Funding will provide one-on-one support services for learners at six Per Scholas campuses across the country over next three years

 

New York, NY (August 3, 2021) – Today, national skills training nonprofit Per Scholas announced a multi-year grant from the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., to expand its national Learner Support Team. Per Scholas, committed to increasing diversity within the tech sector, nationalized Learner Support at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This grant will expand the tech training organization’s ability to provide virtual wellness workshops, COVID-19 health education, and one-on-one mental health sessions, all with the aim of managing stress and anxiety during the pandemic and beyond.

Through the three-years, with a $700,000 grant from Anthem Foundation, Per Scholas aims to provide more than 5,250 learners across five states and six cities including in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, and New York with robust wellness, stress management, and benefit navigation services.

“COVID-19 has exacerbated many of the physical and mental challenges that Black and brown individuals already face on a day-to-day basis, like career-related anxiety and stress around balancing their work and home life, as well as financial planning. At Per Scholas, we feel it’s our responsibility to support learners throughout their training journey, which is why we’re dedicated to offering robust wellness services as a way to help navigate these challenging times,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “The Anthem Foundation’s commitment will provide vital support to thousands of Per Scholas learners over the next three years, ensuring they have access to not just the tech skills, but the life skills they need to secure a good-paying, middle-class career.”

Additionally, the grant will provide ongoing support to alumni who are two-years post-graduation. It is estimated 30 percent of learners will take advantage of the one-on-one individualized service, which will help to facilitate Per Scholas’ nationwide 80 percent placement rate, ultimately enabling learners and alumni from diverse backgrounds to secure quality careers in the tech field.

“Evidence suggests the lack of diversity in the tech industry, coupled with the pandemic’s economic consequences has impacted this disparity even more, which underscores the importance of addressing racial inequalities in the workforce,” said Felicia Norwood, EVP and President, Government Business Division, Anthem, Inc. “Through our collaboration with Per Scholas, we are working to create a more diverse workforce and build pathways to careers in technology for residents in our communities.”

Since the Learner Support Team began to offer its support nationally in March 2020, more than 600 learners have benefitted from quarterly expert panels featuring established speakers to explore the connection between wellness and professional success; weekly wellness and wealth building series to identify strategies, strengthen skills and build reflective personal practices; and opt-in one on one coaching. Coaching is learner-led and structured around goal setting and building plans to achieve them.

To learn more about Per Scholas and its nationally recognized tech training, now offered in 17 cities across the nation, please visit PerScholas.org.

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 major metropolitan areas, 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 Anthem Foundation

The Anthem Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. and through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes the organization’s commitment to improving lives and communities. Through strategic partnerships and programs, the Foundation addresses the social drivers that will help create a healthier generation of Americans in communities that Anthem, Inc. and its affiliated health plans serve.  The Foundation focuses its funding on critical initiatives that make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Anthem Foundation, please visit http://www.anthem.foundation and its blog at https://medium.com/anthemfoundation.

Columbus, Ohio (July 28, 2021) – Noah Mitchell has been promoted to Managing Director of Per Scholas’s Columbus, Ohio campus, the national nonprofit announced today. 

Launched in 2012, Per Scholas Columbus has trained more than 800 individuals in a variety of technology courses, ranging from IT Support to Cybersecurity, Java Developer and beyond. More than 80 percent of Per Scholas Columbus graduates are currently working for Columbus-area businesses in technology roles at companies including TEKsystems, Nationwide, and Sage.  

“For me, it always comes down to our learners. I’m so proud of the way Per Scholas creates pathways that our learners can sprint through, creating opportunities to be the very best, and collaborating with our greater Columbus community to make an even bigger impact on the lives of individuals, their families, and our community,” said Noah Mitchell, Managing Director, Per Scholas Columbus. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is very important to me, as well as to Per Scholas. Whenever we can eliminate barriers for people, it’s a worthwhile endeavor.” 

Noah has held a variety of positions with Per Scholas before this most recent promotion, including Site Director, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Learner Experience, and Manager of Career Advancement. He will lead a team of 12 Columbus-based staff and is currently hiring a Senior Manager of Recruitment and Admissions. 

With several IT Support courses underway, Per Scholas Columbus is actively recruiting learners for its next IT Support cohort, scheduled to start September 20. Applications are due September 9, and interested individuals can learn more here. Per Scholas’s Columbus campus is located downtown, at 112 Jefferson Avenue. 

To learn more about Per Scholas Columbus, visit www.PerScholas.org/Columbus.

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.

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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Coalition of CEOs Commit to Create 1 Million Jobs for Black Americans Over 10 Years

Bronx, N.Y. (June 9, 2021) – For more than 25 years, Per Scholas has advanced economic equity through technology, and today it has been endorsed as a talent developer by One Ten, a coalition of leading executives who are working to change the approach to recruiting, hiring, advancing and promoting talent to put skills first.

“We look forward to having Per Scholas join us as an endorsed talent developer to support us in our mission to hire and advance one million Black talent in the next ten years,” said Maurice Jones, Chief Executive Officer of OneTen. “This effort will require a high functioning, multi-disciplinary coalition from corporate America, talent developers, Black talent, talent supports, and others, and it is crucial we have high quality partners like Per Scholas on that team. We are grateful for the work they have already done and are excited to partner with them going forward.”

Companies participating in OneTen have committed to upskill, hire, and advance one million Black individuals in America over the next 10 years into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. The network of OneTen talent developers represents leading local, regional, and national education and skill-building organizations that support diverse talent without 4-year degrees to identify, develop, and build high-value skills.

“Per Scholas is proud to stand alongside OneTen and humbled by our endorsement as a preferred talent developer. We’ve long been committed to offer rigorous, high-quality training to individuals often excluded from tech careers, and nearly 90% of our learners over our history are Black and brown talent,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “We know the power of connecting individuals to careers where they can thrive and are looking forward to creating even more pathways for Black Americans for high-growth tech careers through our work together.”

By working with OneTen, Per Scholas will create more equitable access to opportunity and advancement as we serve thousands of learners a year at our 17 campuses and remotely across the nation. Together, we will create more flexible talent pipelines and practices that will enable both employees and employers to thrive.

For more information, please visit PerScholas.org and OneTen.org.

About OneTen 

OneTen is a coalition of leading chief executives and their companies who are coming together to upskill, hire and promote one million Black Americans over the next 10 years who do not yet have a four-year degree into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. We connect employers with talent partners, leading non-profits and other skill-credentialing organizations who support development of diverse talent. By creating more equitable and inclusive workforces, we believe we can reach our full potential as a nation of united citizens. Join us at OneTen.org.

 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.

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Borough President Oddo, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Amazon, Staten Island Foundation Help Bring Nationally-Recognized Tech Trainer Per Scholas to Staten Island

Staten Island, N.Y. (May 25, 2021) – For more than 25 years, Per Scholas has advanced economic equity through technology and today, Staten Island Borough President James Oddo is proud to announce a transformational investment in the nonprofit’s ability to offer free IT training exclusively to Staten Island residents. Through collaboration and the commitment of Borough Hall, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, The Staten Island Foundation, and Amazon, Per Scholas is now able to enroll and support more learners from the Borough in virtual courses today and through a Staten Island satellite campus partner in the near future.

“In 2017, our Borough Hall team read study after study on how to prepare the workforce for long-term success in the 21^st century economy,” said Borough President James Oddo. “That’s when we were first introduced to Per Scholas, an organization that achieved incredible outcomes in training individuals for successful careers in the tech sector.”

The Borough President continued, “As we often do, with our Policy Director Isaac Gorodetski leading point for us, we joined forces with Linda Baran and her team at the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce to find a way to bring Per Scholas programming to Staten Island. Therefore, I am thrilled that Per Scholas, The Staten Island Foundation, and Amazon rallied around us to make it a reality. Thanks to their hard work, philanthropy, and commitment to our borough, Staten Islanders will now have access to world-class tech training and job placement. And, it couldn’t come at a more critical time given the impact of the pandemic on the job market. This is a big win for Staten Island.”

According to a new report from the Center for an Urban Future, nearly one-in-five of all new job postings in New York City during the pandemic were in technology occupations. Demand for tech jobs across the city was more than double that of finance, more than triple that of marketing, and almost five times higher than demand for hospitality or education. As of February, Staten Island’s unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent, and almost half are young professionals, aged 22 to 34.

“The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce is proud and excited to welcome Per Scholas to Staten Island,” said Linda Baran, President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. “Per Scholas has a proven track record of lifting Americans with lower incomes into high paying jobs that made them a natural partnership fit for the Chamber’s workforce initiatives. We are confident that this new partnership will help create a new tech talent pipeline on Staten Island that will serve a diverse and underrepresented population. And this is just the first step: the more pipelines we create, the more we attract and drive new tech businesses to our Borough. We thank the Office of Borough President James Oddo, Amazon and The Staten Island Foundation for joining us in support of the future of Staten Island’s workforce.”

“Creating a better, stronger, more resilient future for Staten Islanders, particularly the least advantaged is a leading priority for The Staten Island Foundation. Our investment in Per Scholas contributes to that more promising future. We’re enthusiastic about helping to provide another tool for Staten Island residents to invest in themselves,” said Laura Jean Watters, Acting Executive Director, The Staten Island Foundation.

“As a company, we’ve made upskilling and workforce development a priority here, in New York City, and nationally, so partnering with Per Scholas is a natural fit for Amazon,” said Carley Graham Garcia, Amazon’s New York City Head of External Affairs. “By expanding educational and job training opportunities in Staten Island, this initiative will help more of our neighbors pursue promising careers, while simultaneously building a talent pipeline and attracting greater economic investment to the borough. We thank the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and Borough President James Oddo for all their work to make this expansion possible.”

Amazon currently employs 5,000 employees across its Staten Island operations sites.

To date, Per Scholas has trained a dozen Staten Islanders, and geography has been the main barrier to interested individuals in pursuing a path in tech. As a result of this new partnership, that barrier will be removed. Mario, a Per Scholas graduate from Staten Island shared his gratitude for having a car, but underscored he still had to begin his commute at 6 a.m. to make it on time to his training in Brooklyn. “Some classmates took three or four busses plus the ferry to get to class,” he reflected. Today, Mario works as a Cyber Technology Specialist with Darktrace.

“As New York City continues our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a responsibility to ensure that Per Scholas training can reach as many New Yorkers as possible,” said Abe Mendez, New York Managing Director, Per Scholas. “I want to commend Borough President Oddo and all of our partners at Amazon, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, and The Staten Island Foundation. Together we will ensure that technology companies across our city can benefit from the strength of Staten Island talent.”

Per Scholas is actively recruiting candidates for virtual training courses this summer and is striving to return to on-campus learning this fall, provided it’s safe to do so. In Staten Island, this means teaming up with a community partner to stream live classes from Per Scholas’s flagship Bronx and Brooklyn campuses. Per Scholas will provide an Instructional Assistant to be present in the classroom to support Staten Island learners real-time. Current Per Scholas cybersecurity learner Unais says it best, “Opening up more training opportunities in Staten Island will be a lifesaver.”

To learn more, please visit PerScholas.org/NewYork.

About Staten Island Borough President

The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough’s interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities, and monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, acting as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. The office also houses the Borough’s Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.

About Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1895, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (SICC) is Staten Island’s largest and most respected business organization. The mission of the SICC, a private not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization, is to improve the economic climate and expand business opportunities on Staten Island. We represent the interests and serve as the voice of more than 9,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors throughout all four shores of the borough. With nearly 600 members encompassing 250 categories, Chamber members range from small, family-owned storefront shops to leading institutions to larger employers. The vast majority of our members are small companies with fewer than 10 employees. The SICC provides technical assistance, advice, and business support services. The Chamber also produces workshops (online and onsite) and one-on-one counseling and customized on- and off-site assistance to business owners, with an emphasis on women and minority businesses.

In 2000, the SICC established the SICC Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3. The mission of the SICCF is to support and advance small business development & business technology development of the Staten Island community through charitable educational programs and commercial revitalization programs that lessen the burdens of government.

About The Staten Island Foundation

The Staten Island Foundation is an independent, private foundation with a mission of improving the quality of life in Staten Island through support of qualified, service-providing, not-for-profit organizations. The Staten Island Foundation funds results for the local community, especially its least advantaged, in the areas of education, health, community services and the arts. Since its founding in 1997, The Staten Island Foundation has granted over $75 million to local, service-providing organizations for the benefit of Staten Island residents. For information call (718) 697-2831 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.thestatenislandfoundation.org.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

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 13,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

For Staten Island Borough President James Oddo

Colleen Siuzdak, (718) 816-2057, [email protected]

 

For Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Dom Provenzano, (718) 727-1900, [email protected]

 

For The Staten Island Foundation

Laura Jean Watters, (718) 697-2831, [email protected]

 

For Per Scholas

Sara Luciano, (332) 895-0051, [email protected]

 

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Leaders from Fortune 500, Technology, Philanthropy, Financial Services Contribute to Transform America’s Tech Workforce

BRONX, N.Y. (May 18, 2021) – Today, leading national tech training nonprofit advancing economic equity Per Scholas welcomed three National Board Members and 18 new Advisory Board Members in four cities across the U.S.

New National Per Scholas Board Members include:

• Faith Rottmann Johnson, Vice President, Human Resources, TEKsystems. Faith believes in the power of people, and their ability to create lasting, positive change in their workplace and in their communities. In her role, she oversees strategic human resources and corporate social responsibility programs globally.
• Kevin P. Brown, Principal, Consulting Services, Ernst & Young LLP. Kevin is a leader in EY’s Technology Consulting Practice specializing in helping large global enterprises transform with Digital Business Solutions and Intelligent Automation. In addition, he has held leadership roles in diversity, equity, and inclusion, working for both EY professionals and the community.
• Wale Akinwande, Senior Vice President & Chief Auditor, S&P Global. Wale is responsible for the global Internal Audit function at S&P Global. In his role, he oversees third line assurance coverage for S&P Global businesses, functions, and U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley compliance testing..

“We are incredibly grateful to Faith, Kevin, and Wale for contributing their time, talent, and passion for diversifying America’s tech workforce by serving on our National Board. They join a cadre of committed individuals that are striving to advance economic opportunity for those traditionally excluded from tech,” said Plinio Ayala, President & CEO of Per Scholas. “Our regional Advisory Boards continue to grow, and we welcome our 18 new advisors with enthusiasm and appreciation and look forward to additional leaders across the nation joining us in our mission to achieve a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive tech sector.”

New Advisory Board Members include:

Atlanta, Georgia

• Shante Austin, Software Engineer, Cox Automotive Inc.
• Mimi Hargrove-Cox, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Own Up
• Kenneth Thompson, Partner, FisherBroyles LLP

Greater Boston, Massachusetts

• Melissa Luna, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Boston
• Angela Middleton, Lead Diversity Sourcer, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
• Sandy Silk, Director, IT Security Education & Consulting, Harvard University
• Gene Suzuki, Chief Information Officer, EverQuote
• Javier Torres, Managing Director, Audit & Assurance, Financial Services, Deloitte and Touche LLP
• Leon Trefler, SVP Global Client Success, Pegasystems, Inc.

Newark, New Jersey

• Daniel Auld, Co-Founder and President of Education & Outreach, Kekoa Foods
• Sang Cho, Chair & CEO, Cooperative Laundry
• Charles Song, President, Chief Investment Officer, Tishman Capital Partners
• Min Zhang, Database Administration Director, Prudential

New York, New York

• Helen Blake, Managing Director, Genesis 10
• Libby DeLucia-Harting, Program Manager, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
• Lakshmi Rao, Director, Prime Brokerage, Barclays
• Fabianna Rodriguez-Mercado, SW/App/Cloud Tech Support Analyst, Accenture
• Silva Stewart, Digital Strategy Consultant, Accenture

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

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 13,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org.

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Tuition-free training to help expand and diversify regional talent pipelines in support of city’s growing tech ecosystem

Pittsburgh, PA – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas and full-stack technology services provider TEKsystems announced the expansion of their transformative partnership to Pittsburgh beginning March 15, 2021. With successful training programs already underway in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, the expanded partnership will enable Per Scholas and TEKsystems to provide local workers with no-cost technology training and bring diverse talent into tech careers in the city’s fast-growing tech sector.

With the support of InnovatePGH, Partner4Work, and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (the economic development affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development), Per Scholas will train 30 full stack Java developers in the first Pittsburgh cohort of students. The training model is expected to deliver an 80% graduation rate, with learners achieving upward mobility and family-sustaining wages post-graduation. The program will also provide regional employers with diverse, underrepresented tech talent to meet changing business demands.

“Developing a more inclusive, job-ready workforce through tech training has always been one of our top priorities and our ability to partner with like-minded organizations is what has enabled us to create these opportunities in communities across the country,” said Per Scholas President & CEO Plinio Ayala. “With the generous support of our customized training partner, TEKsystems, we’re now able to expand into the burgeoning tech community of Pittsburgh, offering our tuition free courses, full suite of professional services, and extensive alumni support network to individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in the tech field. We look forward to supporting our learners and Pittsburgh’s growing tech economy.” 

A hiring and training partner since 2013, TEKsystems has hired more than 400 Per Scholas graduates to date. In collaboration with Per Scholas will train at least 540 people for cutting-edge tech jobs by 2022.

Per Scholas has limited spaces remaining for its March training cohort and is currently accepting applications through the end of February.  A high school diploma or GED equivalent is the only qualification required to apply.  Interested candidates can learn more here.

 

The TD Ready Challenge awarded Per Scholas to deliver Tech Training to those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic

New York, NY – January 27, 2020 – Today, national tech training nonprofit Per Scholas has been named one of six U.S. winners of the 2020 TD Ready Challenge presented by TD Bank. Through this initiative, Per Scholas will provide its vast network of alumni – particularly those negatively impacted by COVID-19 – with upskilling, reskilling, and professional development opportunities to help them advance in successful tech careers. The programming will be provided to alumni in Baltimore, Greater Boston, the National Capital Region NCR), Newark, New York, and Philadelphia.

“Per Scholas has brought forward a creative and scalable solution to help those disproportionately impacted by the effects of COVID-19 prepare for the current workforce,” said Andy Bregenzer, Regional President, Metro New York, TD Bank. “Being a winner of the TD Ready Challenge is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators, as well as their dedication to ensuring our communities emerge from the pandemic more resilient, inclusive, vibrant and ready for the continually changing future.”

The TD Ready Challenge is an annual initiative, laddering up to the TD Ready Commitment, TD’s corporate citizenship platform, aimed at opening doors to a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. Acting as a springboard for social innovation, TD established the TD Ready Challenge to identify and support scalable solutions that address societal issues identified within the four drivers of the TD Ready Commitment: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. 

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on society and that’s why the 2020 TD Ready Challenge encouraged organizations across TD’s North American footprint to create innovative solutions to help create accelerated, sustained and equitable recovery in the face of COVID-19. 

“For over 25 years, Per Scholas has been committed to helping our learners break the cycle of poverty and launch stable, family-sustaining careers in the technology sector,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. “We’re able to do this by providing innovative solutions to systemic issues of equity and opportunity in the tech field and offering tuition-free training and career development services to individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in today’s most promising fields. However, we cannot do this work without the incredible support of organizations like TD Bank, which is why we could not be more grateful for this award from the TD Ready Challenge.”

In total, TD awarded $10 million (CAD) for the 2020 Challenge, as part of the $25 million (CAD) that TD has allocated to help strengthen community resilience and COVID-19 recovery through the TD Community Resilience Initiative.

 A full list of The Ready Challenge winners as well as more information about the challenge can be found at www.td.com/thereadychallenge. 

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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 14 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 12,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit perscholas.org.

About the TD Ready Commitment

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CAD $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment.

Organizations will focus on educating a diverse and technologically skilled workforce.

SALT LAKE CITY (January 25, 2020) – Building on its mission to change lives for the better by creating pathways to opportunity, nonprofit Western Governors University’s (WGU) College of Information Technology today announced a transfer articulation partnership with nonprofit technology workforce development organization Per Scholas. Alumni of Per Scholas—which delivers tuition-free, market-relevant IT education in 14 major metro areas across the U.S.—will now be eligible to receive credit from their Per Scholas education toward a WGU IT bachelor’s degree program.

WGU and Per Scholas have the shared belief that equitable access to education is the greatest catalyst for change. Particularly, information technology education provides for a more diverse and equitable workforce and economy as it moves individuals to thriving wage careers. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on communities of color and women, and there is an imperative need to address social inequities that leave individuals at the margins and deter them from learning.

“Careers in technology provide some of the highest wages and growth potential in our economy,” said Dr. Elke Leeds, Dean and Academic Vice President of WGU’s College of IT. “It’s not news that technology has a diversity problem, and we remain committed to expanding access to the learning and skills needed for employment, and the degree needed for advancing in a technology career. Social justice is advanced through equitable education and with rigorous technology education, Per Scholas is making its impact by increasing access to tech training, in particular for women and people of color, communities often underrepresented in technology fields.   We are thrilled to partner with Per Scholas and provide their alumni with pathways to further their educations and careers.”

Through a network of philanthropic funding and grants, Per Scholas provides tuition-free, bootcamp-style technology education in IT support, cybersecurity, and software engineering to diverse learner populations. With a network of more than 500 employer partners, 80% of Per Scholas graduates found a job within one year of graduating. WGU’s recognition of Per Scholas’ training now provides graduates with their next opportunity in education and career advancement. WGU’s online degree programs allow learners to work toward their degree on their own time, and its competency-based education model measures learning rather than seat time. This allows learners to progress as soon as they master skills and graduate with a bachelor’s degree within two-and-a-half years on average.

“We’re incredibly excited about this partnership with WGU, especially knowing the benefits and value it represents for the Per Scholas community,” said Bridgette Gray, Per Scholas Chief Impact Officer. “For our alumni who are looking to move into middle management roles, many companies still require an undergraduate degree. This partnership gives our graduates significant credits toward a degree in Information Technology at an outstanding university that not only offers affordable tuition, but also coursework flexibility. This provides our graduates who enroll at WGU with greater value for the hard work and time that they invested into their Per Scholas coursework and the certificates they earned, putting our alumni that much closer to achieving the next goal in their career progression.” 

In the months and years to come, WGU and Per Scholas will seek to advance their partnership to be stewards of equitable access to technology education and will roll out local and regional enrollment efforts. To learn more about the partnership visit wgu.edu/lp/information-technology/per-scholas.html. For employers and philanthropic partner interests, please contact Brad Angevine at Per Scholas. 

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About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 129,000 students nationwide and has more than 215,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu.

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 with leading employers, from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 14 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 12,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, please visit perscholas.org.