Pictured Above TSC Dallas Inaugural Class and Staff 
 

NPower’s, Technology Service Corps (TSC), opened its first branch classroom in Dallas this spring to serve military veterans. With an estimated 300,000 service members including Guard and Reserves leaving  the military each year over the next 5 years, NPower is committed to building brighter futures and providing opportunities for the Dallas military veterans community. The program is part of an expansion program supported by National Corporate Underwriters, Citi, New York Life Insurance and PepsiCo as well as other NPower sponsors including AmerisourceBergen, Deloitte, Cisco, HP, SAP and Symantec.

The Dallas facility officially opened with an inaugural class of 31 students. Students will participate in an extensive 22-week program that includes detailed classroom work, professional mentoring, apprenticeship and job placement support. 

Pictured Above TSC Dallas Inaugural Class Orientation

TSC’s national expansion comes after almost a decade of providing underserved young adults with IT training and career support, primarily through its Brooklyn facility.  In 2012, TSC opened a second program location in Harlem. Dallas is TSC’s third site and currently the only location focused on, IT training, professional skills, mentoring, apprenticeships and job placement for military veterans. TSC will continue to focus on national expansion and plans are underway to launch a 4th TSC site in 2014 to serve veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding communities.

“Our Dallas expansion will undoubtedly make a significant impact in the lives of our nation’s service men and women providing them with the opportunity to build brighter futures through careers in IT. We are truly thankful to all of our sponsors who have demonstrated a strong commitment of support to the growth and expansion of NPower’s programs and services,” said NPower’s CEO, Stephanie Cuskley.


Pictured above TSC Dallas Classroom located at Dallas Community College District 

NPower is thrilled to partner with the Dallas County Community College District (DCCD) to deliver this program. The TSC program is free to qualified students. Successful applicants must be individuals serving in the military or honorably discharged (ages 21-40).   Graduates are required to successfully complete all the course work, including a seven week apprenticeship.

39 years ago National Volunteer Week began as a White House initiative to recognize and celebrate the efforts of volunteers.As we kick off this year’s celebrations, we here at NPower, would like to thank you for your commitment and support of our programs. You’ve played a vital role in our efforts, driving social good and helping nonprofits, schools, and individuals reach their highest potential.

Through Technology Service Corps you’ve taught classes, coached and inspired over 600 young adults to build brighter futures through careers in IT. And this year you’ve helped NPower expand nationally and launch our first veterans-focused effort in Dallas.

Through The Community Corps you’ve provided almost 30,000 hours of service and delivered almost $4.5mm of social value to nonprofits, schools and individuals.  You’ve mentored young women and middle school girls, encouraging them to pursue careers in technology.  You’ve setup computer labs and manned a help desk to answer tech questions from teachers and children.  And you’ve created technology roadmaps to help nonprofits do more with technology and increase their focus on outreach and community impact.

Here at NPower you’ve served as advisors, attended events, read our blog, and helped spread our message and mission about bringing the tech community together for social good.

We’re so proud of the work we’ve accomplished together and we thank you deeply for sharing your time and skills.  Your efforts make a difference and make the world a better place through the power of technology.
 

Sincerely,

Stephanie Cuskley

THIS WEEK

NPower Women’s Leadership Breakfast Was A Great Success!


NPower Women’s Council Members, Speakers and Attendees

On April 3rd in New York City, NPower Women’s Council hosted their first signature event. The audience and speakers represented all sectors of technology:  financial services, mobile, startups and young women just embarking on their careers in technology. “New York City is poised to be the next global tech hub and NPower is in a great position to help the tech community expand its reach and be part of the solution to close the tech gender gap” said Gail Fierstein, NPower Women’s Council Co-Chair and Former Managing Director, Goldman Sachs. 

Gail Fierstein, NPower Women’s Council Co-Chair, Former Managing Director,
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

The breakfast was a great first step in bringing the broader tech community together.  A dynamic set of speakers provided powerful messages of encouragement and inspiration and addressed an audience of over 140 women to keep pursuing their dreams and to help other women do the same.

Keynote Deborah Estrin, Professor of Computer Science, CornellTech NYC and co-Founder Openhealth.org

Laura Sherbin, Executive Vice President  from the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) Research kicked off the morning event with a presentation of “The Athena Factor” a research project that examines the career paths of women with advanced degrees in science, engineering and technology. 

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 Laura Sherbin, Executive Vice President, Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) Research

The Keynote address was presented by technologist and pioneer Deborah Estrin. The final portion of the program introduced the audience to NCWIT’s Sit with Me campaign. Panelists’ shared their career journey while sitting in the symbolic red chair. The red chair recognizes the important role women play in creating future technology. Discussions sparked a call to action for women at all levels of their careers to become champions and advocates for the rising generation of women technologists.
 

     Sit With Me Panelists: Sue Ericksen, NPower Women’s Council Co-Chair, CIO, New York Life Insurance Company, Kelly Hoey, Founder Women Innovate Mobile ,  Avis Yates Rivers, President & CEO, Technology Concepts Groups International, LLC,  NCWIT Board Member (Moderator), Mary Fernandez, AVP Software and Information Systems Research, AT&T Labs Research

  
NPower Women’s Breakfast Attendees

NPower Women’s Council would like to thank event partners NCWIT, Center for Talent Innovation, Cornell NYCTech and venue host JPMorgan Chase.  

Technology is consistently cited as the #1 functional challenge for nonprofits and 88% of nonprofits surveyed say they have inadequate tech support, said Miriam Young, Nonprofit Outreach and Engagement Manager for NPower. NPower is a national non-profit that strives to bring the tech community together for social good. She was addressing an audience of over 70 leaders representing a diverse mix of forty 501(c)3 charities in New Jersey and New York.

This first-time event was jointly sponsored by NPower and the New Jersey Society for Information Management (NJ SIM) Foundation, and was hosted by TD Ameritrade at their Jersey City office.

Michael Szot, NJ SIM Foundation President, described the Foundation’s mission as one providing financial assistance for technology needs to other non-profit organizations as well as scholarships for students in IT programs. Over $400,000 has been granted to 18 charities since 2009. The charities include national organizations such as Susan G. Komen and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as well as local charities including the Somerset Hills Learning Institute and the Market Street Mission in Morristown, NJ.

Miriam Young described how NPower mobilizes hundreds of skilled tech volunteers to support nonprofits and schools through its program, The Community Corps.

One of the greatest benefits of the event was the opportunity for participants to network and identify shared challenges and good practices. It became clear that there are synergies to be leveraged, e.g., combining NJ SIM Foundation grants with NPower consulting services with refurbished computer equipment to provide complete and affordable solutions for charities. There was enthusiastic support for continuing such events on, perhaps, a quarterly basis.

To find out more about NPower, visit www.npower.org. Information about NJ SIM Foundation is at simnj.org/NJ-SIM-Foundation, and TD Ameritrade is at www.tdameritrade.com.

Join the tech community as we provide the latest research, insights and inspiration for women technology executives and college students.

April 3, 2013 8:00 - 10:30am
JPMorgan Chase
270 Park Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY

Keynote Speaker, Deborah Estrin

Professor of Computer Science, Cornell Tech NYC and co-Founder Openhealth.org

“The Athena Factor”

Research presentation from the Center for Talent Innovation

Red Chair panel discussion moderated by NCWIT

(National Center for Women & Information Technology)

Panelists:

Mary Fernandez, AVP Software and Information Systems Research
AT&T Labs Research

Susan Ericksen, CIO
New York Life Insurance

Kelly Hoey, Connector & Catalyst
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Women Innovate Mobile

Moderator
Avis Yates Rivers, President & CEO
Technology Concepts Group International, LLC

Networking with Senior Executives

Opportunity to network and share ideas over breakfast. 


RSVP 
Events@NPower.org

                                 WITH THE SUPPORT OF 

  
Meet Gail Fierstein, NPower Women’s Council co-chair and former Managing Director, Goldman Sachs. As co-chair of the Women’s Council Gail is working closely with tech leaders to increase   opportunities for young women. 

 NPower Blog: Why do you think there is such a shortage of women in the technology field?

There isn’t critical mass yet in the education system, and therefore the pipeline, compared to other fields.  Women make up about 30% of computer science degrees (but 60% of all degrees) and this is trending down. 

Many companies are doing better hiring more women out of school, but then have difficulty retaining them.  Approximately 56% of women will leave the workforce midway through their careers.  A perfect storm of feelings of isolation, extreme jobs that put pressure on family and being guided to less technical career paths all contribute to the shortage of female talent in the technology field. 

NPower Blog:Why did you get involved with NPower’s Women’s Council? 

I loved the idea of creating an army of tech volunteers for social good.  I was looking to find an organization that I could really get involved in.  NPower had all the things I was looking for: technology and innovation driven, community-based and focused on developing people.

NPower Blog: How can we get more young women interested in technology, either as a career or as a way to more successfully achieve their own goals? 

Education and awareness needs to start at an early age. First, girls need to see past the social stigmas and stereotypes - not wanting to be the only girl in advanced math and tech is for ‘geeks’ only – just to name a couple.  Young women need to be encouraged to study STEM, not just the softer, relationship or creative skills.  Second, connecting successful women in technology with girls and young women will help create a community of role models that can talk about and guide them towards careers in technology. 

NPower Blog:How can the tech community help women succeed? 

Maximizing the opportunities for women in technology at all ages is good for business because it brings a diversity of thought that drives innovation.  At a more practical level, educated women will soon make up the majority of the workforce and with the demand for skilled technologists increasing it becomes a necessity.

Tech leaders can help raise awareness and be part of the education process – starting with girls and academics. Senior leaders can help create momentum and focus in their own organizations by identifying and supporting role models, identifying strong tech talent and ensuring these women stay on the technical track.

NPower Blog:What is the responsibility of the tech community around volunteerism?

Technology is core to every single business and embedded into our daily lives. It is no longer just a competitive advantage but a basic foundation in every organization – in much the same way as accounting.  The tech community can provide these basic tech needs to organizations that don’t have their own resources or capabilities.   Providing technical capability can be a game changer for many. Volunteers from the tech community are needed as role models, mentors, coaches to support and inspire young girls to pursue careers in technology. 

I also think the idea of social responsibility resonates with technologists.  We see how technology brings people together to improve our quality of life. 

The Community Corps provides nonprofits and schools with access to thousands of skilled tech volunteers. Use your tech skills to benefit this week’s cause and help bring the tech community together for social good!

Women & Technology 

In partnership with NYC STEPS (New York City Supported Training and Employment Preparation Services), experienced professionals are needed to mentor women on developing technical, professional, and personal skills like networking, interviewing skills, and professional etiquette.

NYC STEPS



NYC STEPS is a joint effort of the New York City’s Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence and the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT), NYC STEPS is a 12-week program that seeks to empower victims of domestic abuse by providing them with the skills to become employable in the workforce, and financially independent.NYC STEPS participants enroll in computer and technology courses, learning how to send e-mails and use software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. They also complete job-training classes that assist them on things like résumé-building, public speaking and how to ace a job interview

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Here is an inspiring story regarding the program, click here. The A.V.O.N Mentoring Program will give survivors of domestic abuse the basic technology skills and professional skills needed to find a job.

4 hours a month (March thru August)  which includes an in person orientation and 2 contacts a month. Sign up on NYC Steps Mentor by signing up here.  

  THIS WEEK

NPower is bringing the women’s tech community together for social good and is excited to present our  new initiatives to engage young women in technology and ensure their long-term success as tech professionals.

  Inspire a middle school girl to dream of a career in technology. NPower is partnering with the Girl Scouts of Greater New York to help change the face of technology for young girls through our Middle School Speaker Series and “Day of Shadow” events.

  Coach a young woman to continue on the path to a tech career. NPower’s women’s coaching program is a 3 month mentorship program designed to increase the presence of women in technology by helping Technology Service Corps students transition from the classroom to the workplace.

  Volunteer your tech expertise with an organization focused on women’s issues. Projects are powered by The Community Corps, an NPower program, that mobilizes professionals from the tech community to help nonprofits and schools with program delivery or internal tech needs so they can achieve their mission.

 Click Here To View Our Upcoming Event & NPower Women’s Council

TECH COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR
NPOWER JAZZ 2013

On Monday March 4th NPower hosted our annual signature event, NPower Jazz 2013, a benefit that brings the tech community together to support NPower’s mission to help communities, families and individuals through the power of technology.

Our celebratory evening kicked off with a cocktail reception featuring St. Louis jazz vocalist Denise Thimes. During the evening we heard remarks fromEvent Chair Dave Steward, Chairman & CEO of World Wide Technology, Inc. an NPower National Corporate Underwriter and platinum sponsor of NPower Jazz 2013, Mukesh Mehta, Managing Director, TD Ameritrade and NPower CEO, Stephanie Cuskley. 

The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Time Warner Center, New York City provided one of New York City’s greatest backdrops - Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. Over two hundred guests were treated to a world-class concert featuring the renowned Kenny Barron Trio and Grammy award winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard.  “NPower Jazz 2013 was our best jazz event yet, on every level - music, attendance, energy.  The opportunity to bring the tech community and world-class musicians together for social good is truly phenomenal” noted Stephanie Cuskley, NPower’s CEO.

A warm thank you to our lead sponsor Word Wide Technology, Inc., and co sponsors, TD Ameritrade, Ab Initio, CA Technologies.  We would like to give a special thanks to all the musicians who gave their time and talent in support of NPower’s programs.

A Special Thanks to our Event Sponsors

The Community Corps provides nonprofits and schools with access to thousands of skilled tech volunteers. Use your tech skills to benefit this week’s cause and help bring the tech community together for social good!

Youth & Education

You can help 1 of 5 New York City schools improve its technology by doing a school technology assessment and creating a school technology plan!  Volunteers can work individually or in teams to do an assessment of the school’s current tech infrastructure and then create a tech roadmap based on the school’s future goals. 

 

PENCIL 



Founded  in 1995, PENCIL is a nonprofit that inspires innovation and improves student achievement by partnering business leaders with public schools.PENCIL’s programs address the issues challenging teachers, students, families, and communities in public schools today. 

2-5 hours depending on assessment. Volunteers will work with their school throughout March and April and will be required to do at least 1 site visit to assess the schools’ technology infrastructure.  The visit can take place after hours or on the weekend.  The rest of the work can be done via conference call and email.

Sign up by Monday, March 4th as a team or individual by emailing Miriam.Young@npower.org and indicate if you have a preference for a school in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx. 
You’ll have an introductory call with Miriam before getting started!