CINCINNATI — November 27, 2023 — JPMorgan Chase has awarded the Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber with $500,000 to launch the Women of Color in Tech initiative to advance a more inclusive economy in Hamilton County, help women develop important skills, and support employers in solving their employee needs. In addition to the $500,000 grant, Google is providing 500 Google Career Certificate scholarships to help women of color train for in-demand tech roles in fields including cybersecurity and data analytics.
“The Women of Color in Tech initiative is an exciting opportunity to help deserving women in our community advance their lives with in-demand skills while also helping employers in solving their talent needs,” said Audrey Treasure, Vice President & Executive Director, Workforce Innovation Center. “We are grateful for the investments of JPMC and Google and the collaboration with our exceptional local providers to make these life-changing opportunities possible for all involved.”
In addition, JP Morgan Chase has also awarded the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio $500,000 to expand their workforce and financial empowerment programs. Programs are designed to help individuals and families achieve financial stability and build wealth through workforce training for livable wage employment, career exploration and planning, job placement assistance and financial coaching. The League is also a collaborative partner on the Women of Color in Tech initiative.
“The Urban League is laser-focused on ending generational poverty through strategic programs that help individuals prepare for livable wage employment,” said Christie Kuhns, President and CEO of the Urban League. “This investment aligns perfectly with our work, and we are especially excited to focus on women of color, a group that has been historically excluded from tech opportunities. This will allow us to increase the number of women prepared to pursue high paying tech jobs which directly impacts their earning potential and the lives of their families.”
To ensure these certificates are distributed throughout the county, The Brighton Center, Community Action Agency – Cincinnati | Hamilton County (CAA), and The Gaskins Foundation will join the Workforce Innovation Center and the Urban League in offering six different Google Certificates over the course of the next two years to any woman of color in Hamilton County looking to advance or kickstart their career in tech.
The Urban League is launching their first cohort at their Black Women in Tech Kickoff Event on Monday, November 27, 2023, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Holloman Center for Social Justice, 3539 Reading Road, Suite 100. The Brighton Center, Community Action Agency, and The Gaskins Foundation are offering their programs on a rolling basis. The first cohort will celebrate its graduation on Friday, March 15, 2024.
The program leverages the existing Google Career Certificates program for self-paced online training through a cohort model. The certificates equip people with job-ready skills in the high-growth fields of cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing & e-commerce, IT support, project management, and UX design. The program can be completed in three to six months of part-time study—with no degree or experience required. It includes an Employer Consortium of over 150 companies—including Google and Ohio-based companies such as The David J. Joseph Company, MCPC, and Charter Communications—that consider Google Career Certificates graduates for relevant positions. Over 200,000 people have graduated from the program in the U.S., and over 70% of them report a positive career impact, such as a new job, higher pay, or a promotion, within six months of completion. Fifty-five percent of graduates identify as Asian, Black, or Latino. Each organization will be offering a hybrid model of both in-person and virtual learning approaches to meet participants’ needs. Additional resources like childcare support, financial and career coaching, resumé creation, and mock interviewing will also be provided, along with graduation celebrations and employer matching upon completion of program certificates.
“It’s imperative that we provide women of color the resources and tools needed to compete in today’s workforce as they are the backbone of our economy serving as consumers, homeowners, entrepreneurs, business owners, and so much more,” said Patrick Dolle, Executive Director, Cincinnati Market Team Lead at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. “With this investment, JPMorgan Chase is proud to help prepare more women of color for higher quality jobs, while simultaneously supporting the needs of employers seeking the skillset taught through this cohort.”
“Google believes the opportunities created by technology should truly be available to everyone. We’re proud to support the Women of Color in Tech initiative, as it helps women in Hamilton County prepare for well-paying jobs through the Google Career Certificates program,” said Lisa Gevelber, Founder, Grow with Google. “We’re thrilled that this initiative is providing in-demand training along with wraparound support—such as childcare services and career coaching—to help women succeed in the workplace and connect with incredible career opportunities.”
Any interested women or employers should fill out the interest forms on the Cincinnati Chamber website at cincinnatichamber.com/wocit.
Media Contacts
Audrey Treasure | Vice President & Executive Director, Workforce Innovation Center atreasure@cincinnatichamber.com
Ebony Young | Senior Vice President of Impact, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio
eyoung@ulgso.org
