A look into our STEM community and alliances that positively impact workforce diversity.
Encouraging and supporting minorities and other underserved groups with attaining the necessary skills to achieve a career in tech is essential to amplify workforce diversity, inclusivity, and career growth opportunities that help close the opportunity divide. Whether volunteering to provide career-building resources to given individuals, donating funds to STEMs, or matching organizations with upskilled talent, our aligned and meaningful initiatives give back in rewarding ways for everyone involved.
A collaborative approach with many highly successful STEM partnerships and programs has fostered initiatives for increasing diversity within the IT field with alliances such as the following:
Year Up and YUPRO (Year Up Professional Resources)
Year Up is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to close the "Opportunity Divide" by providing underrepresented young adults the training, skills, and support that will empower them to reach their full potential through careers and higher education. The Year Up and YUPRO program includes 6-month training and development followed by a 6-month internship and skill-building period for IT, software development, customer support, business operations, etc.
Per Scholas
The Per Scholas organization is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses. As stated by Per Scholas, "We believe a thriving workforce starts with equitable access to education." The organization offers no-cost technical training and various IT tracks. Visit the Per Scholas website to learn more.
2U
Our community of STEM partnerships also includes those that contract with nonprofit colleges and universities, such as 2U. The organization's mission is to bridge the digital skills gap by supporting its nonprofit college and university partners and their students with bootcamps that teach skills needed to succeed in today's technological age. Offerings include 12 to 14-week, part-time or full-time programs with tracks in IT, digital marketing, project management, etc.
App Academy
App Academy offers a Deferred Tuition Model and a mission to provide access to coding bootcamp with no tuition due until employment. Their program is a 6 to 24-week software engineering immersive for a software development track. Reach out to us to learn more by selecting here or visiting the App Academy website for added insight.
Tech Elevator
Tech Elevator's mission is about helping individuals and companies acquire in-demand technology skills for the modern workplace. The organization offers tracks in software development via a full-time, 14-week intensive program. Tech Elevator has approximately nine campuses but also provides online remote options. Visit Tech Elevator to learn more.
CompTIA Tech Career Academy
The CompTIA organization is an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit well-known in its industry. The nonprofit's mission is to unlock people's potential by helping them launch and grow their careers in information technology. Their IT-Ready Tech Support program includes CompTIA A+ certification and various tracks in tech.
Fullstack Academy
Committed to providing a welcoming, diverse, and flexible learning environment is Fullstack Academy's mission. Programs are full-time and part-time boot camp's ranging from 10 to 31+ weeks for tracks in coding, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Fullstack has received several awards for its bootcamps, including an online remote option. Select here to learn more.
MyComputerCareer
MyComputerCareer has a student base of approximately 50 percent of transitioning military and Veterans. The organization's mission is to help its students develop the necessary skills to permanently and positively change their lives and futures by attaining financially rewarding and personally fulfilling careers in IT. There are numerous tech programs and tracks within security. MyComputerCareer also offers several certifications.
Women in Technology
Women in Technology (WIT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers girls and women to excel in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) from the classroom to the boardroom. WIT offers a Single Mothers program and a Career ConneXions program. The programs can range anywhere from 7 to 11 to 12 weeks, depending on the track for cybersecurity, data analytics, and technology fundaments.
Hire Heroes USA
Hire Heroes USA is on a mission to provide free job search assistance to U.S. military members, Veterans, and their spouses, and programs offering tracks for administration, IT, human resources, project management, and business management. Learn more by visiting Hire Heroes USA.
Microsoft Military Affairs
Microsoft's program includes a 17-week training intensive program called Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSTA). Its mission is to provide transitioning service members, Guard, Reserves, and Veterans, with critical career skills required for today's growing technology industry. MSTA offers remote learning nationwide for Cloud Application Development or Server and Cloud Administration tracks.
Next Generation Training for IT Professionals (NGT)
NGT has set a goal to help 1 million people get tech jobs by 2030 and close the skills gap by providing affordable education and job readiness for a cybersecurity career. Programs include full-time and hybrid training from 14 to 24 weeks and cybersecurity and network engineering tracks. Click here to learn more.
Operation Code
Operation Code is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The nonprofit's undertaking is about helping the largest community of Veterans, service members, and military spouses become software developers and thrive in their careers to code for a better future. Operation Code provides tracks in coding and software development nationwide. Visit the Operation Code website to learn more.
University of Maryland: Global Campus
Available in Maryland or online remote, the University of Maryland: Global Campus has over 90 programs and specializations that include graduate and undergraduate certificates, doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees. Their undertaking is to serve the higher education needs of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. The University of Maryland: Global campus offers many tracks; learn more by selecting University of Maryland: Global Campus.
Vets2PM
The Vets2PM mission is to help military Veterans achieve meaningful, lucrative post-service careers through project and program management training. Project management, change management, and cyber/IT certification tracks can be attained via PMP, CAPM, SkillBridge, and other programs. Visit the Vets2PM website to learn more.
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
Wounded Warriors Project (WWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to focus on and support Veterans and service members injured while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. WWP's program, Warriors to Work, is available nationwide and includes facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. To learn more, visit Wounded Warrior Project.
Our STEM community includes many other collaborations, and as a whole, they have become one of the best ways to create real change in our communities. With many vibrant STEM programs and activities last year, our collaboration of over 85 events reached and supported more than 3,500 students, graduates, Veterans, and client organizations. Additional activities included acknowledgments by Military Friendly® and being one of the Top 5 Employers for our efforts in supporting Hire Heroes USA in empowering over 12,500 Veterans and military spouses to secure new employment.
We know that these partnerships are effective, and we're looking forward to accomplishing more in the future.
Additional Resources:
- Apex Veteran Redeployment Initiative for military service members, military spouses, and Veterans
- Corporate Social Responsibility and STEM Partnerships
- Training, Upskilling, and STEM Advocacy
