Per Scholas Welcomes Two National Board Members

Bronx, N.Y. (February 23, 2023) – Per Scholas, one of the leading national organizations that focuses on advancing economic mobility in technology, today announces the appointment of two dynamic leaders to its National Board. 

New National Per Scholas Board Members include:

• Dirk Manelski, Chief Technology Officer, PIMCO

With more than 24 years of technology experience, Dirk currently serves as PIMCO’s Chief Technology Officer, responsible for overseeing technology and developing the firm’s IT strategy. 

“Having participated in the PIMCO Foundation and Per Scholas partnership over the past couple of years I have seen the incredible impact Per Scholas can have on individuals’ careers and lives,” said Dirk Manelski, Chief Technology Officer at PIMCO. “I am excited to be joining the board and looking forward to being a bigger part of the Per Scholas mission.”

• Indy Reddy, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, PGIM Investments

Indy currently serves as Chief Technology and Operations Officer for PGIM Investments, where he is responsible for all aspects of technology strategy and delivery and operations functions. More than 150 Prudential employees have participated in a variety of corporate engagement events with Per Scholas Newark including mock interviews, fireside chats, networking, and resume reviews.

“I am honored and excited to join the board of Per Scholas to help deliver on their mission to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses. This organization truly embodies the changing face of technology and I look forward to contributing to their growth and continued success,” said Indy Reddy.

“We are humbled to welcome two dynamic chief technology officers and know that Dirk and Indy will bring tremendous insight and knowledge to Per Scholas’ work,” said Plinio Ayala, President & CEO of Per Scholas. “Our National Board Members are tireless in their commitment and effort to advance economic opportunity and close America’s opportunity gap by unlocking potential and changing the face of tech.”

To learn more about Per Scholas’s work and our National Board, visit PerScholas.org. 

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for more than 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 20 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 20,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Per Scholas North Carolina is the proud recipient of Lenovo Foundation’s TransforMe grant. The grant was awarded to twenty-three organizations worldwide, and Per Scholas is one of four recipients in the United States. Lenovo Foundation’s TransforMe grant aims to equip today’s workforce with the skills needed to transform their career, lives, and communities and is part of the Foundation’s commitment and mission to transform the lives of 1 million individuals by 2025.

The TransforMe grant will support Per Scholas North Carolina in preparing diverse individuals to launch their tech careers, creating a more equitable workforce.

Read the full press release from Lenovo Foundation here.

Our 2022 annual fundraising campaign, Unlocking Potential: Changing the Face of Tech has come to a close. We set a goal to raise $1 million for our Career Access Fund, which we exceeded! This fund helps cover the costs of supplies and resources for 4,500 learners in 2023. Thanks to the incredible support from our donors and the Per Scholas community, we raised $1,051,868. Our generous match fund from Raz & Hana Tirosh, Abigail & Adam Winkel, the Zgaljic Family, Liquid Technology, and an anonymous donor matched up to $1 million. We are thrilled to announce that we raised $2,051,868 in total!

Per Scholas is committed to advancing economic equity by creating opportunities for individuals who aspire to work in tech but may not have had the access to pursue their dream. With the proceeds from this campaign, we will now be able to support more learners in the coming year as they launch life-changing careers in tech, starting with more than 35 cohorts in session across the country now. To stay informed of our work and the success of our learners, make sure to sign up for our Monthly Impact Report and connect with us on LinkedIn.

In the coming year, Per Scholas aims to train 4,500 learners and alumni to have the skills and connections needed to advance their careers in tech. There is a high demand for trained individuals in tech, and with our hands-on, innovative curriculum, Per Scholas graduates will continue to create a more equitable tech workforce. 

Per Scholas is thrilled to announce that we are the recipient of a $6 million “Funding Growth Through Innovation” grant from Ascendium Education Group. The grant was awarded to support three key areas of innovation: Equity Partnerships, our Center for Instructional Excellence, and Recruiting and Admissions. The funding will aid Per Scholas in increased learner capacity to achieve our goal of diversifying the tech industry with our skilled graduates.

“I am grateful for such substantial and innovative funding from Ascendium. With the Funding Growth Through Innovation grant, Per Scholas will continue to grow and train thousands of learners in the next few years,” said Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala. “We have an innovative approach to expanding our training across the country, and that starts with our Instructional staff and holistic training. Thanks to Ascendium, I am confident in the future of our tech skills training and creating workforce equity in tech.”

With the support of the Ascendium Education Group, Per Scholas will launch satellite and in-person collaborations with local community partners, increasing reach and dramatically reducing costs. 

Per Scholas will also launch the Center for Instructional Excellence to recruit, train and upskill Per Scholas faculty. The impact of our Center for Instructional Excellence is already being realized, following the launch of our Instructor Academy, which is training the next generation of diverse Per Scholas faculty from among our own graduates and upskilling existing instructional talent. The Academy curriculum includes a 10-week practicum for teaching fellows to upskill their tech knowledge, observe current classes, and be mentored by seasoned instructors. Currently, 25 percent of the fellows from the inaugural training are offering support in current courses already teaching, well ahead of schedule. One fellow will even serve as lead instructor for a week. All of the teaching fellows will be assigned lead instructor roles after they complete the training and as teaching roles open.   

Ascendium Education Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping people reach the education and career goals that matter to them. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees, certificates and workforce training programs, with an emphasis on first-generation students, incarcerated adults, rural community members, students of color and veterans. Ascendium’s work identifies, validates and expands best practices to promote large-scale change at the institutional, system and state levels, with the intention of elevating opportunity for all. For more information, visit https://www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

Last week, Per Scholas announced its expansion to Indianapolis, Indiana, in collaboration with Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana! Following a few years of exponential growth, this marks Per Scholas’ 20th city nationwide. Local resident Theron Wilson has been appointed to serve as Per Scholas Indianapolis Managing Director. 

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana is the grateful recipient of a $2.8M grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc, which supports this new collaboration. Through an innovative relationship, Per Scholas becomes a community partner with Goodwill and Per Scholas Indianapolis will operate and offer its tuition-free technical skills training from Goodwill’s headquarters at 1635 W. Michigan Street in Indianapolis. 

“I am so honored and humbled to serve as the managing director of Per Scholas Indianapolis. Our Per Scholas approach is very intentional, as we aim to bridge the gap between a constantly growing tech sector and the next generation of tech workers. I am a long-time advocate for connecting adult learners to accessible education so individuals have an equal opportunity to change their lives,” said Theron Wilson, Per Scholas Indianapolis managing director. “I’m confident that together with Goodwill, we’ll grow equity and diversity in Indianapolis’ growing tech sector.” 

In addition to the tremendous funding from Lilly Endowment, Comcast NBCUniversal and Salesforce have generously supported Per Scholas’s expansion to Indianapolis. 

“Comcast is proud to support this expansion of Per Scholas that will help more adult learners in Indianapolis gain the skills they need to access careers in the tech industry,” said Kristee Cominiello, Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Heartland Region. “By 2030, an estimated nine out of 10 jobs will require digital skills but nearly one-third of U.S. workers, overwhelmingly Americans earning lower incomes, lack basic digital skills. Per Scholas, Goodwill and Comcast share a commitment to close this digital skills gap by helping more people access the training, resources and career opportunities they need to succeed in an economy that increasingly requires workers with technology skills.”

“At Salesforce, we are committed to creating pathways to economic prosperity for untapped talent. Over the past several years, we have supported Per Scholas through philanthropic investments and employee volunteering, to advance its nationwide work to open the doors to tech careers. We are thrilled to partner in Per Scholas’ ongoing expansion with the launch of the latest campus in Indianapolis,” said Erinn Corbett-Wright, Senior Manager, Workforce Development Philanthropy, Salesforce. “Per Scholas develops exceptional technology talent, and we can’t wait to meet the first Per Scholas Indianapolis graduates this summer!”

“Per Scholas Indianapolis is thrilled to team up with Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, and we are incredibly grateful to Lilly Endowment, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Salesforce, for their generous contributions as we expand in America’s heartland, training hundreds of the region’s future technologists,” added Wilson. 

The first course Per Scholas Indianapolis will offer is IT Support, with training beginning on March 13. Applications are due February 27. 

To learn more about Per Scholas Indianapolis, please click here. 

$2.8M Lilly Endowment Inc Grant Supports Goodwill’s Collaboration with Per Scholas

Grant funds will support the Digital Skills Initiative

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (January 23, 2023) — Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana announced today that it is the grateful recipient of a generous $2.8M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc, which will support Goodwill’s collaboration with Per Scholas, a national organization that advances economic mobility by connecting graduates to high-growth careers in technology. Together with Per Scholas, the partnership will bring training and employment opportunities to hundreds of Indianapolis residents in an effort to increase the equity and diversity within Indianapolis’ technology sector.

“These funds from Lilly Endowment will help support the ambitious goals of this partnership, and we’re thankful to have their support in bringing technology training and employment opportunities to our community,” said Kent A. Kramer, president and CEO of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. “We hope our work will inspire additional partnerships that connect individuals with equitable opportunities to access the education and training needed to secure in-demand career opportunities, like those available in the technology sector.”

Through an innovative relationship, Per Scholas will become a community partner with Goodwill and the Per Scholas Indianapolis office will operate and offer its tuition-free technical training from Goodwill’s headquarters at 1635 W. Michigan St. in Indianapolis. Local resident Theron Wilson has been appointed to serve as Per Scholas Indianapolis Managing Director.

“I am so honored and humbled to serve as the managing director of Per Scholas Indianapolis. Our Per Scholas approach is very intentional, as we aim to bridge the gap between a constantly growing tech sector and the next generation of tech workers. I am a long-time advocate for connecting adult learners to accessible education so individuals have an equal opportunity to change their lives,” said Theron Wilson, Per Scholas Indianapolis managing director. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to team up with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, to help improve access and opportunity, and I know we’ll accomplish great things together.”

Per Scholas has advanced economic equity for more than 25 years by offering evidence-based, tuition-free technology training and connecting Per Scholas graduates to high-growth careers in technology. Aligned with its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, 85 percent of Per Scholas learners are people of color, and more than a third identify as women. Graduates are hired into tech roles by more than 850 employer partners nationwide, ranging from Fortune 500 to innovative startups.

“We are so grateful to Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana for the warm welcome to Indianapolis, as well as the incredible support of both Lilly Endowment and Salesforce,” said Plinio Ayala, president and CEO of Per Scholas. “Indianapolis is a growing tech hub in America’s heartland, and we’re looking forward to bringing our best-in-class technology skills training to the city. With Theron at the helm and together with Goodwill, I’m confident we’ll grow equity and diversity in Indianapolis’ tech sector.”

The five-year grant will support Per Scholas’ expansion to Indianapolis, the national tech training nonprofit’s 20th city. 

“We have seen first-hand the positive multi-generational impact of increasing access to education and employment opportunities in our communities,” said Betsy Delgado, senior vice president of education and mission initiatives at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. “Partnering with Per Scholas Indianapolis aligns perfectly with Goodwill’s mission and we are excited to be able to offer these opportunities to our community.”

The first course Per Scholas Indianapolis will offer is IT Support beginning in March 2023. Applications are due February 27, 2023.

To learn more about Per Scholas Indianapolis, click here. To learn more about Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, please visit goodwillindy.org.

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About Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana changes lives every day by empowering people to increase their independence and reach their potential through education, health and employment. Goodwill serves 39 Indiana counties and operates more than 70 retail locations, as well as charter schools for adults and youth, a maternal-child health program, a child care center and more.

About Per Scholas

Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for more than 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 20 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 17,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Per Scholas is focused on driving positive social change, and over the last 20 years, has worked closely with partners like JPMorgan Chase to move this mission forward. Thanks directly to philanthropic investments from JPMorgan Chase, Per Scholas has been able to accomplish many huge achievements. For example, the philanthropic support was integral to expanding our first campuses beyond New York, to Cincinnati and Columbus, which helped set the stage for scaling our training to the 19 campuses we have in cities across the U.S. It also helped launch our Dallas campus in 2015 and catalyzed investment in Per Scholas’ earned revenue model for customized training, which has allowed us to continue our growth. 

Our partnership with JPMorgan Chase has also allowed us to foster a national dialogue about equity and inclusion through the support of Diverse by Design, create a national strategy focusing on IT career pathways for young adults, and create a powerful network of alumni at JPMorgan Chase by hiring more than a dozen Per Scholas graduates.

One Per Scholas graduate who now works at JPMorgan Chase is Selasi Fiadzigbe, who graduated from Per Scholas New York’s Cybersecurity course in 2020. Prior to Per Scholas, Selasi had earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from John Jay College, but he soon realized that he was not happy with his career path and started considering other options. 

Selasi had always been interested in computers – he had built, fixed, and used them all his life. He was intrigued by Cybersecurity and started looking for ways to break into the field, ultimately applying to Per Scholas’ Cybersecurity course.

Selasi found his time at Per Scholas to be difficult but rewarding. There was a lot of information to digest, and each day brought something new to learn. Selasi loved his instructor, who was himself a Per Scholas alumni, and understood what his students were going through as they sought to change their lives through the program. Selasi’s instructor helped and supported him throughout the course and as he launched his career after graduation. The two have stayed in touch to this day.

Selasi worked as a Cyber Security Analyst at Ankura for two years and recently transitioned to a new role at JPMorgan Chase as an Attack Analyst. He loves his current job because it provides him with many resources and opportunities for growth and more learning. “The team is so big,” Selasi said of his new role at JPMorgan Chase. “There are so many smart people around you to learn from. There are so many learning and training opportunities that the team finds time for you to work through, and there is so much opportunity for growth or to pivot to other roles. The resources that are available to you are great. For someone who is still learning and is hungry for knowledge, it is a perfect place to be.”

Per Scholas Detroit Senior Managing Director Dr. JR Sledge highlights Per Scholas’ mission and work in Detroit to diversify the tech workforce. With our training, learners can connect with leading employers and launch their careers in tech. 

Dr. Sledge discussed creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the interview and the different courses available in Detroit.

“IT is for everyone,” reflected Dr. Sledge. “There is a personal and organizational commitmment to shift that trajectory that we traditionally see in IT spaces and make individuals understand that representation matters independent of the color of your skin, gender, or zip code.”

Watch the full interview here!

This year marks ten years of partnership between Per Scholas and Founder’s Circle partner Google! Since 2012, this partnership has been instrumental in supporting our learners as they acquire the skills and industry credentials to launch thriving careers in technology. The partnership has also supported Per Scholas’ growth and nationwide reach in many ways.

Our work with Google has enabled Per Scholas to foster a national dialogue about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech workforce through the support of our Diverse by Design conversation series. Google has also provided support to our marketing and recruiting efforts both through financial support from Google Nonprofit & AdWords, as well as pro bono expertise from Googlers.

Maria Medrano, Google’s Senior Director of Diversity Partnerships & External Engagement, has been an integral part of our partnership with Google, sitting on Diverse by Design’s Advisory Board and providing insight into our diversity initiatives. With support from Google.org, Google’s philanthropy, we’ve been able to engage over 1,800 learners to date to earn their IT Support Professional Certificate from Google, and Per Scholas alumni from across the country have enrolled in other Google Career Certificate programs, including Data Analytics, IT Automation with Python,  Project Management, User Experience Design, and which offers mentorship and professional networking opportunities with Google employees.Eleven Per Scholas alumni now work at Google, putting the skills they learned in our courses to good work as they launch their tech careers.

One Per Scholas alumni who works at Google is Stefany Santos, who was let go from her Customer Service job with Delta Airlines during the Covid pandemic. Instead of viewing it as a setback, Stefany viewed this change as an opportunity to take on a challenge and start a new career. Stefany researched New York City-based tech training programs before deciding that Per Scholas was the best fit for her.

She applied and was accepted into Per Scholas New York’s Network Support course. The  course was not easy, meeting five days a week with additional homework to complete afterward, but Stefany’s hard work and perseverance saw her through. During the course, Stefany earned her CompTIA A+ Certification and Google IT Support Professional Certificate, which she credits for preparing her for where she is now. 

Shortly after graduating from Per Scholas, Stefany was selected for a one-year IT Apprenticeship at Google. After completing the apprenticeship, Stefany was hired full-time as a Corporate Operations Engineer at Google, where she works to this day. She has since earned her CompTIA Network+ certification and plans to keep learning and developing in her technology career. 

Per Scholas Baltimore has been named as a 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardee for their work in Baltimore and Greater Maryland. As a Neighborhood Builder, each organization receives a $200,000 grant over two years. In addition to the grant, Per Scholas Baltimore will receive comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader on topics including increasing financial sustainability, human capital management, and strategic storytelling. The program also enables Per Scholas and Innovation Works, the other Neighborhood Builder honoree, to join a network of peer organizations across the U.S. Neighborhood Builders® continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development.

“Organizations like Per Scholas and Innovation Works are the backbone of our local community—they work closely with individuals, entrepreneurs and community members to understand obstacles and develop programs and services that help eliminate the barriers to economic mobility,” said Janet Currie, president, Bank of America Greater Maryland. “It’s important that we direct capital and the necessary resources and training to help position these non-profits for long-term success as they continue to make a positive impact.”

Per Scholas Baltimore provides free technology training to residents of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County. Conveniently accessible by CityLink bus lines, the Baltimore-based organization offers cybersecurity certifications, professional certification programs for IT support, AWS Cloud certifications, TEKsystems training, and more. Through its no-cost training, graduates are able to transform their lives, gaining jobs with competitive salaries in the tech industry. In 2023, Per Scholas Baltimore will train 150 future technologists.

“Being named a Neighborhood Builder grantee is incredibly humbling and will enable Per Scholas to continue to advance economic mobility right here in Charm City,” said Per Scholas Baltimore Managing Director Jessica Diaz Council. “Our graduates go on to earn three times their pre-training wage—increasing opportunity in the city we love.”

The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders honorees. 

Since 2004, through its Neighborhood Builders program, Bank of America has partnered with 31 nonprofits in Baltimore, investing $6.2 million to provide economic mobility opportunities within the Baltimore area. Through 2021, Bank of America has invested over $280 million in 50 communities through Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,400 nonprofits and helping more than 2,800 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Neighborhood Builders is just one example of how Bank of America deploys capital in communities, builds cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth.