Regional Roundups — September 2024

It has been a busy season at NPower, view all the exciting engagements and activity happening across the country.

NPower Missouri

On August 21st, we brought our alumni together for a fun-filled night at the St. Louis Cardinals MLB game! It was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, enjoy some baseball, and celebrate our growing community.
Over the summer, five of our alumni participated in Accenture’s Skills 2 Succeed Summer Internship Program. After a successful six-week extension, four of them have now transitioned into a year-long Department of Labor apprenticeship with Accenture, taking on roles as Packaged App Development Associates or Project Apprentices!

NPower Texas

We are thrilled to announce the commencement of our Spring ’24 graduations across Texas. The unity and support from our community have been truly inspiring.

To our phenomenal graduates: Your IT journey is just beginning, and we are eager to see the incredible milestones you will achieve. Your hard work and dedication have paved the way for a bright future!

A heartfelt thank you to our community partners, employment partners, and volunteers. Your support has made all the difference.

Highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Josie Perez

NPower New York & New Jersey Metro

NPower New York’s Engaging Site Visit to Broadridge

NPower New York recently took our Fall 2024 trainees on an inspiring site visit to Broadridge. The day was packed with interactive activities that energized our students and sparked meaningful discussions.

The visit began with a Personality Assessment, allowing trainees to explore their strengths and career aspirations. Afterward, they toured Broadridge’s impressive offices, gaining insight into the company’s vibrant work environment.

One of the highlights of the day was practicing Elevator Pitches, where enthusiastic volunteers provided invaluable feedback and shared their personal career journeys. This hands-on experience not only honed the students’ communication skills but also ignited excitement about the diverse career paths ahead of them.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners at Broadridge for hosting such a memorable day of learning and networking. A special thank you to all the volunteers who made this experience possible!

NPower Maryland

NPower Maryland Executive Director, Demetrius Goodwin, featured on The Senior Zone!

In the episode titled “The Importance of Digital Skills Training,” Demetrius shares insights on empowering communities through technology.

At NPower, we are dedicated to empowering young adults, military-connected individuals, and women from under-resourced communities through tech training. Our free Community Help Desk is essential in bridging the digital divide for seniors and underserved communities across the country.

Tune in now to hear about the positive impact we’re making and learn how you can get involved in our mission!

Listen to the Interview Here *feature begins at 25:00*

NPower Michigan

Steve Ragan, Chief External Relations Officer at NPower, Jose Reyes, Executive Director, NPower Michigan, and Sean Perry, Chief Information Officer at Kelly and NPower Michigan Regional Advisory Board Member recently engaged in a rich and critical conversation highlighting how NPower Michigan is addressing Michigan’s tech workforce needs at HMG Strategy’s Detroit C-Level Technology Leadership Summit.

NPower North Carolina

NPower North Carolina had the pleasure of joining MetLife team members for a half-day event and panel, hosted by their LatConexion ERG leaders! This collaborative effort was designed to amplify the work of organizations dedicated to strengthening the talent pipeline within our community.

NPower Ohio​

Incredible things are happening in NPower Ohio. 

Congratulations to Demarus Crawford-White, DBA and her team on their recent recognition as one of the Dayton Business Journal’s 2024 Leaders in Diversity award honorees. The Dayton team is committed to creating an inclusive tech workforce. If you are in the Dayton area, reach out and be a part – there is still much work to be done!

 

Read the official announcement + celebrate this win

AWS | NPower Partnership: Creating Meaningful Change through Volunteerism

Volunteering is at the core ethos of AWS, reflecting their unwavering commitment to be a force of good in the world, making a positive impact globally. Through their collaboration with NPower, AWS actively contributes to communities aligned with their mission values. From fostering an inclusive culture within the tech sector to bridging the digital gap by granting access to technology, they are dedicated to driving meaningful change.

Mentoring has played a key part in NPower’s programming. Melissa Young, a Senior Sales Executive at AWS is one of the AWS volunteers that works with NPower students and alumni. Not only does she spend time mentoring our students, but she also acts as an advocate for their mentoring program, bringing on board 60 AWS volunteers for the Spring 2023 mentoring cycle.

Mantaqaa Khan, Business Analyst, and a 2022 graduate of NPower, maintains a mentoring relationship with Melissa and is grateful for the connection. “Melissa has directed me towards opportunities that are guaranteed to drive my career growth. Her advice has been invaluable when I faced challenges in the workplace. Working with a mentor has been extremely reassuring and helpful to feeling both motivated and confident in my career path.”

As a partner of success within our Advanced Training Cloud Computing program, AWS played a pivotal role in supporting the launch of the program. From hosting informative workshops with guest speakers to offering invaluable insights on curriculum development and sought-after certifications, they ensured that through this program NPower graduates will be equipped with skills to meet the demands of an ever-evolving technology landscape.

Mike DiBlasio, Senior Technical Program Manager at AWS and NPower Regional Advisory Board Member in Baltimore, Maryland is another advocate of NPower’s mission. “The work we can do together is hugely inspiring. When we combine data with strategic thinking we can make meaningful strides in social impact.” Mike has connected over 75 AWS volunteers with opportunities to mentor students and augment NPower’s programs.

Thank you to AWS for your continued collaboration and your commitment to transforming lives together!

Leaders United States

The Obama Foundation Leaders USA program is a six-month, non-residential leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.

SIM National and SIM Foundation Partnership

NPower’s work is made possible through aligned partnerships that create impact. 

As a national alliance partner of SIM National and SIM Foundation (Society for Information Management), NPower is able to support the growth and advancement of the students in our programs across the country. The members of the local SIM chapters are engaged with NPower as mentors, volunteers, and supporters who continue to show up for our students. 

SIM has been an active participant in NPower’s Words of Wisdom event series, a space for sharing advice and tips to empower the next generation of tech professionals. During the most recent Words of Wisdom event, 35 SIM National and SIM Chapter members across the U.S. engaged in small group discussions answering questions and prompts ranging from how to make the most of an internship, how to overcome challenges, to what is successful self-promotion. The insights, advice, and encouragement from these sessions are shared with NPower participants to support them in their professional journeys from interns to full-time tech professionals. 

Words of Wisdom: July Session

Swayne James, NPower graduate and Cindy Finkelman, Board President of the SIM New York Metro Chapter​

SIM also shares their well-connected network with NPower graduates providing them direct access to industry experts, technology executives, and thought leaders as they start their tech careers. 

Swayne James, graduate of NPower New York Metro Area Tech Fundamentals and Cybersecurity program is one of the many NPower tech professionals who have leveraged the SIM network. He has been part of several SIM-connected networking events including the 2023 HMG CISO and Innovation Summit where Cindy Finkelman, Board President of the SIM New York Metro Chapter invited Swayne as her guest to share his story of mentorship and connect with senior tech executives.

After completion of NPower’s programs, Swayne showcased his newly-acquired technical and professional skills through a successful 10-week mainframe security internship part of the Global Cloud and Infrastructure (GCIS) team at Broadridge. Although there was a learning curve, Swayne felt the environment and culture fostered learning. By asking the right questions and leaning into his team’s support, Swayne quickly added value and contributed to the team. He credits his dedication to learning and his valuable relationship with the NPower New York – Metro placement team as key factors in his success. The team identified the opportunity and his resumé was perfectly aligned with the position, thanks to his professional development experiences. This intentionality well-prepared him for both technical and behavioral interviews. 

Swayne highly recommends Broadridge as a great place to work for NPower alumni and the GCIS internship as a great first tech role. His journey is a testament to the power of partnership, mentorship, training, and strategic professional connections. Thank you, Swayne, for inspiring others as you advance in your career. 

And a special thank you to our friends at SIM for their continued partnership in transforming lives, families, and communities through tech!