NYCHA Residents Thriving in IT Careers After Tech51 Training

Matthew Cespedes was ready to make a career change when the Per Scholas tech training program caught his attention.   

The longtime resident of McKinley Houses in the South Bronx “always had a hands-on knack” for taking things apart and putting them back together, so learning how to fix computers seemed to be right up his alley.  

Resident Sam M’Backe, who grew up at Frederick Samuel Apartments in Manhattan, was looking to expand his knowledge of computer hardware and information technology basics, and he believed Per Scholas’ free training program offered a great resource.  

The decision to enroll in Per Scholas proved to be a wise move for both NYCHA residents, as they each landed an IT job after completing the virtual training program in 2021.  

“I feel that it’s a great first start for me and I’m able to learn with my first IT job,” said Mr. Cespedes, who works at the NYC Department of Education’s IT help desk. 

Per Scholas, a workforce organization, facilitates technology career training under the City’s Tech51 joint initiative, which also includes a separate program run by another workforce organization, Pursuit. Tech51, whose name is based on the 51 New York City Council districts, aims to connect NYCHA residents to training and job opportunities for tech industry careers such as IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and software development. 

A graduate of Pursuit’s program, Red Hook Houses resident Le’Shanda Miller is thankful for the support she received on her tech journey, which has led to a position as a technical account manager at Amazon.  

Four Years of Changing Lives at NYCHA 

Tech51 has partnered with NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) since 2017 to support residents who are interested in tech careers but have been unable to access training and job placement support. Tech51’s IT training is considered a qualification for hiring in lieu of a bachelor’s degree by various tech companies and other organizations that have signed the initiative’s pledge.     

The Per Scholas program includes multiple training tracks, providing tuition-free technology training and professional development. Its courses prepare participants for careers in IT, cybersecurity, and web development. Many of the trainings offer industry-recognized CompTIA or Cisco certifications, as well as professional development and job placement assistance. 

Pursuit’s program offers 12 months of software engineering training at no upfront cost to residents who have little to no coding experience. After the year of training, graduates receive 36 months of full employment and support services to ensure they thrive in their new careers.   

Nearly 270 NYCHA residents have completed the Tech51 training, with the majority of graduates getting placed in IT-related jobs.  

“Tech51 is an excellent entry point for NYCHA residents seeking info on various tech pathways,” said Josephine Melendez, Assistant Director for Adult Education and Training at REES. “This initiative gives both entry-level applicants, as well as those seeking to switch careers, the opportunity to hear firsthand from viable tech training partners. NYCHA REES has been at the forefront of this collaborative effort and looks forward to engaging more residents to consider this expanding industry.” 

Tech 51 by the Numbers  

Facilitator	Cohorts since 2017	Residents placed into IT jobs
Per Scholas	114	152
Pursuit	18	17

Training Puts Residents on the Path to Success 

Mr. Cespedes is among the NYCHA residents who are enjoying full-time employment after graduating from Tech51 training. He was previously working in construction but had lost his job during the Covid pandemic and believed it was a good time to switch to a more long-term opportunity.  

“The biggest thing was to make a career change and to be able to get into a field that is everlasting,” he recalled.  

He came across the free Per Scholas program through an online search and thought “they had a lot to offer,” from hands-on instruction about computer parts and IT basics to data analysis and coding for websites.   

“Doing IT support, you truly do learn everything,” Mr. Cespedes said. 

Pursuit alum Ms. Miller said she was inspired to pursue a tech career as a way to give back to her Brooklyn community and serve as a role model for local youth: “When I started my journey with Pursuit, one of my main driving factors was to get a job in tech so that I would be able to take what I learned and the opportunities I gained back to Red Hook as a positive influence, especially for the youth. This is still my goal today.” 

For resident Mr. M’Backe, who later earned a job as an IT representative at the Jericho Project social services organization, the tuition-free Per Scholas training he read about in the REES e-newsletter sounded too good to be true. He had previously studied computer science at Brooklyn College but decided to enroll in Tech51 to focus on the “bare-bones” of IT skills. The virtual classes taught him about computer hardware and software, operating systems, and networking – knowledge that he said became very useful for his position at the Jericho Project.  

“When I applied for the job I was very nervous, but when I looked back on what I learned at Per Scholas and with the work I’m doing now, I felt like I knew what to do,” said Mr. M’Backe, who hopes to pursue a master’s degree and eventually start his own IT business. 

Noting the contrast between his current and past jobs, Mr. Cespedes also credited Per Scholas with giving him the tools to succeed in an IT career.  

“I was going from plumbing to something that was on the other side of the spectrum,” he said. “[The training] made a difference not only for my job but in the career field itself.”   

For more information about Tech51, visit http://opportunitynycha.org/workforce-development/tech51/ or call the REES hotline at (718) 289-8100.