Per Scholas graduates can earn placement into a two-year training program with Bank of America

June 4, 2019 – National tech training non-profit Per Scholas and Bank of America today announced that the bank will hire 10 Per Scholas graduates into its “Technology Pathway Program” over the next two years. The bank will also provide ongoing training, mentorship and coaching to Per Scholas students as part of this new relationship.

The inaugural class of participants are graduates of Per Scholas’ Codebridge, Cybersecurity and IT Support training programs.

“We are proud to count Bank of America as one of our earliest supporters,” said Kelly Richardson, Managing Director of Per Scholas’s Newark and New York locations. “With this new partnership, we’ll be able to continue to provide sustainable career pathways for our graduates into rewarding roles at one of the nation’s leading financial institutions.”

“Without Per Scholas, I never would have had the opportunity to learn the tech skills needed for a career in the financial industry,” said MIlitsa Neykova, a Per Scholas graduate currently participating in the Technology Pathway Program with Bank of America. “I’m excited to not only continue my education at Bank of America, but to be able to build my career at such an illustrious company.”

Per Scholas works with a number of blue chip companies to train and source talent from nontraditional backgrounds. Per Scholas students go through a comprehensive admissions process, technical instruction, career coaching and two years of alumni follow-up and placement support. Per Scholas provides opportunities for motivated individuals from diverse and overlooked communities the opportunity to succeed in growing tech careers.

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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 10,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

May 23, 2019, New York, NY – Per Scholas is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its National Board of Directors: Dwayne Brown, consulting manager at Accenture, and Tino Mathew, Director of NA Sales Engineering at EnterpriseDB. Their selection follows several years of voluntary regional leadership as the respective chairs of the Per Scholas National Capital Region (NCR) Advisory Board and the Per Scholas Dallas Advisory Board. As members of the National Advisory Board, Brown and Mathew will provide strategic guidance and support to help advance the organization’s mission to expand access to cost-free skills training and career development services for low-income communities.

Dwayne Brown has more than 15 years of experience in operational risk management, accounting operations, and Intelligent Automation (IA), and currently serves as a consulting manager in Accenture’s Finance & Risk Services practice. He holds a BA in Accounting and Public Relations from SUNY Geneseo and a MBA from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. He earned a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the Shenandoah University School of Education & Leadership, focusing on ways to provide financial services to unbanked populations. Dwayne is on the board of directors for the DC Coalition for the Homeless and serves as an active member of 100 Black Men of America.

Tino Mathew is a proven leader in software and services industries, with nearly two decades worth of experience helping organizations adapt to the ever-changing climate of Information Technology (IT). As a thought leader in robotic process automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and an avid blockchain enthusiast, he is developing digital-age business models that will usher in the future of IT for businesses around the globe, with a focus on solving some of the most critical organizational problems faced today.

“Following their enormous contributions to our local advisory boards, we are thrilled to add Tino and Dwayne to our National Board of Directors,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “Our goal of diversifying the technology workforce starts from within, and our board is representative of that commitment. With this new layer of experience and added expertise, Per Scholas is in a position to continue to lead the charge for more impactful workforce development.”

For twenty-four years, Per Scholas has collaborated closely with employers, government agencies, philanthropies, and non-profit organizations to provide motivated individuals with the technical and business skills needed to be successful in the rapidly growing technology industry. In January, Per Scholas announced a $31 million-dollar growth capital campaign which will help the non-profit secure the additional philanthropic investments it needs to expand its programming. By 2023, the company aims to train 4,000 new technology career students a year and inject into the economy through multiple new training locations.

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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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained nearly 10,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

This Newark location, in partnership with Champion Founding Partner Barclays, Signature Founding Partner Prudential Financial, Major Founding Partner PSEG Foundation, Founding Partner AT&T and Founding Partner Guardian, will provide skills training for local workers while expanding talent opportunities for regional businesses.

NEWARK, NJ – April 09, 2019 – National tech training nonprofit Per Scholas today announced the grand opening of Per Scholas’s Newark campus. Supported by business and community partners, the new location will provide tech training and professional development support to place 200 individuals into technology careers over the next three years. The first class began in March with nineteen individuals, two-thirds of whom are Newark residents, engaging in hands on skills training in hardware, software, and networking technology. Per Scholas’s Newark expansion, first announced by Newark Mayor Baraka in October, offers employers in the city and region access to a previously untapped talent pool.

Per Scholas’s Newark location supports individuals in obtaining the skills necessary to find work with local employers where they would otherwise face significant barriers to entry. In addition to helping individuals from the local community gain high-demand professional and technical skills, Per Scholas aims to offer regional businesses access to an extensive source of local talent that reaches far beyond traditional recruitment channels.

Champion Founding Partner Barclays has been a supporter of Per Scholas since 2012, and in 2016 worked alongside the nonprofit to develop a cybersecurity curriculum designed in response to increasing demand for technical security experts in the financial industry. Since then, Barclays has hired over 50 Per Scholas graduates as apprentices, interns or full-time hires, with an expected increase thanks to this new connection to Per Scholas’s Newark campus. Being less than 20 miles from the new Barclays campus at Whippany, the Per Scholas facility will also provide Barclays with access to a diverse pipeline of technology talent.

“We are honored to join the Newark community with the support of so many local employers and organizations,” said Kelly Richardson, Managing Director, Newark and New York, Per Scholas. “Newark’s commitment to economic inclusion is inspiring, and we will support this commitment as as we work in partnership to connect talented Newarkers with the city and region’s growing tech ecosystem.”

“For too long, New Jersey’s best and brightest have not been able to reach their full potential because of systematic roadblocks,” said Governor Murphy, New Jersey. “My Administration is fully committed to making sure that every New Jersey student has the opportunities they need to get ahead by partnering with organizations like Per Scholas to help close the achievement gap. I join Mayor Baraka in welcoming Per Scholas to the great city of Newark.”

“Newark is undergoing an unprecedented economic expansion” said Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark, New Jersey. “Businesses large and small require capable employees, particularly in technology jobs in one of the most ‘wired’ cities in America. Per Scholas is enabling Newark residents, some of them economically disadvantaged, to learn skills that will lead to well-paying jobs, careers in the new economy, and economic independence. Per Scholas is a valued partner in our collective work to move Newark forward.”

“Barclays is proud of its longstanding partnership with Per Scholas, which promotes economic growth and social progress within the communities it serves, and we’re excited to start welcoming the next generation of leaders to the fantastic new training facility in Newark” said Jes Staley, Group Chief Executive Officer, Barclays.

Additional support for Per Scholas Newark comes from Signature Founding Partner Prudential Financial, Major Founding Partner PSEG Foundation, Founding Partner AT&T and Founding Partner Guardian.

“This campus will give Newark’s local talent and youth a ladder of opportunity to gain the critical workforce skills needed for the future” said Robert Falzon, Vice Chairman, Prudential Financial. “This is the kind of investment in people that Prudential will always be proud to support; and speaks to our deep-rooted commitment to help Newark see the promise of prosperity.”

Major Founding Partner The PSEG Foundation has called Newark home for over 100 years, and it enthusiastically supports and invests in education and workforce development and the communities it serves. “The PSEG Foundation is proud to support Per Scholas in Newark and their aim to address the systemic inequities and barriers that too often hold back residents and employers,” said Barb Short, President and Chief Diversity Officer, PSEG Foundation. “Along with education and workforce development, helping to build and sustain thriving communities are key pillars of the PSEG Foundation and we are eager to help ensure that new skills development, training, jobs and opportunities are created.”

Per Scholas’s new campus is located at 540 Broad Street in the former New Jersey Bell Building, re-opened with support from L+M Development Partners, Prudential and the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, features three state-of-the-art technical classrooms, and will enroll about 100 students per year, tuition-free. The Per Scholas model includes a comprehensive admissions process, technical instruction, career coaching and two years of alumni follow-up and placement support. Per Scholas provides opportunities for motivated individuals from diverse and low income communities the opportunity to succeed in growing tech careers, with the average Per Scholas graduate increasing their income by 400%.

Newark residents interested in applying for the free technical training offered by Per Scholas can visit www.perscholas.org/newark to submit an application. The first class kicked-off in March and applications are open for classes that will start on a rolling basis through the year.

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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

April 9, 2019, Dallas TX – Per Scholas is pleased to announce Tino Mathew has been promoted to Dallas Advisory Board chair, after three years supporting the nonprofit. In addition, five new members will be joining the Dallas Advisory Board. For twenty-five years, Per Scholas has been preparing motivated and curious adults who are unemployed or underemployed with the technical and business skills to launch successful careers in technology, creating onramps to businesses in need of their talents.

Today Per Scholas operates in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY, launching the Dallas site in 2015. Per Scholas collaborates closely with employers, government agencies, philanthropies, and non-profit organizations to develop a more diverse and inclusive technology workforce. In Dallas, Per Scholas has an 89 percent graduation rate, 92 percent certification rate, and an 83 percent job placement rate for graduates. On average, in their first job post-graduation, Per Scholas alumni earn four times their pre-training wage.

Local board members are an integral part of the continued support of this mission. The new Dallas-based advisory board members are:

Jasmin Brand has a decade of executive experience in digital publishing and marketing strategy, currently serving as CEO of LAUNCH, a forward-thinking Texas media company laser-focused on connectivity. She is also the founder and president of Darby James, a digital publisher, and experiential marketing agency focused on developing comprehensive brand and event strategies for cities and startups. Jasmin has been named one of the 10 Texas Women to Watch in Media, ATHENA Award presented by the Dallas Regional Chamber and KPMG, Minority Business Leader of the Year presented by the Dallas Business Journal, and one of TechWeek’s 100 Talent Cultivators.

Elizabeth Caudill currently serves as the managing director of higher education and workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber, where she works with local businesses, higher education institutions, and the Texas Legislature to improve the city’s talent pipeline. She also serves on the board of CitySquare, a nonprofit fighting the causes and effects of poverty. Formerly, Elizabeth was a 2016-2017 Fellow in the ACCE National Fellowship for Education Attainment, a member of the Dallas Mayor’s Star Council and appointed to serve on the Dallas Community Development Commission.

Stephanie Herrera completed the Per Scholas IT training program in September 2017 and now works as an IT Service Desk Analyst for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the region’s largest transit agency. Stephanie is the first alumna represented on our local board and began volunteering as a guest speaker upon graduation from our training. In addition to her qualifications earned through Per Scholas, Stephanie has an Associate of Science degree in Information Technology and CompTIA A+ and ITIL Foundation certifications. She is preparing to sit for her Microsoft 365 Modern Desktop Administrator Associate and Microsoft Office 2016 Master credentials in the coming months.

Cynthia Humphries is a senior mechanical engineer at General Dynamics Mission Systems, working to support technical programs to deliver communications equipment to customers across the world. Combining her interest in wanting to help others and support STEM education and training, Cynthia collaborated with colleagues and others to create the Chris Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund. Proceeds raised go directly to support Per Scholas Dallas’ training.

Ian Moses has decades of experience helping companies solve some of their most pressing human resources challenges, including recruiting, corporate training, and workforce management. Currently, as the global head of inclusion and diversity at Allegis Global Solutions, Ian is responsible for developing, promoting, and communicating AGS’s diversity and inclusion strategy to its employees, partners, and clients, with a specific focus on building high performing teams that are reflective of the community. Ian has dedicated himself to ensuring diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords in the workplace, but a way of life.

“I’m thrilled to welcome these five local leaders to our Advisory Board,” said Stephanie Valadez, Managing Director of Per Scholas Dallas. “With expertise across education, technology, innovation, fundraising, diversity and inclusion, our board is representative of the excellence and alignment we bring as an organization to the Dallas community and the students we are privileged to serve. We are strategically positioned for continued growth with these leaders at the helm.”

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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

Per Scholas and TEKsystems Launch Training Partnership to Support Diverse Talent Pipeline for Growing U.S. Tech Hubs

The partnership will provide tuition-free training for more than 540 job-seekers in Detroit, Philadelphia and Boston through training tracks customized for specific market demands.

March 28, 2019 – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas and full-stack technology services provider TEKsystems announced the launch of a talent transformation partnership at Diverse by Design, hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers at their 45th Annual Convention. The partnership will develop customized training tracks in the technology sector and will initially support job-seekers in Detroit, Philadelphia and Boston. This announcement is the latest joint effort by Per Scholas and TEKsystems to develop a strong and diverse talent pipeline for emerging U.S. tech hubs.

Over the next three years, Per Scholas will train at least 540 people for cutting-edge jobs in these technology-centric cities. TEKsystems’ investment will connect motivated and talented individuals with the critical skills employers are demanding across each market. Bringing this partnership to scale will ensure that future career opportunities are accessible by all communities and that equity is a primary consideration as regional and national economies develop. Nationally, 87 percent of Per Scholas students are people of color and 30 percent are women.

Successful graduates will partner with TEKsystems recruiters in each city and be given access to the full suite of graduate services Per Scholas provides with two years of alumni follow-up and support. Each training track will provide practical, hands-on training to participants, along with long-term career guidance and placement support. Skills-based training tracks will be determined from the demand in each local market and may include skills relevant to cyber security, software engineering and data engineering among others.

“We are thrilled to expand our engagement with TEKsystems to the diverse and vibrant cities of Detroit, Philadelphia and Boston. There is a rising demand for skilled tech talent across each of these tech hubs, and we look forward to supporting TEKsystems’ continued efforts to build an inclusive, resourceful and job-ready workforce,” said Per Scholas President and CEO Plinio Ayala.

Since Per Scholas and TEKsystems first partnered in 2013 the company has hired over 400 Per Scholas graduates across all their locations, reinforcing Per Scholas’ credentials as a hiring partner and training service provider. TEKsystems invested in a Per Scholas pilot in its home city of Baltimore, MD in 2018, hiring 60 percent of graduates within a month of completion.

“TEKsystems and Per Scholas share a commitment to creating opportunity,” said Jay Alvather, President, TEKsystems. “We’re proud to expand our partnership with Per Scholas and work together to close the skills gap and achieve greater diversity in technology.”

Per Scholas recently announced a five-year growth capital campaign to support scaling its proven model of effective IT training and placement across new regions. Ballmer Group, an inaugural supporter of this campaign, has provided Per Scholas with funding to develop the capacity and infrastructure that will allow for deeper collaboration and customization of training tracks with employers like TEKsystems.

“We know that quality training, coaching, and work experiences can help create new pathways to economic mobility,” said Terri Ludwig, President of Ballmer Group Philanthropy. “We are thrilled to support Per Scholas as they strengthen their impact with new partnerships and scale their proven model to new cities in the US.”

For additional information, please visit https://www.platformbyps.org/our-sponsors/teksystems.

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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

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.

Per Scholas Greater Boston will be working with local communities and stakeholders to offer no cost technology skills training programs and career support services.

Cambridge, MA (March 5, 2019) – Today, Per Scholas, a national tech training nonprofit that has successfully served thousands of low-income job-seekers since 1995, announced that it will be expanding its proven training model to the Greater Boston region. Beginning this spring, Per Scholas Greater Boston will provide no cost skills training, talent development and career placement support to local residents interested in pursuing or deepening a career in technology.

With the launch of Per Scholas Greater Boston, the organization now operates in eight cities across seven different states. Per Scholas collaborates closely with employers, government agencies, philanthropies, and non-profit organizations to develop a more diverse and inclusive technology workforce. Nationwide, Per Scholas has an 85% graduation rate, an 80% placement rate for graduates and students increase wages by 400%, on average, in their first tech role.

“We are thrilled to announce that Per Scholas will be expanding into Greater Boston and surrounding neighborhoods. The continued growth of the region’s tech hub has created a growing demand for qualified and diverse tech talent among employers and produced career pathways for local residents. In the years ahead, we look forward to engaging with the Greater Boston community to expand access to meaningful employment opportunities and further bolster the tech talent pipeline,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas.

Per Scholas Greater Boston is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class and will extend enrollment opportunities to a select number of applicants following its comprehensive admissions process. Enrolled students are expected to complete a 4 month course that will prepare them for in-demand IT roles within the Greater Boston business community. Upon completing the initial program, Per Scholas Greater Boston graduates will have access to a minimum of two years of dedicated alumni career support services.

Greater Boston community members interested in applying for the free technical training offered by Per Scholas can visit www.perscholas.org/greaterboston to submit an application. Applications are now open for the first IT Support class which will begin in April, and admissions will be conducted on a rolling basis for future classes throughout the year.

Per Scholas will be housed at at 255 Main Street in Cambridge as part of a workforce development initiative activated by the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and Boston Properties. Just steps from the Kendall/MIT Red Line T stop, Per Scholas Greater Boston will feature state-of-the-art classrooms designed to facilitate the hands-on instruction of today’s most in-demand technology skills identified by regional employer partners throughout New England. The expansion is made possible with generous support provided by BlackRock, Salesforce.org, SkillWorks, and The Boston Foundation.

“Across the nation, Per Scholas continues to play a pivotal role in building a technology workforce that is increasingly skilled, equitable and diverse,” said Ebony Frelix Beckwith, EVP and Chief Philanthropy Officer, Salesforce.org. “Per Scholas has developed a blueprint for producing effective and meaningful social impact in communities all over the country, and we’re excited to support their expansion to Greater Boston.”

“We are excited to support Per Scholas’ expansion to Greater Boston,” said Marybeth Campbell, Executive Director, SkillWorks. “Representing public and private interests, we see an immediate need for workforce providers to collaborate directly with regional Boston employers to improve skill development and fuel talent pipelines within the commonwealth.”

“We are excited to be able to support Per Scholas’ expansion to Greater Boston as part of our ongoing commitment to close the opportunity gap in Greater Boston,” said Orlando C. Watkins, Vice President for Programs at The Boston Foundation. “By creating new pathways into Greater Boston’s strong tech economy, Per Scholas is helping to develop a workforce that better reflects our region’s diversity, and providing opportunities that can change the life trajectories of workers and their families.”

“Year Up is thrilled to partner with Per Scholas to expand technology skills training and professional development opportunities to the Greater Boston community,” said Gerald Chertavian, founder & CEO of Year Up. “Led by newly appointed Managing Director, Robin Nadeau, with over twenty years of experience in the field, Per Scholas will offer a critical resource to support this region to achieve the scale and impact needed to meet the growing employer demand for qualified professionals. Per Scholas’ proven model has demonstrated social and economic impact for families across the country and we are looking forward to partnering with them as they include Greater Boston as one of their new locations.”

“Jewish Vocational Service welcomes Per Scholas to the Greater Boston community. As our region continues to develop the resources and infrastructure needed to support both the business sector and community growth, Per Scholas’ proven model will provide a comprehensive pathway to long term sustainable career success,” said Jerry Rubin, President and CEO, Jewish Vocational Service. “We look forward to partnering with Per Scholas to recruit, train and place individuals into technology careers and strengthening equity and inclusion across the Boston’s growing workforce.”

“At Cambridge Family and Children’s Service, we know that a good job can change everything for an individual and their family. The opportunity Per Scholas’ training will offer to families in Cambridge and the Greater Boston area goes beyond increased earning potential,” said Robert Gittens, Executive Director, Cambridge Family and Children’s Service. “These sustainable careers can provide sizeable income gains, and in turn, access to affordable healthcare, food security, paid time and childcare. Further, these changes will have a lasting impact beyond the present and impact the lives of children and grandchildren who may themselves grow up passionate about the world of tech. I’m happy to welcome Robin Nadeau into her new role as Managing Director of the Per Scholas Greater Boston site. With her years of experience in workforce development and working with communities, coupled with her passion for creating access and opportunity, she is the ideal person to launch and lead the growth of this new opportunity in our area.”

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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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

Newly developed Systems Administration curriculum will prepare Per Scholas students to pursue AWS Certified Solution Architect – Associate certifications

New York – National tech training nonprofit Per Scholas today announced the launch of a new Systems Administrator course developed with the support of Amazon Web Services’ AWS Educate and AWS Academy programs and BNY Mellon. The course was created to prepare students to pursue CompTIA Linux+ and AWS Certified Solution Architect – Associate certifications, and then careers as systems administrators with expertise on architecting hybrid cloud and on-premises infrastructure. BNY Mellon is providing support that will allow the Systems Administration training to remain free for all students.

Over the course of 19 weeks, students in this course will complete technical prerequisite modules focused on data center concepts, network development, security, servers, and systems administration. Students will then delve deeper into AWS content, including AWS Educate’s Solutions Architect Career Pathway, the AWS Academy Cloud Architecting course, and a final capstone project that was designed to showcase skills learned in the course.

“Through AWS Educate and AWS Academy, we are dedicated to providing pathways into exciting career opportunities in the cloud,” said Ken Eisner, Global Lead of AWS Educate. “Our collaboration with Per Scholas opens doors to students who might not otherwise have access to this type of skills development. At the same time, AWS, our partners, and our customers all benefit from the development of a diverse talent pipeline.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of AWS in developing this curriculum, which opens up an entirely new level of career readiness and professional certification for our students,” Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas, said. “Looking ahead, we see this as just the start in expanding opportunities for our students to pursue the certifications needed to work for today’s leading tech companies.”

Per Scholas plans to train 2,000 students on the latest in-demand tech skills each year. Featuring a hands-on, skills-based IT curriculum taught by experienced professionals, the nonprofit specifically serves individuals in underserved communities interested in pursuing a career in technology but lacking access to traditional career pathways. On average, across all Per Scholas training tracks, graduates go from earning $9,000 per year to earning an annual salary of $36,000. Last year’s students contributed more than $21.3 million in earned wages to the national economy.

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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

About AWS

For over 12 years, Amazon Web Services has been the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. AWS offers over 125 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), media, and application development, deployment, and management from 57 Availability Zones (AZs) within 19 geographic regions around the world, spanning the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the UK. AWS services are trusted by millions of active customers around the world—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—to power their infrastructure, make them more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit aws.amazon.com.

High-Tech Dallas, featuring a technology skills-based curriculum and career services, is the first Per Scholas program designed exclusively for high-school students

DALLAS, Feb. 13, 2019 – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas announced the launch of a new pilot program for high-school students interested in pursuing a career in technology. The initiative aims to support high school students lacking access to traditional higher education by providing them with the training and career guidance they need to secure meaningful, long-term employment in the tech industry.

As part of the pilot program, which will initially serve 30 students in Dallas, Per Scholas is partnering with the Texans Can Academy – Dallas Oak Cliff campus. Selected students will split their day between Per Scholas IT Support coursework and high school classes, producing an integrated approach that balances academic and on-the-job education. The IT Support courses will be led by instructor and Per Scholas graduate Jake Gordon.

“We’re excited to partner with Texans Can Academy to expand our services to high school students across the Oak Cliff community. Our goal is to ensure that high school students interested in pursuing immediate employment after graduation have the foundation they need to succeed and discover long-term career success. I’ve witnessed first-hand how life-changing this program can be for students at our Downtown Dallas training facility, and we hope to deliver the same impact to the Oak Cliff community,” said Stephanie Valadez, managing director of Per Scholas Dallas.

Texans Can Academy – Dallas Oak Cliff will provide students with laptops and hotspots to help bridge the digital divide that can often exclude them from educational and career opportunities. High-Tech students will have access to internship opportunities through Per Scholas’s employer network, along with career counseling and additional professional certifications, for at least two years upon completing the program. Graduates will have the ability to either seek an internship and immediate employment, matriculate in the fall to a more advanced and specialized Per Scholas training track, or pursue a traditional college education.

“As educators, one of our primary goals is to help students gain the knowledge and skills that will allow them to reach their goals and promote access to sustainable career paths,” said Richard Marquez, president and CEO of Texans Can Academies. “Our goal for our graduating students is to provide the skills and options for a strong career path and higher education. In partnering with Per Scholas, opportunities are available that our students would have never had. Texans Can strives to be a value-added organization through this partnership as well as through our other partnerships.”

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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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing skills and careers in technology.

About Texans Can Academies

Celebrating 34 years of providing the highest quality education for all students, Texans Can schools are graduating thinkers. Texans Can Academies are a unique network of 14 charter schools located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. The schools are tuition-free, open enrollment, public high schools of choice. Texans Can Academies serve students who have struggled in a traditional high school setting by offering students, age 14 to 21, a second chance at earning their high school diploma instead of taking a General Education Development (GED). To date, more than 151,883 youth have been given a second chance at life with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. For more information, please visit www.texanscan.org.

Part of Stand Together’s $3.5 Million Workforce Development Commitment during National Poverty Awareness Month, will fund Per Scholas employment services

New York, NY (January 17, 2019) – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas announced that it has received a $750,000 grant from Stand Together, a social change organization dedicated to fighting poverty through community-based solutions. The funding will support the continued expansion of Per Scholas’s skills training and career support services for overlooked communities, along with their efforts to meet employers’ increasing demand for locally-based tech hiring pipelines.

The grant is the latest in a series of funding commitments made by Stand Together as part of their National Poverty Awareness Month initiative. Under the initiative, Stand Together is making weekly investment announcements in support of its non-profit partners, and this week pledged a total of $3.5 million to partner organizations across the United States seeking to address socioeconomic inequities and break down barriers to long-term employment.

Per Scholas has helped the lead way in tackling underemployment and unemployment, by providing free technology skills training and career development services to thousands of individuals. Featuring a hands-on, skills-based IT curriculum taught by experienced professionals, Per Scholas specifically serves low-income individuals interested in pursuing a career in technology but lacking access to traditional career pathways.

Through Per Scholas’ tuition-free tech training programs, over 9,000 job-seekers have received the technology skills and career foundation they need to succeed. Approximately 85% of students graduate in 14 weeks, and an estimated 80% of graduates quickly secure employment upon completing the program.

“A meaningful job is the most direct path out of poverty, but it’s so much more than that. It restores dignity, hope and purpose,” said Evan Feinberg, Executive Director of Stand Together. “There are so many barriers facing the chronically jobless — addiction, mental health issues, criminal records and often a lack of needed skills. Thankfully, there are non-profit social entrepreneurs that help individuals tap into their unique gifts and talents, overcome barriers, and realize their full potential.”

“Per Scholas is incredibly excited to partner with Stand Together, as we work together to create new career pathways for overlooked communities and expand access to economic opportunity”, said Plinio Ayala, CEO of Per Scholas. “With the support of Stand Together, Per Scholas will be able to continue its growth, and further serve the needs of communities around the country.”

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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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, Ma; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

About Stand Together
Stand Together is a social change organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by supporting the creative solutions of individuals and communities around the country. Founded in 2016, Stand Together strengthens communities by investing in social change-makers that can break barriers for individuals in poverty so that they can realize their full potential. To join the National Poverty Awareness Month conversation, follow @StandTgthr and #PovertyAwareness.

With more than half already committed from Ballmer Group, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Per Scholas’ goal is to deepen infrastructure, expand program offerings and train 4,000 students annually by 2023.

New York, NY, January 16, 2019 – Per Scholas, a national tech training non-profit, announced today a $31 million-dollar growth capital campaign, with initial support from Ballmer Group, Laura and John Arnold Foundation and The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation. This campaign will help secure the additional philanthropic investments Per Scholas needs over the next five years to achieve its strategic expansion goals. Specifically, the nonprofit is looking to expand its programming to serve 4,000 new technology career students a year across at least 10 locations.

In its 23-year history, Per Scholas has propelled 9,000 individuals from often overlooked communities into sustainable careers through tuition-free tech training. Fueled by data driven outcomes and two third-party randomized control studies, Per Scholas’ aggressive goals are designed to increase its impact on entire cities and regions, by substantially increasing the number of skilled technology workers to achieve regional economic development goals.

Specifically, these goals include:

• Train 4,000+ new students a year by 2023 (+200% growth), by growing employer-paid, customized training for large-volume employers and adding new training tracks in new markets
• Foster a more equitable and diverse tech sector and open more accessible pathways to tech employment by further demonstrating the quality and impact of Per Scholas training through a third randomized control study and leading original industry and public policy research to highlight best practices for employers to increase diversity
• Build the foundation for future sustainability and growth, through the increase of earned income from employers to 50% of annual revenue, doubling the return on every philanthropic dollar

When paired with growing employer-paid, customized training, scaling employer-informed training, and investing in service quality and innovation, Per Scholas will be able to revolutionize its business model and boost enrollment 200+%. What’s more, in meeting these student growth goals Per Scholas will be able to inject into the economy through new training locations and $468 million in cumulative wages earned by graduates in their first year on the job. Donors who invest in the growth capital campaign will realize a $1.5 billion social return through savings from graduates increased tax revenue, reduced public benefits, increased earning and local economic activity.

With this end goal in mind, Per Scholas has started fundraising, having already reached the halfway point at $15.8 million. Generous donors, including Ballmer Group, Laura and John Arnold Foundation, and The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, have been instrumental in making this possible.

“We support high-impact, evidence-based approaches that are ready for scale. Per Scholas’ proven model has been shown to help adults from overlooked communities significantly increase their income, while providing businesses a pipeline of diverse, motivated, and skilled tech talent,” said Connie Ballmer, Co-Founder of Ballmer Group. “Ballmer Group has committed to Per Scholas’ growth because the ability to earn a living wage is an important step toward economic mobility.”

“Per Scholas has demonstrated a level of effectiveness rarely seen in social programs, with two ‘gold standard’ scientific studies showing that it produces large, sustained earnings gains for low-income adults. Based on this evidence, we are pleased to make a major investment to help scale this model nationally, and fund further evaluation to see if the sizable effects can be replicated in new U.S. locations. Successful replication would represent a signal achievement in American workforce policy, and demonstrate the power of evidence to move the needle on important national objectives such as economic mobility”, said Jon Baron, Vice President of Evidence-based policymaking at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

“The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has contributed to Per Scholas for nearly a decade, watching it grow from a small, local nonprofit into a national leader producing strong outcomes for unemployed and underemployed adults. We are proud to invest in its new goals, and encourage others to do the same,” said Marci Hunn, Program Director, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

“This capital campaign is based on a founding truth for Per Scholas: talent is ubiquitous, but opportunity is not. We’ve found success relying on partnerships across sectors and industries to inform our work and support our mission to expand opportunity to communities across the country. With the continued support of partners, both new and old, we look forward to serving thousands of more families and providing a qualified and diverse talent pipeline for corporations supportive of the neighborhoods where we live and work” said Per Scholas CEO and President Plinio Ayala.

“When we opened in our first warehouse in the Bronx in 1995, we knew talent was all around us, but it was our responsibility to find it and provide an opportunity for individuals to succeed. Sustainability has always been the key and sustainability for this nonprofit means a sustainable talent pipeline for corporations and sustainable career options for thousands of technologists of the future. I am proud to see the impact we’ve demonstrated over twenty-four years, and what will be achieved in the next twenty-four to come” said Lewis Miller, Board Chair, Founding Board Member, Per Scholas.

Significant hiring partners, Cognizant and TEKsystems have both invested in Per Scholas training curriculum and expansion.

“At TEKsystems, we deliver full-stack technology services, including talent services, to our clients across the country. That talent includes more than 350 Per Scholas graduates, and we’ve found them to be committed, capable and passionate team members — so much so that we funded a Per Scholas training pilot in our hometown of Baltimore. We look forward to growing our partnership in all the communities where we live and work”, said Faith Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources at TEKsystems.

“Partnerships between businesses and organizations like Per Scholas are vital to ensuring workers have the training and reskilling resources they need to compete for in-demand technology roles, and employers have ready access to a strong talent pipeline. Cognizant is committed to building the digital workforce of the future, and is proud to partner with Per Scholas, which knows how to find, foster and advance talent that might otherwise be overlooked,” says James Lennox, Chief People Officer of Cognizant.

Through the support of private foundations, Per Scholas hopes to reach its growth capital goal, thus increasing its services two fold and building a pathway to earned revenue and sustainability. With more support comes more students taught, more partnerships made, a better talent pipeline solidified for the future, and more lives impacted. With a 4-star accolade from Charity Navigator, Per Scholas promises to work closely with all donors to help them achieve their philanthropic goals.

Read the full campaign document, here.

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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 technology professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in eight cities across the country: Atlanta, GA; Greater Boston, MA; Greater Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; the National Capital Region; Newark, NJ and New York, NY. To date, Per Scholas has trained 9,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life changing skills and careers in technology.

About Ballmer Group

Ballmer Group works to improve economic mobility for children and families in who are disproportionately likely to remain in poverty. We support the use of data and strong partnerships among public, private, and nonprofit organizations at the community level to more effectively serve families. Ballmer Group was co-founded by philanthropist and civic activist Connie Ballmer and her husband Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, founder of USAFacts, and chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers. For more information, please visit www.ballmergroup.org or follow us @BallmerGroup

About Laura and John Arnold Foundation

Driven by a desire to improve people’s lives, we harness objective data, along with the brightest scholars and experts, in order to tackle inequities in our social, governmental, and economic systems. We study pressing issues in public safety, criminal justice, health, education, and governance, and develop solutions that lead to systemic change.

About The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, is dedicated to meeting the basic needs of vulnerable people and families experiencing poverty. In 2019, the Foundation will provide approximately $125 million in grants to nonprofits that provide direct services in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Community Services. The Foundation’s priority communities include Baltimore, Chicago, Hawaii, Israel, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, San Francisco, and Rural Communities (primarily surrounding other priority communities). The Foundation’s trustees include Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Board Chair; Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin (Ret.); Paula B. Pretlow; and Gordon Berlin. Rachel Garbow Monroe continues to serve as President and CEO. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.