AT&T Expanding Commitment to Economic Opportunity in Black and Underserved Communities
AT&T Offers Nearly 2,300 Scholarships to Online Academies
Total commitment in 2020 nearing $11.5 million
AT&T is offering nearly 2,300 scholarships to online learning academies Udacity and Coursera to further empower underserved communities with educational opportunities needed for in-demand jobs in today’s workforce.
The scholarships are valued at about $1.5 million1 and will be distributed through employee-led AT&T BelievesSM efforts focused on social equality across the U.S., starting in Dallas, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Francisco. They’ll also be shared with students through long-time AT&T learning collaborators, including Per Scholas.
“We do more than just live and work in neighborhoods – we also believe in them,” said Hardmon Williams, vice president of AT&T Believes and Community Engagement. “This initiative demonstrates our commitment to driving social equality in underserved communities by addressing an educational opportunity that provides families a path to economic stability.”
In addition to sharing online scholarships through Per Scholas, AT&T today is announcing a $250,000 contribution to support the organization’s development of software engineering and cybersecurity instruction, certification and career coaching for aspiring tech professionals, particularly from communities of color. Part of Per Scholas’ goal is to improve access to sustainable careers and increase diversity in the tech workforce.
AT&T has now committed nearly $11.5 million in 2020 to create economic opportunities and foster upward mobility for Black and underserved communities. Learn more about our earlier commitments here.
Raising Awareness and Inspiration
In 2020, we’re also highlighting individuals working hard to succeed despite their challenges and raising awareness of what’s possible to inspire and encourage others. Since 2011, AT&T has been working with Per Scholas to help individuals build the skills they need for successful careers in technology.
Shaniece Crumpler, 27, graduated from Codebridge, a Per Scholas program funded by AT&T, and credits her experience with helping her learn how to adapt to change and grow into the technologist she always wanted to be.
Meanwhile, Fabianna Rodriguez Mercado, who benefited from AT&T’s investment in Per Scholas’ training for young adults, says that her experience with Per Scholas gave her the space she needed to learn and a support system to thrive.
AT&T is sponsoring Per Scholas’ 2020 Diverse by Design series titled “Rebuilding the American Technology Workforce,” which includes events 10/9 and 10/16. RSVP and join the conversation here.
1 About $1.1 million funded by AT&T and about $400,000 by Udacity
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