{"id":13914,"date":"2018-11-21T08:27:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T08:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/faceinews.com\/?p=13914"},"modified":"2018-11-21T08:27:34","modified_gmt":"2018-11-21T08:27:34","slug":"cognizant-u-s-foundation-awards-2-million-grant-to-civic-halls-new-initiative-for-developing-new-york-citys-digital-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faceinews.com\/?p=13914","title":{"rendered":"Cognizant U.S. Foundation Awards $2 Million Grant to Civic Hall\u2019s New Initiative for Developing New York City\u2019s Digital Workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cognizant<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Funds Enable Research, Development and Delivery of Digital Skills Training to Bridge Gaps Between Job Seeker Skills and Employer Needs<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Faceinews<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW YORK CITY, Nov. 20, 2018<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The Cognizant U.S. Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and other technical education programs, today awarded a $2 million grant to New York City-based Civic Hall, a non-profit innovation center focused on advancing the use of technology for public good. The grant will fund a new digital skills training program for New York City non-profit agencies and residents.<\/p>\n

\n

Initially, the grant will fund research to benchmark best practices in technology workforce development and digital skills training \u2013 including insights on internships, employer engagement, metrics and data collection \u2013\u00a0 from around the U.S.\u00a0 The findings will provide a resource for workforce development agencies, and form a framework for a pilot program aligning employers and job seekers with the digital training programs available in the New York City area.<\/p>\n

\n

Civic Hall and the Cognizant U.S. Foundation will work with Bronx-based Per Scholas, a nationally-recognized non-profit technology training and professional development organization, to develop and launch the pilot program in early 2019.\u00a0 Results of the pilot will inform broader program offerings to be introduced in 2020, concurrent with the opening of the new 80,000 sq. ft. Civic Hall @ Union Square location which will include a 40,000 sq. ft. Digital Learning Center. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.<\/p>\n

\n

Cognizant U.S. Foundation board members and Civic Hall executives announced the partnership and $2 million grant today during an event at Civic Hall\u2019s Manhattan headquarters.\u00a0 Featured speakers included: Phil Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, the City of New York; Allen Shaheen, Board of Directors, Cognizant U.S. Foundation; Andrew Rasiej, Founder and CEO, Civic Hall; Jessica Quinn, Chief Operating Officer, Civic Hall; Plinio Ayala, President and CEO, Per Scholas; Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President; and James Patchett, President and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe City of New York is committed to ensuring all New Yorkers have access to getting the skills they need to compete in the 21st<\/sup>-century economy, and to helping make the technology industry more diverse and inclusive,\u201d said Phil Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, the City of New York. \u201cThis grant to Civic Hall by the Cognizant U.S. Foundation is an important and strategic step in ensuring that digital skills training programs keep up with the changing needs of employers as technology continues to advance at a rapid pace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOrganizations like Civic Hall are leading the way in ensuring New Yorkers are equipped with the digital skills they need to fill the many quality jobs available within the tech sector,\u201d said James Patchett, President and CEO,\u00a0New York City Economic Development Corporation. \u201cTheir proven track record in workforce development is the reason we chose them as the anchor for the Union Square Tech Training Center, which will connect New Yorkers of all backgrounds to modern skills training and job opportunities with emerging and established companies, all under one roof. We congratulate them on this grant and look forward to our continued partnership.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAs technology continues to advance at an exponential pace, it\u2019s critical that our country\u2019s workers are trained to meet this demand,\u201d said Andrew Rasiej, Founder and CEO, Civic Hall. \u201cThis Cognizant U.S. Foundation grant will not only support next-generation tech training for underserved New Yorkers, but will also link today\u2019s employers with the most diverse and best skilled workers of tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe Cognizant U.S. Foundation was created to improve and expand opportunities for American workers in the digital economy,\u201d said DK Sinha, President, Cognizant U.S. Foundation. \u201cBy supporting digital skilling initiatives, introducing individuals to technology careers, and providing new opportunities for underemployed professionals, we aim to prepare more individuals to prosper in digital economy careers. Civic Hall\u2019s broad local reach and infrastructure, coupled with Per Scholas\u2019 expertise in delivering technology curriculum, will have a significant impact on workforce preparedness in New York City and surrounding communities.\u00a0 We\u2019re pleased to be making this grant, supporting Civic Hall\u2019s initiative to narrow the tech skills divide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Learn More:<\/p>\n