Texas Gets A New Tech Equity Program
By: Kasheef Wyzard and Michelle Ferguson
Let’s face it — we know the future is being written in code. Big Tech has shattered boundaries and made the previously impossible a new reality — but at the expense of Black and Brown talent. To be truly inclusive, our people must be the architects creating that future.
That’s where we come in, Dream Corps TECH, formerly #YesWeCode, is a national program cultivating future leaders and entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, creating a pipeline of diverse talent that will shift the culture of the tech sector. We’ve recently partnered with one of our favorite Austin-based startups, Favor Delivery, to make sure that Texans have opportunities and pathways to thrive in a technology-fueled economy. Favor has donated over $32,000 in scholarship awards to ensure Dream Corps TECH Members and Cohort Alumni, within the state of Texas, will be able to seek higher education opportunities with a focus on technology degrees (undergraduate and/or graduate) as well as professionals seeking professional certifications as a full-time employee.
In addition to scholarship programs, Dream Corps TECH’s coveted Corporate Cohort Training Program has established long term, holistic relationships between its members and participating corporate partners like infor, Optum/UnitedHealth Group, Target, and more. We forge an alternative pathway into tech for young adults who may not have traditional computer science training, adults seeking career changes (especially those considering workforce trends due to the impact of technology), and formerly incarcerated adults. Through these partnerships, Dream Corps TECH has provided technical and soft skills training to untapped talent from underrepresented communities to secure guaranteed full-time employment in tech-related fields. To date, Dream Corps TECH has placed 75 students, including partnerships with multiple Fortune 50 companies!
Dream Corps TECH believes that together we can lead our country to reach its fullest potential. We believe that freedom and dignity for all communities are possible, where everyone has their basic needs met and we are free and able to pursue their dreams.
Interested in getting involved? Share Dream Corp TECH with your employer as an opportunity to invest in surrounding underserved communities!
