Per Scholas, Isaacs Center Cut Ribbon on Training Facility
Contact: Trish Anderton, Director of Public Relations, Isaacs Center/Goddard Riverside
tanderton@goddard.org | 929-249-1449
New York, NY [May 31, 2022] — The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center, Per Scholas and local officials today cut the ribbon on a high-tech classroom to train New Yorkers for thriving careers in technology. Through an innovative Satellite Model leveraging on-site streaming technology, learners will be able to participate in a variety of training courses on the Upper East Side led by nationally-recognized Per Scholas from their Bronx and Brooklyn Campuses.
The initial offering at the new high-tech classroom at the Isaacs Center will be a 12-week IT Support program culminating in a CompTIA A+ Certification and Google IT Support Professional Certificate. These industry-recognized certifications, combined with hands-on training, workplace exposure and connections to employment, are a pathway to well-paid jobs in technology.
“This Per Scholas classroom will be transformational for Manhattan, especially uptown residents, who have been most affected by the pandemic,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “After three months of training, participants graduate with one of the most in-demand, dynamic skill sets that will open new doors to career possibilities and financial security. As one of the institutions most committed to bridging the digital divide in Manhattan, the Isaacs Center could not be a better partner for this collaboration.”
The technology career path will join other successful offerings in the Isaacs Center’s Education and Workforce Training program, including culinary studies and health care. These courses offer hands-on training and job placement, leading to good jobs.
Over the course of the pandemic, Per Scholas has trained approximately 850 New Yorkers in a virtual setting in a variety of technology tracks including IT Support, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, AWS re/Start, and more. On average, Per Scholas New York graduates earn four times their pre-training wage in their first job after Per Scholas.
“I am thrilled that the Isaacs Center will be commencing a satellite partnership with Per Scholas. Per Scholas does critical work promoting equity in education and teaching technology and job training skills to underserved populations,” said New York City Councilmember Julie Menin. “This partnership will serve as a great resource to the many New Yorkers that the Isaacs Center serves every day and I look forward to supporting the program.”
“Having been a supporter of Per Scholas for many years, I am delighted that they have become a premier workforce development nonprofit that connects people to high-paying work in the technology field. I congratulate the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center and Per Scholas on their partnership which makes this unique educational opportunity available to more learners,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer.
“Since the onset of the pandemic over two years ago, I’m proud to share that Per Scholas New York has enrolled more than 1,000 individuals into our tech training programs and have helped over 80% of our graduates obtain full-time employment in the tech industry,” said Abe Mendez, managing director of Per Scholas New York. “We are tremendously excited to partner with Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center and Goddard Riverside to provide more technology training to residents of Northern Manhattan.”
“This is such an opportunity for young people who grew up in low-income neighborhoods like me,” said Roderick L. Jones, president of the Isaacs Center. “For many, it will mean that they break generational cycles of low income and have opportunities to build careers that allow them to provide for their families for generations to come. We’re excited to partner with Per Scholas to offer this training on the Upper East Side.”
“At the Isaacs Center, the goal is for our Education & Workforce program to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for clients that offers a multitude of services to young and older adults at one location,” said Shayla Simpson, Isaacs Center director of education and workforce development.
According to a 2021 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 triple that of marketing and almost five times higher than demand for hospitality or education. As reported last month, New York City has the second-highest average tech salaries in the nation and experienced a double-digit increase, despite the economic impact of COVID-19.
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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.
The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center (Isaacs Center) is a non-profit, multi-service organization located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan focused on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth and aging New Yorkers.