Per Scholas
Per Scholas’ mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers, and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses. It is a national U.S. organization that is focused on advancing economic mobility through training, professional development and robust employer connections for adult job seekers. Their learners often come from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the tech industry: in Cincinnati, 54% are African American, 33% are women, and 44% are long-term unemployed. All have a high school diploma or equivalent; those who are working earn a low to moderate income before entering the program.
Jose F. Guerra
P&G Alumni Grant Champion
Jose F. Guerra
10 years P&G in IT/MSD in Mexico and USA
Jose has been involved with Per Scholas for seven years. He currently serves as the chair of the Employer Engagement Committee, which cultivates relationships with local employers in various IT businesses to ensure Per Scholas graduates have ‘pull’ from local businesses and the businesses have a strong talent pool. Jose is passionate about the impact Per Scholas is having.
“Per Scholas is making a very positive impact not just in the community itself but in the lives of the people it has touched and the corporations that are benefiting from the talent. My involvement has been filled with satisfaction at seeing how we are able to lift people out of sometimes hopeless situations and put them in a position to help themselves, their families, and their communities.” ~Jose F Guerra
Tech roles typically pay a living wage to start, with clear pathways to higher wages. Moreover, growing numbers of tech employers want to build more diverse workforces, remedying the disparities that have shaped today’s computing workforce to be just 26% female and 15% Black or Latinx. Simultaneously, employers across industries are struggling to fill more than 1.2 million information technology jobs.
Per Scholas fuels economic and social progress in communities across the country through technology education, access, training, and employer connections for individuals in these communities. This connects people with jobs that can help them launch careers with personal meaning, opportunities for advancement, and the wages needed to invest in their futures.
The $25,000 PGAF grant will be used to support Per Scholas Greater Cincinnati IT training and professional development instruction for 130 students. By providing employment connection opportunities together with two years support following program completion, 100 tech-ready jobs will be filled, with a family/community impact of more than 600.
“Driven by Commitment to Family and Self”
Per Scholas provides technical training in addition to coaching participants on interviewing, how to write an effective resume and other non-technical skills. At the end of the eight weeks, participants take exams for industry certifications. Graduates typically get jobs within 90 to 100 days of completing the program.
“I was looking for an opportunity to show my kids a level of commitment. I wanted them to see me work toward a new goal and finish something. Getting my A+ certification while also taking an entrepreneurship course at Xavier University was a lot of work. I was studying side-by-side with my kids, and it was important for them to see that I had an idea, a vision of what I wanted, and that I was seeing it through.” ~Deris P., Per Scholas graduate