BGCP teams up with Treehouse to launch FutureTech

Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metro (BGCP) has teamed up with Treehouse to launch FutureTech — an apprenticeship initiative focused on creating pathways to high-paying tech jobs that will break down barriers for women and underrepresented people of color.

The FutureTech program allows young people ages 18-24 to fast-track their career by earning a Treehouse TechDegree, getting a paid 3-month internship, and ultimately a full-time job placement at a Portland tech company – all at no cost to the student. The program is paid for by the companies who will be able to hire participants. The program is launching with support and commitments from Nike, Eroi, Instrument, InVision, Treehouse and Zapproved.

The program is designed to help prepare young, diverse individuals to fill the 500,000+ open tech jobs across the country. These jobs don’t require a four-year degree and are growing at twice the rate of all other jobs. Additionally, FutureTech aims to invest in diverse communities who have been underrepresented in the tech field.

gizmodo.com/the-alarming-downsides-to-tech-industry-diversity-repor-1789797486

Here’s how the program works:

  1. BGCP recruits their members or alumni who are interested in a potential job in tech. To-date, they have recruited 20 students, the majority of which are women or people of color.
  2. These 20 participants will be asked to complete two beginner Treehouse Courses on HTML, CSS and JavaScript in order to help us determine who enjoys coding and wants to commit to learning for the six-month program.
  3. We will select 10 finalists who will begin the Techdegree course on June 19, 2017. This six-month course can be done at times that are more convenient for the student (evenings, weekends, lunch breaks, etc) and typically takes about one hour per day. This way they can continue to support their loved ones, while learning.
  4. Folks in the program will be mentored on a weekly basis
  5. Upon completion of the Techdegree in January 2018, graduates will enter a 3-month paid apprenticeship with a local company. We have created an “Apprenticeship-in-a-box” which gives the company a playbook to follow to make the apprenticeship successful.
  6. After the apprentices are placed, BGCP will enroll them in a multi-year program to support them as they might be the only person of color or woman in their work environment, which can eventually drive them out of the job or field altogether.
  7. Providing the apprenticeship is successful, the apprentices receive an offer of employment starting at $50,000/year, including healthcare coverage and other great benefits.

In order to fund this pipeline of talent, Treehouse and BGCP have been speaking with local companies and identifying those that are seeking employees for tech-related roles. We ask that each business invests the $1,500 fee to provide a student with access to the Techdegree program, then agree to interview (and likely hire) a graduate as an apprentice, for $15/hour.

If this initiative sounds like something you support, but aren’t in a position to hire an apprentice, companies can still invest in the apprentices here. A $1,500 investment will allow one person to get the education, mentorship and support they need to get an apprenticeship. However, every dollar counts and all donations will be put toward closing this hiring gap.

Interested in joining the program?

There are a few more spots available in our pilot FutureTech cohort. If you’re an individual ages 18-24 and you’re interested in enrolling in the program, please reach out to Rachel Centariczki for an application. Priority will be given to current Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro members and alumni.

Rachel Centariczki
503.969.5292 | rcentariczki@bgcportland.org

Want to learn more about partnering? Contact us!

Ryan Carson
Treehouse, Founder and CEO
ryan@teamtreehouse.com

Colleen Showalter
Boys & Girls Club, Sr. Director of Development
CShowalter@bgcportland.org

Media Coverage

‘Treehouse’ launches apprenticeship program ‘FutureTech’
KGW
FULL STORY

“Introducing FutureTech”
Medium
FULL STORY

“Treehouse teams with Nike, Zapproved, others on Boys & Girls Club apprenticeship program”
Portland Business Journal
FULL STORY