challenges.”

Graduates have mastered specific technical skills employers seek in entry and mid-level Java Developers, advanced their coding skills, and gained experience with Java, data structures, web services, algorithms, and more. Today, TEKsystems is hosting a Per Scholas Employer Showcase where graduates have the opportunity to present their final projects and meet with local employers.

Pittsburgh natives Todd Derby and Tamara Abney are leading Per Scholas Pittsburgh as Managing Director and Senior Manager, Business Solutions, respectively. A lifelong educator, Todd leads the strategic and programmatic direction of Per Scholas Pittsburgh. Prior to joining Per Scholas, Todd served in a variety of roles with Higher Achievement. Tamara brings more than 20 years of experience in employer relations, hospitality, advertising, and corporate training and previously led Employer Relations efforts for the Jewish Family and Community Services Career Development Center in Pittsburgh.

“I am so incredibly proud of our learners. Their determination, teamwork, and grit that was on display each day was truly remarkable. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this talented group. The opportunities that await here in Pittsburgh, I sincerely believe, are limitless,” said Todd Derby, Per Scholas Pittsburgh Managing Director. “We are grateful to our champion partner TEKsystems, as well as Partner4Work, the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, and InnovatePGH, all of whom continue to champion our work in Pittsburgh. The way in which this community has rallied around Per Scholas is humbling.”

A hiring partner since 2013, TEKsystems has hired hundreds of Per Scholas graduates to date. In collaboration with Per Scholas, TEKsystems will train hundreds more for high-demand roles over the next two years.

In mid-July, Per Scholas Pittsburgh will offer its second tech training opportunity, this time focused on End User Desktop Support. This course is also powered by TEKsystems and designed to prepare learners with fundamental concepts in Networking, Active Directory, ITIL and more. Successful learners will graduate with CompTIA A+ certification in 12 weeks. For more information, please visit PerScholas.org/Pittsburgh.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 14,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

About TEKsystems

We’re partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That’s the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.

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