Jobs for the Future will work to build
inclusive career on-ramps in IT and bridge gaps in U.S. workforce
and education systems.
BOSTON, June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Jobs for the Future
(JFF), a national nonprofit that drives transformation of the U.S.
education and workforce systems, announced its partnership with
Truist Foundation to improve economic mobility and advancement
opportunities for learners and workers across three Southern
states, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The $4.2
million investment will support two initiatives to
build equitable pathways to high-wage, high-growth careers through
postsecondary education and workforce training programs.
"The opportunity to secure a quality job with the potential for
economic advancement must be equally accessible to learners and
workers across this country, regardless of state or region," said
Maria Flynn, president and CEO of
Jobs for the Future. "This is why we are grateful to Truist
Foundation for supporting our work to invest in community colleges
in several states and in stakeholders across the Huntsville, Alabama region, so we can build
new approaches for inclusive on-ramps to tech careers and
more."
In Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, JFF and Truist Foundation will partner
with a cohort of six community colleges. These regions have a high
concentration of learners and workers who face barriers to economic
mobility. The partnership aims to develop and scale strategies that
increase the number of learners accessing and completing education
and training programs. These programs lead to high-quality jobs in
occupations with growing demand JFF will support the participating
colleges in analyzing the outcomes and experiences of learners
to design and implement interventions that promote access and
success in career pathways. Truist's investment will also support
the expansion of JFF's advisory services, which focus on creating
inclusive postsecondary pathways to jobs with high labor market
opportunity.
In the Huntsville, Alabama
region, Truist Foundation, JFF, and online education provider edX
will build on their experience of implementing innovative,
community-centric models. These models engage stakeholders across
the nonprofit, workforce development, community college, and
business sectors to expand a boot camp-driven model for tech
training in data analytics and cybersecurity roles. This program
aims to train 180 workers over two years, establishing on-ramps to
tech careers for low-to-moderate-income individuals, workers from
underprivileged backgrounds, and others who have overcome
significant challenges. In addition, JFF will conduct research to
identify how robust, boot camp-driven tech training can support
on-ramps to tech careers within a collective impact model.
"Truist Foundation understands the critical role education and
training play in the trajectory of an individual's job, career, and
wealth-building opportunities," said Truist Foundation President
Lynette Bell. "That's why we are
investing in partners and programs like those that Jobs for the
Future and edX are supporting across the country to help provide
access to tools and resources that all learners and workers need to
achieve economic mobility."
These initiatives are integral to JFF's 10-year North Star goal of helping 75 million people
facing systemic barriers to advance into quality jobs. For
four decades, JFF has partnered with organizations across the learn
and work ecosystem to design solutions, scale best practices,
influence policy and action, and invest in innovations. This
ensures that every individual, regardless of background, can
advance economically.
Media Contacts:
Kria Sakakeeny, JFF, ksakakeeny@jff.org
Kristen Fraser, Truist,
media@truist.com
About Jobs for the Future
Jobs for the Future (JFF)
drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems
to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. www.jff.org
About Truist Foundation
Truist Foundation is committed
to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire
and build better lives and communities. The Foundation, an endowed
private foundation established in 2020 whose operating budget is
independent of Truist Financial Corporation, makes strategic
investments in a wide variety of nonprofit organizations centered
around two focus areas: building career pathways to economic
mobility and strengthening small businesses to ensure all
communities have an equal opportunity to thrive. Embodying these
focus areas are the Foundation's leading initiatives – the Inspire
Awards and Where It Starts. Learn more at
Truist.com/Foundation.
About edX/2U
edX is the global online learning
platform that fuels the world's ambition. edX was developed in 2012
by Harvard and MIT to make the world's best
education available to everyone. Today, as a part of 2U, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects over 78 million people with
online learning to meet every professional moment. Together with
top-ranked universities and organizations at the forefront of their
fields, edX offers thousands of job-relevant programs across nearly
every career discipline, from artificial intelligence and robotics
to sustainability and public health. Find online courses,
certificates, boot camps, and degrees that fuel your ambition
at edx.org.
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SOURCE JOBS FOR THE FUTURE INC