Economic Freedom through the Dignity of Work
ActivateWork is a nonprofit recruiting, training, and coaching firm that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptional talent. Traditional hiring leaves valuable talent out. We help employers solve talent gaps with qualified candidates from underrepresented communities.
Our model is one of few proven to launch people to lasting economic freedom. Our proprietary behavioral screening process, rigorous skills training, and 12 months of on-the-job coaching prepare our learners to be valuable new hires.
Workforce Matters
By Helen Young Hayes, CEO/Founder ActivateWork
Education is essential for a high-performing society, strong economy, and personal fulfillment; it creates opportunity and equips individuals to live out their fullest potential and lead lives of purpose and dignity. But education is not an equitable system, nor are its rewards. The inequitable outcomes of education are apparent when you examine the levels of education earned by race and how that relates to their earning potential.
According to World Population Review 2021 Census data, nearly half of white Coloradans earn a bachelor’s degree. Yet, only 27% of African Americans do, and just 17% of our Hispanic population enters the workforce with a 4-year degree. Why is this important? Because 64% of the top jobs in Colorado require a post-secondary credential, effectively closing the door of opportunity for those citizens without such degrees who are relegated to low-wage positions more vulnerable to downsizing.
The pandemic brought this phenomenon to light as automation, AI, and remote work fast-tracked Colorado and the U.S. to a knowledge-based economy. Those without post-
secondary education were disproportionately affected and will continue to be.
To achieve a more inclusive economy, three things must happen. First, alternative and more equitable training and skills education methods must be provided for jobs requiring post-secondary degrees or credentials. Second, industry and employers must hire for skills and competencies and stop settling for imperfect proxies for talent. Lastly, higher education and short-term credentialing should work in parallel to expand skills attainment to those who have been historically excluded and work in tandem to ensure that short-term certifications can count towards college degrees.
Advancing equity by providing education and opportunity is at the core of what we do at ActivateWork. By doing so, our economy is strengthened, overlooked communities gain economic mobility, and industry builds the workforce they need.
“Advancing equity by providing education and opportunity is at the core of what we do.”
Stay Tuned
Over the next six months, we’ll be publishing a series of case studies demonstrating how apprenticeships have benefited Colorado’s tech community and sharing real ROI they’ve experienced.
ActivateWork and CU Denver Lead the Way with Stackable Credentials
by Kathryn Harris, President/COO ActivateWork
A critical component of a well functioning apprenticeship model is permeability between higher education and alternative training providers like ActivateWork. Permeability provides the ability to transition between education and training systems, reduces barriers, and increases opportunities for Colorado learners and earners. Freedom to move easily between different types of educational experiences – academic, work-based learning, boot camp, apprenticeship – creates multiple pathways to success through stackable credentials.
A partnership with CU Denver allows ActivateWork to provide these stackable experiences and credentials. Earlier this year, CU evaluated our Software Engineering boot camp and determined that learners completing a course certificate with ActivateWork would be awarded 12 credits through the university.
CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks says it best: “Stackable credentials give employees the tools they need to move along career pathways more quickly. Our partnership with ActivateWork will increase workforce development opportunities in Colorado.”
Our next step will be to evaluate and articulate our Junior Software Developer apprenticeship pathway for credit as well.
“As Colorado’s only public urban research university, it’s vital that we support learners in all stages of life as well as the employers that need talented workers to be effective in their fields,” said University of Colorado Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks.”
We applaud CU Denver for putting learners and earners first, building a stronger workforce ecosystem for Colorado, and meeting the needs of Colorado employers.
ActivateWork in the News
Grants Awarded
ActivateWork recently received two grants to expand its mission: a $1.1M grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to launch a tuition-free 15-week cybersecurity training program, as well as funding from the Urban Institute’s National WorkRise Competition to finance a study on cash stipends for learners.
Apprenticeships for Future of Work
Helen Young Hayes sat down with Alison Griffin from Forbes to discuss how the apprenticeship model can be the solution for the future of work. Read more.
More from Us
Helen has been spreading our mission at a variety of events recently, from the AEI FREE Summit and CIO Mastermind webinar to the Arvada Chamber of Commerce and Association of General Contractors.
Graduate Profile
Khalid Ibrahim – Security Fundamentals
A 2022 graduate of ActivateWork’s Security Fundamentals course with CompTIA A+ certification, Khalid Ibrahim has successfully launched his career in cybersecurity.
Originally from Eritrea, Khalid has always been passionate about technology, enjoying computers since he was a child. Before attending ActivateWork, he was pursuing an associate degree in cybersecurity from a community college, but he realized IT companies were looking for candidates with hands-on training. Although his college was covering the basics, there was very little hands-on learning to prepare him for a real work environment, and he felt the program was taking too long.
With this in mind, Khalid decided to expedite the process by enrolling in a bootcamp. He attended a career coaching event hosted at his school and was introduced to the cybersecurity courses offered by ActivateWork, powered by Per Scholas. He immediately applied for the Security Fundamentals program. Khalid says, “It was the right moment, everything clicked right away, and now, here I am!”
Khalid appreciates the way he learned new things every day in the ActivateWork program, especially how he could dive deep into specific cybersecurity topics he was interested in.
“The instructors were so great and so helpful guiding us,” he said. “And I had a great team of classmates who shared ideas and projects and helped each other out — it was definitely a team success!”
Khalid was also impressed by how much information was covered during the bootcamp. “The class was very eye-opening,” he said. “You try everything out. You get to experience and touch a little of everything. And you know how to work hard, so you are ready for a job when you graduate!”
Upon graduation, Khalid interviewed for several positions and within a few weeks, accepted his current role of Systems Technician, earning more than $50,000 annually. He’s not stopping there, though! His goals are to continue taking classes, earn more certifications, and eventually work in a cybersecurity operations center. “I’m so grateful to be part of this program,” Khalid said. “ActivateWork was a short-cut to my new career – taking a 3-month bootcamp rather than waiting four years to get a degree has changed my life.”
ActivateWork was a short-cut to my new career–taking a 3-month bootcamp rather than waiting four years to get a degree has changed my life.
A Bright Future
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Fifth highest concentration of tech workers nationally
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Tech workers make 98% more than the average private-sector workers
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Between 2022 and 2032, tech employment is projected to increase by 22%
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A new tech company is started every 72 hours
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There are currently 26,000 open cybersecurity jobs
Apprenticeship Spotlight
Many middle skill jobs are unfilled in Colorado, yet entry level pathways to those jobs don’t exist. To meet that need, we launched ActivateWork’s Apprenticeship Program. We serve learners with bootcamp style instruction and enable employers to leverage the power of apprenticeship to build a grass roots talent pipeline that continues learning with on-the-job training. Although just launched in 2022, our program is already receiving accolades and acclaim. We’re honored to be part of an evolving tech force in the state.
November was Apprenticeship Awareness Month in Colorado – a time when industry, educators, and learners bring awareness to the successes of apprenticeship programs. As part of the events, ActivateWork was thrilled to be honored at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Apprenticeship Awards. Our cybersecurity apprenticeship program was recognized as one of the top three out of 430+ registered programs in the state.
Also in November, we were excited to take part in the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint Culmination Event at the White House. The U.S. Department of Labor hosted the celebration, with speakers from the Office of the National Cyber Director, the Department of Labor, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Defense.
Finally, we’re proud to continue our partnership with MSU Denver, a National Security Agency (NSA) National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. As part of this ecosystem at MSU Denver, the MSU Cybersecurity Center helps students gain experience through a series of tactical exercises that include defender, raider, and ransomware scenarios. Through our partnership with The Cybersecurity Center, a select group of ActivateWork graduates from our Security Fundamentals course have the opportunity to attend a 5-day training we’ve developed with The Center as a capstone opportunity to put lessons learned into practice.
“Our apprentices bring diverse perspectives to the team, helping us improve the customer experience by developing better products.”
– Denis Branco, Senior Director of Software Engineering and DevOps, Ping Identity