With little information available about this new technical apprenticeship program and a referral from his sister, Chapple took the plunge and applied to the first cohort. AmeriCorps Digital Service Fellow (DSF) — Pre-Apprenticeship program. AmeriCorps scholarships and benefits such as subsidies for childcare and transportation were an important part of why she got her job opportunity.
“I was already in school for programming, but I wanted to do something else in IT, but I didn’t know what to do,” says Chapple. “When I realized what they had done, [Urban Technology Project] It made more sense to do this program because it was providing. I used this opportunity to do many things within IT and get hands-on work. “
Since 2002, philadelphia school district An IT apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program, the Urban Technology Project offers aspiring engineers the opportunity to build their skills through industry-recognized certifications, work experience, and mentorship.
According to recent data, tech jobs will grow by 175,700 in 2022, a whopping 92% more than in 2019. Comptia data. As the innovation landscape continues to expand, the need for programs like Philadelphia’s Urban Technology Project remains at the forefront.
Today, Chapple is not only thriving in her career, but has also drawn her daughter into the industry. I am participating in the program as
Chapple himself is now a Senior Systems Engineer in Identity Management. Geico’s In the Cyber Security Office, he continues to praise the technical successes of urban technology projects. [this work experience] 20 years later it was still a great experience to provide opportunities, change lives and grow. I would like to do the program again if possible. “
A Legacy of Tech Opportunities
Started in 1995 by a group of high school students as ‘LatinoTech’, the urban technology project was born out of founder and co-visioner ‘Labor of Love’. Edison Freire.
“UrbanTech is an experiment to see how we can work with young people in a way that we co-generate learning, building trust and confidence, and how powerfully young people can give back and hold. It’s an approach to demonstrate that they can solve the challenges they face, their skill sets,” said Freire.
according to Learning and Work Institute88% of young people believe digital skills will be important to their future careers, but say they are confident in advanced skills such as coding and using more specialized software that employers may require Only 18% were
With numbers like these, the mission to provide a clear path to entry-level technical roles and enable individuals to find themselves through training and work experience is significant.
Urban Technology Project apprentices learn basic laptop repair, digital literacy, CompTIA certification, and more. An apprentice in schools throughout Philadelphia he also serves as an IT specialist and technical mentor, building the soft and technical skills necessary to navigate the professional tech industry.
In the early days of the Urban Technology Project, there was a gap in services that provided training opportunities in technology for urban youth. In a report published by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionthe tech workforce is 68% White, 14% Asian, 8% Hispanic, and 7% African American.
for Gregory Johns Millernow an IT administrator, who joined the Urban Technology Project in 2017, the program convinced him to become a tech expert and gave him the tools and support to succeed. .
“I was introduced to UTP by a friend who was also a Digital Services Fellow at the time,” he said. “I was in financial trouble in college, but he knew I would enjoy working with technology. That same week I was accepted into the program.”
Gregory Johns Miller repairing computer equipment. (photo courtesy)
During his time in the program, Johns-Miller gained a variety of experiences that made him more comfortable networking and improved his technical skills.
“During my tenure at UTP, I was able to meet the governor and the mayor,” said Johns-Miller. “I went to San Antonio for the first time to attend a conference to discuss the need for an apprenticeship program, and I went to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to talk about the importance of AmeriCorps. It provided me with an opportunity to
An urban technology project was Johns-Miller’s starting point, and his success in the tech industry over the past five years enabled him to buy his first home.
20th Anniversary
As of 2022, the Urban Technology Project continues its dual mission of improving digital literacy and equity through education, developing today’s tech workers, and inspiring future generations of tech workers.executive director Shanna Savage We believe the program will expand to offer apprenticeship training in other vocational tracks such as cybersecurity, networking and digital media.
On Saturday, October 22nd, the Urban Technology Project will celebrate the 20th anniversary of how minority individuals are gearing up for a career in technology. Guests can hear from the full his course brunch, live student bands, and special speakers.
For event details, please visit the event site.
get a ticket -30-
Comments
Post a Comment