[Press Release] ActivateWork Receives Grant from Wells Fargo to Expand Workforce Development Programs in Colorado
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tassi Keith, Keeton PR, tassi@KeetonPR.com, 308-539-1883
DENVER, COLO. — Thurs., November 6, 2025 — ActivateWork, a nonprofit workforce development organization committed to creating pathways to upward mobility through tech careers, is proud to announce it has received a $225,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support its mission, helping families and communities thrive by advancing economic opportunity in Colorado.
This funding is part of Wells Fargo’s broader $4.7 million national commitment to workforce development and will help ActivateWork continue to provide tuition-free training, career coaching, and job placement services to individuals seeking economic mobility.
“We are honored to be selected by Wells Fargo as a partner in this important work,” said Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO of ActivateWork. “This grant will allow us to expand our impact and help more Coloradans launch meaningful careers in high-demand fields like IT support, cybersecurity, and data analytics.”
ActivateWork’s programs are designed to close the opportunity gap by connecting talented individuals from often-overlooked talent pools with employers seeking highly skilled candidates. The organization’s unique model combines technical training, professional skills coaching, and employer partnerships to ensure long-term success for both learners and hiring companies.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support ActivateWork’s program to provide skills training to advance economic mobility for Coloradans,” said Kelly Littrell, VP, Philanthropy & Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “Their work aligns with our commitment to building thriving communities with financially resilient families, vibrant small businesses, and places to call home.””
A celebration event featuring a ceremonial “big check” presentation was held in Denver, with representatives from ActivateWork and Wells Fargo in attendance.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms high-potential individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers.
For more information, visit www.activatework.org. To donate your time, voice, or resources to support workforce development, visit activatework.org/support.
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[ColoradoBiz] Tech Apprenticeships Create Career Paths Beyond College
ActivateWork’s Founder and CEO, Helen Young Hayes, was interviewed for an article by ColoradoBiz about how tech apprenticeships in high-demand fields like cybersecurity and data analytics are creating a competitive edge for employers seeking to build a long-term pipeline of skilled, loyal team members, while also helping to close the education gap and drive economic mobility for Coloradans. Read the original article here.
Tech apprenticeships create career paths beyond college
By Margaret Jackson | August 20, 2025
When you hear the word “apprenticeship,” you might think of traditional trades like plumbing or electrical work. However, a new wave of apprenticeships is transforming the white-collar world, creating a competitive edge for both employers and employees in high-demand fields like cybersecurity and data analytics.
In Brief:
- New apprenticeships emerging in tech fields like cybersecurity
- Employers save up to 35% with on-the-job training programs
- Colorado tax credits and federal grants support apprenticeships
- Workers see wages double after tuition-free bootcamps
The shift is not just an alternative to college; it’s a strategic move to build a skilled, loyal workforce.
“It’s an on-the-job learning experience paid for by your employer,” said Helen Hayes, founder and CEO of ActivateWork, which works with companies like Bank of America to find talented employees who can be trained to their specifications.
“Apprenticeship is a great way for learners and adult workers to gain the education and credentials they need to gain a lucrative job.”
For years, companies hesitated to create apprenticeship programs because they lacked the resources and infrastructure. Now, nonprofit organizations like ActivateWork are stepping in as qualified intermediaries to provide prebuilt, turnkey programs, taking the burden off companies and helping them train future employees with the exact skills they need.
“The norm is to steal talent from neighbors, which is a short-term strategy,” Hayes said. “It’s not a long-term, strategic way to invest in your workforce.”
Apprenticeships offer a strong return on investment for companies. Employers who partner with ActivateWork report saving 30% to 35% compared to hiring experienced talent, largely because they can train employees on their specific technology stack from Day One. The targeted training and on-the-job experience lead to a 94% retention rate, significantly reducing turnover costs.
Colorado is also incentivizing the shift. A state tax credit allows employers to receive up to $12,600 per apprentice per year for up to 10 apprentices in high-tech occupations. ActivateWork also won a federal grant that allows it to pass on $8,000 in direct incentives per apprentice.
For workers, tech apprenticeships offer an alternative to the traditional four-year college path. Unlike internships, which are often short-term and sometimes unpaid, a registered apprenticeship is a long-term, paid on-the-job learning experience that leads to a nationally recognized credential.
ActivateWork’s program is a good example. After a four-month, tuition-free bootcamp, participants see their pre-training wages of around $21,000 more than double to an average of $47,000 in their first job. From there, continuous professional development helps them advance to the $65,000 to $70,000, with many breaking the six-figure market and becoming first-time homeowners.
“You don’t need a college degree for a majority of IT jobs,” Hayes said, highlighting that many high school graduates who don’t pursue higher education can find a direct path to a lucrative career. By providing industry credentials and certifications, apprenticeships help close the education gap and drive economic mobility for Coloradans.
ActivateWork’s apprenticeship program teaches more than technical skills. It also teaches the soft skills, such as time management, professional communication, critical thinking and problem solving, needed to succeed in the workforce.
“While tech skills and certifications might get you the job, it’s your professional skills that will help you keep the job and advance in your career,” Hayes said.
[University Business] High Tech CTE: How Higher Ed Can Capitalize On an Emerging Market
ActivateWork’s Founder and CEO, Helen Young Hayes, was interviewed for an article by University Business about how career and technical education (CTE)—and apprenticeships, in particular—are evolving to equip workers with cybersecurity, software development, and IT skills traditionally associated with degree-granting institutions. Read the original article here.
High tech CTE: How higher ed can capitalize on an emerging market
By: Alcino Donadel
Published August 5, 2025, by University Business
Career and technical education—and apprenticeships, in particular—are evolving to equip workers with cybersecurity, software development and IT skills traditionally associated with degree-granting institutions.
Institutions that partner with non-degree programs can help more young people succeed in their first jobs and eventually upskill as their careers progress, says Helen Young Hayes, founder and CEO of ActivateWork.
ActivateWork is a Denver-based nonprofit that provides young, underresourced Coloradans with training in emerging digital professions during today’s tight entry-level job market.
“More entry-level jobs that we see today require three years of work experience, so how are our graduates going to get that?” she asks.
“Apprenticeship programs are the way we must come together to adapt and close the experience gap facing many of our learners, whether they come from higher education, four-year degree programs, two-year degree programs or even bootcamps like ours.”
Like other emerging education providers catering to young adults frustrated with the cost and pace of traditional degree-granting institutions, ActivateWork offers one-on-one coaching to help learners gain industry-aligned skills.
Learners who decide to enroll in ActivateWork’s IT apprenticeship programs are offered yearlong on-the-job training while earning up to $53,000, according to Hayes.
“The apprentice is transformed from an entry-level IT help desk worker to a Tier 1 cyber analyst. They are paid by their employer to learn the skills that an employer needs and wants.”
Such paid apprenticeship programs can be crucial socioeconomic vehicles for underresourced Americans balancing day-to-day responsibilities. Nationwide, more than half of all college students struggled to access basic needs in 2023 and 2024. Those who reported resource insecurity were also more likely to experience anxiety and depression, and consider stopping out.
Apprenticeships: A launchpad to degrees?
A 2025 report from the Colorado Wage Outcomes Results Coalition found that ActivateWork learners saw their total adjusted earnings increase by more than 112% on average within two years of enrolling.
Similarly, 93% of workers who completed a Registered Apprenticeship program authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor retained employment and earned an average annual salary of $77,000, according to federal data.
While learners may initially be attracted to the wages that short-term CTE and apprenticeship programs can provide, higher education institutions can eventually benefit from a highly trained workforce interested in pursuing advanced degrees later in life, Hayes says.
“We can bring our higher ed partners individuals who have already experienced workforce success and who otherwise might have never considered going to college.”
Certificates and other short-term credentials offer better returns than a bachelor’s degree in the first decade, but earnings from the latter grow exponentially 15 years after enrollment, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.
Bachelor’s degrees also lead to more professional opportunities, Hayes says.
“What we found in technology is that some employers still prefer candidates with college degrees,” Hayes says. “Students who want to advance from being a software developer to a department head might benefit from a business degree, which casts a broader net of skills than a technology credential.”
Creative pathways from workforce to higher ed
Colleges and universities can make higher education more accessible to working Americans in three ways:
- Articulation agreements: Articulation agreements between colleges and CTE providers open the door for credit transfers and stackable credentialing. For example, the University of Colorado awards 12 credits to applicants who have previously completed an ActivateWork software development bootcamp.
- Credit for prior learning: This framework lets colleges grant credit to applicants for previous work experience or military training. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers believes credit for prior learning can expand college access, improve retention and increase graduation rates.
- Encourage employer buy-in: Higher education leaders must work with state leaders to incentivize employers to build apprenticeship pathways that eventually benefit higher education, Hayes says. Colorado announced in January that it will reward employers who claim up to 10 apprentices per year with up to $126,000 in tax credits.
“Everyone will need some form of a postsecondary degree or certificate to be really self-sufficient and thriving in the future of work,” Hayes concludes.
Alcino Donadel is a UB staff writer and first-generation journalism graduate from the University of Florida. He has triple citizenship from the U.S., Ecuador and Brazil.
Opportunity to Impact: The Vision Behind Our New Website & Brand Messaging
At ActivateWork, we believe that meaningful careers can transform lives—and that talent is everywhere, even if opportunity isn’t. That belief has guided our work since day one. Today, we’re proud to unveil a refreshed website that not only improves how we serve job seekers and employers, but also reflects the evolution of our mission, vision, and values.
Over the past several months, our team has taken a thoughtful look at how we talk about our work. We’ve refined our core messaging to better capture who we are, what we stand for, and where we’re going. You’ll see that come to life across our new site.
What’s new:
- A new mission that emphasizes creating paths to economic mobility through learner-centered, employer-driven tech training and collaborative partnerships with employers.
- A bold vision that centers on a world where potential is realized and a workforce where everyone has the opportunity to make an impact, regardless of background.
- Five clear values that shape our approach to learner success, employer partnerships, and team culture.
- A new tagline: Opportunity to Impact. It reflects the dual nature of our work—creating opportunities for individuals and helping employers build teams that drive meaningful results.
Explore the New Website
We’re excited for this next chapter—and grateful to our partners, supporters, and community for walking alongside us as we work toward a more agile, vibrant, and future-ready workforce.
👉 Explore our new website
👉 Read more about our mission and values
[Work/Shift] Op-Ed: Degrees of 'Abundance': A Postsecondary Path Forward Showcased in Colorado
This op-ed was written by Roger Low, CEO of Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI), and Landon Mascareñaz, chair of Colorado’s community college system and Executive Advisor to ActivateWork’s Tech Talent Partnership. The article originally appeared in The Job by Work/Shift, a newsletter about the connections between education and work; read the original article here.
A new book has sparked debate about America’s future. “Abundance,” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, argues for “a liberalism that builds.” This case for “supply-side progressivism”— more homes, clean energy, and transit to lower costs and improve outcomes for middle-class Americans—contrasts with the zero-sum worldview of Trumpism, which scapegoats immigrants, demonizes decarbonization, and pushes austerity and tariffs.
As two Coloradans working to reform postsecondary education and workforce systems, we believe the “Abundance” lens also illuminates what’s broken in American higher education—and how we can fix it. For context, one of us, Landon Mascareñaz, chairs Colorado’s community college system, leading innovation efforts in our state. The other, Roger Low, founded and leads a nonprofit advocating for reforms to our higher education and workforce systems to measurably improve economic outcomes.
Just as we face a housing shortage, we also face a shortage of effective, accessible, and affordable pathways to economic mobility. While the traditional four-year degree path is beneficial for some students, we need more good options for America’s youth and young adults. Both of us believe updating our postsecondary system to reflect the real needs of today’s learners and labor market is overdue—and “abundance thinking” points the way.
As in the housing, transit, and clean energy sectors, in the face of an unacceptable status quo, we have to invest in more abundant postsecondary education options for more Americans, in order to rapidly build and scale an adaptive system that meets the evolving demands of our modern workforce.
America’s system centers on the bachelor’s degree, yet fails too many students. Only 60% of high schoolers enroll in college soon after graduation, and only 60% of those who do enroll complete a degree or credential within eight years. That means just one third of recent high school graduates earn a postsecondary credential—mostly bachelor’s degrees—and of those four-year graduates, nearly half hold a job a decade later that doesn’t actually necessitate a bachelor’s. While most bachelor’s degree-holders will out-earn those with only a high school diploma, some will not, and others will not out-earn them by enough to outrun crushing (and, too often, growing) student debt. These filters, stacked together, create a funnel-shaped system that only works for one in four students. Those odds get markedly worse for Black, Latino, and low-income learners.
At the same time, America faces a massive “middle skills” gap. One third to one half of jobs require education beyond high school but less than a four-year degree, yet only 13% of our workforce holds those credentials. Our education and training systems are misaligned with economic reality.
A clear majority of Americans now doubt the value of a degree, with skepticism highest among younger adults. The Trump administration has chosen to bully and threaten colleges. That’s abhorrent. The answer, however, is not simply to pour more money into the current model. Instead, we need a supply-side mindset: build more pathways that actually work for more students.
Countries like Switzerland and Germany offer instructive models. Their “dual, permeable” systems combine academic education with career and technical pathways that incorporate work-based learning, connect to real labor market demand—and allow students to move between them. While such systems aren’t copy-paste solutions, research and common sense suggest the U.S. can do far better.
We need to build a wider, more inclusive array of pathways—especially those that equip students with in-demand skills and lead to good jobs without requiring a four-year degree.
Colorado is beginning to show what’s possible when we invest in workforce abundance. Gov. Polis’s $95M Opportunity Now initiative is scaling partnerships between training providers and employers. This includes programs like ActivateWork, a tuition-free IT bootcamp based on the nationally-proven Per Scholas model, shown by rigorous evaluations to meaningfully increase wages. It also funded efforts in rural communities, like Emergent Campus, which tap state and national investment to generate opportunities for upskilling and remote-work in rural counties in southern Colorado.
Meanwhile, Prosperity Denver Fund, a Denver sales tax-funded initiative, is expanding beyond college scholarships to reimburse short-term training programs with strong outcomes—offering higher reimbursement rates for stronger evidence of impact. Earlier this year, Colorado also partnered with Arnold Ventures to invest $20M in evidence-based higher education and workforce programs proven to lead to good jobs.
Our community colleges are evolving too. Several are implementing Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP), proven to increase degree completion by 15 percentage points or more, and subsequently increase wages. Colorado’s expanding dual and concurrent enrollment initiatives—allowing students to earn college credit or begin pursuing postsecondary tracks in high school—are helping blur outdated lines between high school, college, and career.
These steps are promising—but we need a wider range of effective postsecondary models. To get there, we need more transparency about which ones deliver. We also need “outcomes abundance.” We must make accurate and user-friendly data about cost, earnings, and return on investment easily available for every college and short-term training pathway in a region. Learners—from high school seniors to working parents—must be able to compare options on a level playing field. Policymakers and funders need outcomes data to direct dollars to what works.
The Colorado Community College System’s recent strategic plan makes economic mobility our north star, and commits to generating—and crucially, measuring—living wages for many more of our students. But we’re not done. Making comprehensive, apples-to-apples outcome data ubiquitous remains critical.
Rather than scapegoating colleges or clinging to the status quo, we should seize this moment to unlock public dollars and public data to expand opportunity for all. Colorado has a chance to lead—and help shape a national movement—if we commit to postsecondary abundance.
Roger Low is the CEO & Founder of the Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI), a nonprofit that advocates for postsecondary reforms to measurably improve learner outcomes. He is also a Lakewood City Councilman.
Landon Mascareñaz is the chair of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, and is the founding Executive Director of Courageous Colorado, working to convene, connect, and catalyze local democracy redesign. He is also an educator and writer.
[Press Release] ActivateWork Awarded Contract for Quantum Workforce Development
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tassi Keith, Keeton PR, tassi@KeetonPR.com, 308-539-1883
DENVER, COLO. — Thurs., March 13, 2025 — ActivateWork, a leading workforce development organization dedicated to connecting job seekers with high-quality training, career coaching, and employer partnerships, announced today that it has been awarded the contract to develop a comprehensive strategy for a Flexible Talent Pathways Ecosystem aimed at accelerating quantum innovation across the Rocky Mountain West. This initiative will fast-track talent into the quantum and quantum-enabling workforce by offering upskilling and reskilling opportunities to graduating high school seniors, current workforce employees, and learners from both two-year and four-year degree programs.
With quantum poised to revolutionize industries, the need for a highly skilled workforce has never been greater. Currently in this industry, there are three job postings for every one qualified candidate. ActivateWork’s strategy will focus on fostering accessibility and career readiness by equipping learners with the technical and soft skills necessary to thrive in quantum-related fields. Through close collaboration with industry partners, academic institutions, and workforce organizations, ActivateWork will create a sustainable talent pipeline that bridges education with industry demand.
“We are thrilled to have been selected for this vital initiative,” said Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO of ActivateWork. “By developing sustainable employment pathways that empower individuals and strengthen communities, we will ensure that opportunity seekers have access to the training and resources to succeed in the rapidly evolving quantum computing sector.”
“Core to Elevate Quantum’s mission to accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies is ensuring that we have the trained and credentialed workforce necessary to fill the new jobs that will be needed to make this mission a reality,” said Jessi Olsen, COO of Elevate Quantum. “This talent pathways work is crucial to ensuring that our workforce development strategy is in lockstep with industry needs. Through this work, we hope to make new quantum jobs accessible to all workers in the Mountain West.”
ActivateWork will collaborate with employers, educators, and community organizations to implement strategic workforce solutions that fill talent needs and enhance career outcomes. By leveraging data-driven approaches and industry partnerships, the strategy will bridge skill gaps, improve career outcomes, and ensure access to high-quality employment opportunities. ActivateWork plans to leverage the US Chamber of Commerce’s Talent Pipeline Management framework, as well as partner with Zal.ai’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled platform, to create scalable pathways.
The project will be managed by Elevate Quantum, an EDA-funded Tech Innovation Hub.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms high-potential individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers.
For more information, visit www.activatework.org.
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[Contact information and boilerplate updated July 17, 2025)
[Report] Workforce Training Drives Wage Growth in Colorado
For Immediate Release
Contact: Roger Low, CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative 303.956.6661 / roger@ceemi.org
Elysia Versen, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab 970.568.6934 / elysia@coloradolab.org
DENVER, COLORADO — Mon., August 5, 2024 — Initial insights from a report measuring long-term earnings gains, led by the Colorado Wage Outcomes Results Coalition (WORC), show strong earnings growth for low-income and BIPOC earners who participated in two local nonprofit career training programs. The new wage outcome reports for ActivateWork and CrossPurpose are based on several years of earnings data across multiple cohorts of hundreds of learners. Both outcome reports show strong earnings growth over the first year following program exit, and suggest a strong trajectory of continued earnings growth.
The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) partnered with the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver to launch WORC. The joint endeavor was created in response to a growing demand from workforce development programs to know what happens to their learners after program participation. It also aligns with and supports the aim of HB 24-1364, which funds a new centralized longitudinal data system in Colorado to measure learner earnings outcomes over time.
“For the first time in Colorado, we are unlocking state data to measure long-term wage outcomes for learners, broken down specifically by training providers and focused on measuring whether historically disadvantaged learners secure good jobs with good wages,” said Roger Low, CEEMI CEO. “These reports open up a new pathway to grow the evidence base informing and strengthening every aspect of the workforce ecosystem. Scaling this approach will shed needed light on which postsecondary and workforce development approaches meet the needs of learners, workers, and employers, while also helping policymakers better understand and address workforce equity gaps.”
This independently validated longitudinal earnings outcome data, at the program/provider level, is the first of its kind in Colorado. Utilizing the Linked Information Network of Colorado, and connecting data safely and securely through the Governor’s Office of Information Technology, WORC connected learner records to earnings data from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
“After LINC laid the groundwork, including careful work to execute data sharing and data governance agreements, we have the ability to match learners with earnings data in a safe, secure and anonymized way, and then to use this data to analyze program earnings outcomes,” said Elysia Versen, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab. “These data are a first step toward understanding return on investment for workforce education and training pathways. Building an evidence base is central to ensuring employers are positioned to hire and retain skilled workers and that there is equitable access to quality jobs that offer a livable wage for all Coloradans.”
The first cohort of workforce development programs participating in the WORC longitudinal evaluation includes ActivateWork, the Center for Employment Opportunities, CrossPurpose, The Master’s Apprentice, Mile High Workshop, and the Women’s Bean Project. The remaining cohort reports will be completed by late summer or early fall.
ActivateWork prepares diverse, underrepresented candidates for roles in IT through a technical training and professional development model developed by Per Scholas. This approach connects qualified talent to leading employers through rigorous skills training, community resources, and professional and life skills coaching. The ActivateWork Outcomes Result Report shows:
- The average total quarterly earnings of participants rose from $5,776 at program intake to $11,956 after one year, an increase of 107%.
- One year after program enrollment, participants attained jobs in diverse sectors including administrative and support services, professional, scientific, and technical services, health care and social services, and information.
- Follow-up survey data shows that graduates attained tech jobs including Help Desk Technician, Systems Engineer, Data Center Operations Technician, Cyber Analyst Apprentice, Systems Engineer, Field Service Technician, and Software Developer Apprentice.
“We are excited to be one of the first programs to see outcome results,” said ActivateWork Founder and CEO Helen Young Hayes. “These data demonstrate that ActivateWork is creating demonstrable social and economic change in Denver. We are building a critical talent pipeline for employers while catalyzing prosperity for our learners.”
CrossPurpose offers a free, six-month career training program that includes professional training, career coaching, licensed counseling, and employer connections, with a focus on providing services to individuals experiencing poverty. The training encompasses a breadth of industries so that participants can find a meaningful credential that leads to career-track employment in a field of their choice. The CrossPurpose Outcomes Result Report shows:
- The average total quarterly earnings of participants rose from $4,605 at program intake to $8,578 after one year, an increase of 86%.
- 65.8% of participants are women and 33.6% are men; 64.1% of participants identify as Black or Latino/Hispanic; and 43.7% have pursued education or vocational training beyond high school.
- A plurality of participants are working in health care and social assistance, or administrative and support services in the fourth quarter after program enrollment; this includes working for employers providing medical, social assistance, and business support services.
“Our focus is not how to help people in poverty, it’s how to help people get out of poverty,” said Jason Janz, CEO, CrossPurpose. “This report shows that our program is making this goal a reality. Our alumni 2 are making a living wage in a job that provides for them and their families. Thanks to strong partnerships with employers and like-minded providers, this work will strengthen our community for generations to come.”
To learn more or schedule an interview, please contact Roger Low, CEO, CEEMI – roger@ceemi.org or 303-956-6661.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms motivated individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers. For more information, visit www.activatework.org
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[Boilerplate updated July 17, 2025]
[Press Release] ActivateWork Receives $3.8 Million to Expand Tech Apprenticeships in Colorado
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tassi Keith, Keeton PR, tassi@KeetonPR.com, 308-539-1883
DENVER, COLO. — Mon., July 15, 2024 — ActivateWork, a Colorado nonprofit IT training and employment firm that catalyzes prosperity through tech careers, today announced they are a recipient of President Biden’s Apprenticeship Building America grant. The Apprenticeship Building America program strengthens the nation’s apprenticeship system and enables Americans to enjoy economic mobility while they learn in-demand skills in critical industries.
“We are delighted to be a recipient of the distinguished Apprenticeship Building America grant,” said Helen Young Hayes, Founder and CEO of ActivateWork. “As a leading-edge organization building apprenticeships for employers, ActivateWork catalyzes economic opportunity for Coloradans while helping fill critical cyber and IT talent shortages. The ABA grant will accelerate our employer partnerships to build the tech workforce for today and tomorrow as we drive economic empowerment for ActivateWork’s graduates. We believe IT apprenticeships are the surest and shortest pathway to prosperity in Colorado.”
“I hear all the time from veterans and single parents in Colorado who want to provide for themselves and their families, but who need the tools to earn a living wage. Thankfully, Colorado has companies that want to hire them and excellent programs to train them – including through ActivateWork,” said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. “I’m grateful for these investments which will help connect Coloradans with sustainable careers and create economic mobility for workers of every background.”
“We are thrilled to see ActivateWork receive this important federal recognition and funding. As a previous recipient of the State of Colorado’s Opportunity Now grant, ActivateWork advances vital programs that connect Coloradans of all backgrounds to good-paying jobs that support families and meet the needs of industries that are critical to our future. Congratulations to ActivateWork,” said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
In 2023, ActivateWork launched the Tech Talent Partnership, a collaboration of employers, educators, and workforce programs to build a diverse, evergreen tech workforce designed by and for industry. Steering Committee employer partners include Bank of America, Janus Henderson, Colorado Office of Information Technology, Hensel Phelps, Trimble, Western Union, Cyber Sainik, Ardent Mills, MSU The Cybersecurity Center, Eviden, DHI Group, Slalom, Kanso Software, Sage Hospitality, Pinnacol Assurance, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Professional Employment Group.
For more information, please contact Leslie McKay, ActivateWork’s Director of Development, at Leslie@ActivateWork.org.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms motivated individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers. For more information, visit www.activatework.org.
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[Contact information and boilerplate updated July 17, 2025]
[Work/Shift] Curating a Match: Bridging the Gap Between Jobseekers & Employers
This story originally appeared in The Job by Work/Shift, a newsletter about the connections between education and work by veteran journalist Paul Fain. Read the original version here.
Curating a Match
Recruit, Train, and Coach
ActivateWork isn’t a coding bootcamp, although it offers tuition-free tech training. Instead, the Denver-based nonprofit describes itself as a bridge between companies and a diverse pool of job seekers.
“We bring employers to our learners,” says Helen Young Hayes, ActivateWork’s founder and CEO. “Employers need to be open to the thought that they might not have it all figured out.”
The group focuses on unemployed or underemployed workers. It recruits through digital media and at workforce centers, the Denver Rescue Mission, and other community organizations. Candidates participate in an eight-hour behavioral and aptitude assessment before they can enroll in ActivateWork’s 15-week training program. Only 20% are accepted.
Roughly two-thirds of training participants lack a bachelor’s degree. With a median age of 30 to 35, 70% are people of color. A third are women, and 22% are immigrants or refugees.
The group’s approach to training is based on the model of its partner, Per Scholas, a well-established tech skills development nonprofit. ActivateWork offers courses in software engineering, security fundamentals, IT support, AWS re/Start, and full-stack Java developer. Some of the 12- to 15-week tracks lead to a CompTIA A+ certification. All are free to learners—ActivateWork covers those costs through philanthropy and employer placement fees.
Its corporate partners tend to be open to hiring for potential, skills, and passion, says Hayes, not just pedigree. “Employers that have a long-term strategic approach versus a short-term reactive approach to solving their IT talent gaps,” she says.
So far 214 students have completed the program. The group is on pace to train 650 learners over the next three years. Graduates see an average annual wage gain from $20K to $46K.
Participants receive coaching for the first year after they are hired into a job. The support is designed to help them make the adjustment into a new role, in part to reduce turnover for ActivateWork’s employer partners.
Hayes says the group curates the match between employers and graduates.
“We coach our individuals on how to develop social capital and set the stage for them to develop close connections through our alumni gatherings,” she says.
Federal Support
ActivateWork has created three federally registered apprenticeships for graduates, which it offers to employers as a “turnkey” approach to on-the-job training. The group’s goal is for half of its graduates to move into an apprenticeship, which Hayes describes as the “surest and shortest path to economic mobility.”
The IT office of Jared Polis, Colorado’s Democratic governor, recently hired three apprentices who are graduates of ActivateWork’s software engineering course.
Hayes is a former investment banker who at one time oversaw $50B in assets as a portfolio manager for Janus Capital, a Denver-based mutual fund company. She would like to see the federal government invest more in work-based learning and backs a proposal for a new workforce training grant.
The concept would draw money from higher education subsidies to create an annual employer grant of $10K for each trainee who splits their time between work and formal training. Hayes also says she would like to see government support for low-income learners who are enrolled in accredited workforce programs that provide evidence-based upskilling, employment, and economic mobility.
In both cases, she says, quality controls are a must, including the decertification of underperforming training programs.
The Kicker: “No funding for organizations that do not provide employment,” says Hayes.
[Press Release] ActivateWork Promotes Kathryn V. Harris to President & Chief Operating Officer
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tassi Keith, Keeton PR
tassi@KeetonPR.com
308-539-1883
DENVER, COLO. — Thurs., March 30, 2023 — ActivateWork, a Colorado nonprofit that connects employers to a diverse pool of exceptionally trained IT talent, announced today that Kathryn V. Harris has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Harris has served as Managing Director and COO for the past three years.
“As ActivateWork continues to shape the future of Colorado workers by developing a talent pipeline of skilled professionals from overlooked communities, both operational excellence and effective leadership are crucial to our success. Kathryn is driven by purpose and values, and I’m confident she is the right person to lead ActivateWork in our mission to positively impact people’s lives and the economy of our state,” said Helen Young Hayes, CEO and Founder of ActivateWork.
“Kathryn is the rare combination of a dynamic, decisive leader and a warm, authentic ambassador. She’s creative, dedicated, and a relentlessly productive hands-on project manager. I look forward to the future of ActivateWork. We’ve made great strides in no small part due to Kathryn’s efforts, and our greatest impacts lie ahead.”
Harris joined ActivateWork in 2019. She was responsible for launching their tuition-free IT skills training program that addresses Denver’s tech workforce shortage while improving economic mobility for marginalized populations. Under her leadership, ActivateWork has achieved all goals, including graduation and job placement rates, and has grown employer partners from zero to more than 35. She was instrumental in the launch of their nationally-recognized apprenticeship program that is now one of the top three in the state.
Harris began her career at Accenture and has spent two decades in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, including roles as Executive Director of the Grand Foundation, Development Director for the Rose Community Foundation and President/CEO of Qualistar Colorado. She is a founding board member of Colorado Inclusive Economy and the Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative. Harris received a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College and earned a certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from Boston College.
About ActivateWork
ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms high-potential individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers. For more information, visit www.activatework.org.
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