MANHATTAN – A new program launches next week at the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center on the Upper East Side with a mission to arm underserved youth with the skills that can put them on path to a successful career in information technology. At the center of it all is a new, high-tech classroom unveiled Tuesday afternoon, that officials say will put students in a position to succeed.
“For many of our young people, it will mean that they will break generational cycles of low income and have opportunities to build careers that allow them to to provide for their families for generations to come,” said Roderick Jones, Executive Director of Goddard Riverside, the social services non-profit that operates the Isaacs Center.
Through a partnership between Goddard Riverside and Per Scholas, a non-profit that provides tuition free technology training, the twelve week IT Support training program at Issacs Center— located in Yorkville on East 93rd Street east of First Avenue, within NYCHA’s Issac Houses— will teach students everything they need to know to complete not one, but two industry-recognized certifications.
“We’re super excited about this opportunity, recognizing that this is not just getting young people at jobs at Burger King and McDonald’s, but that this is a track to a career,” Jones added.
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On Tuesday, Upper East Site toured the newly transformed space, which will provide technology kits to students, giving them the supplies and equipment they need for the IT Support training program, and also includes an interactive experience teleconferencing with another classroom of students.
“There is no shortage of talent at all,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine at Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting event.
“There’s a shortage of opportunity. We need people to have the training to enter these careers, once they have those skills.”
Those skills include a ComptTIA A+ Certification and a Google IT Support Professional Certificate, which Per Scholas says will give students a pathway to well-paying careers.
“This is the first time in Isaacs and Goddard history that we have an IT training program that is dedicated to our younger and older youth,” said Shayla Simpson, Director of Education and Workforce at Isaacs Center and Goddard Riverside.
“Our goal is to become a one-stop shop about education and workforce programs.”
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The IT Support program at the Isaacs Center lasts three months and requires a full-time commitment, with classes running from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
To apply for the training program, please contact Jennifer Ochiaga at the Isaacs Center by email or call (212) 360-7620 extension 222.
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