Every other Thursday, civic engagement manager Thea Nilsson can be found leading a team of volunteer professionals through Full Circle Fund. This year, Thea’s team is partnering with the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) to build a strategic plan for its growing Mission Techies program. Read on to learn about the important work that MEDA is doing to diversify the tech sector!
Edwin’s story
Edwin Gonzales was 20 years old when he left his native El Salvador in search of a better life in the U.S. The young man dreamed of transforming his lifelong passion for computers into a job in the tech sector, but he was at a loss of how to turn a hobby into a career.
So, he took the usual path and became a restaurant worker.
That is, until a friend told Edwin about the free services available at the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)… and everything changed. Having heard about San Francisco’s booming tech economy, Edwin finally saw his in: MEDA’s Mission Techies program. Edwin graduated from this program, completed a three-month internship, and was then hired by Jones IT in San Francisco.
Jones IT CEO Evan Jones states, “Over the last year, Edwin has become an integral part of our company. He’s been an exceptionally quick learner and hard worker, and we are lucky to have him at Jones IT. It’s amazing to think that if it weren’t for MEDA and the Mission Techies program, our paths would have never crossed. We’re grateful they did!”
The problem
Mike Isaac’s article “Behind Silicon Valley’s Self-Critical Tone on Diversity, a Lack of Progress,” featured in the The New York Times in June, showcased the continuing paucity of minorities in the tech industry.
According to Isaac’s article, Google’s 2014 workforce was just three percent Latino and two percent African-American, and Facebook hired only seven African-Americans out of 1,200 new hires in 2013, which is under one percent of these employees brought on board. These numbers closely resemble those at other tech giants, although most of these companies have acknowledged the problem and are seeking solutions.
A local solution
The tech sector is looking for nonprofit programs to create a much-needed pipeline from underserved communities of color. To meet that need, in early 2014 MEDA launched its Mission Techies program: a free 12-week training course for youth ages 17-24.
According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), Information & Communications Technology (ICT) job growth is projected to increase 52 percent by 2020, accounting for 21 percent of all jobs in San Francisco. While this presents an enormous opportunity for job growth, it also poses challenges in ensuring that the skills gap is addressed to allow the city’s low-income residents to have access to these jobs.
Mission Techies is unique in that the program does not require a high school diploma or GED (although participants are encouraged to obtain a GED via an on-site program). As an added benefit, participants receive a $500 stipend upon graduation.
Throughout the program, corporate site visits are arranged to companies like Facebook and LinkedIn so that students can get a taste of the spectrum of jobs that are available in the tech sector. Additionally, a mentoring program pairs Mission Techies graduates with members of the local tech workforce, the latter offer counseling and sage advice based on their experience.
The Mission Techies curriculum comprises eight core competencies: hardware; software; tech support; networking; coding; college prep; job-readiness training; and financial capability.
By the end of the program, participants have started on the path to a job in tech… and they know that it is possible.
Impact
Though only in its second year, the Mission Techies program has yielded encouraging results. Of the 54 youth that have graduated since January 2014, 82 percent are employed and/or continuing their education. 25 percent of the employed are working in the tech industry, with starting salaries ranging from $18-25 per hour.
The Mission Techies have also found that incorporating a social enterprise model into the program has been a personally fulfilling way to learn. To date, the students have refurbished over 175 computers for low-income Mission residents. This hands-on learning opportunity has provided vital customer service experience for the Mission Techies as well as a cost-savings benefit to the local community.
To read more inspiring stories about the Mission Techies, please visit the MEDA blog
Note: If you would like to read about the workforce demographics at Microsoft, please click here.
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Leonardo Sosa left his native Guatemala in 1984. Once in the United States, he earned a B.A. in Computer Science (Computer Applications) from San Francisco City College and holds a current CA Teaching Credential. Leonardo has worked at a variety of nonprofits, transferring his ardor for all things tech, complemented by over 20 years of experience in the field, into teaching computer applications to adults and youths.
Leo currently manages the busy Plaza Adelante Tech Center (PATC) at the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), which has provided asset building to low-income Latinos for over four decades.
