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Civic Hall Receives $25,000 from Verizon to Fund Scholarships for New IT Program

Civic Hall Receives $25,000 from Verizon to Fund Scholarships for New IT Program

Program Dedicated to Expanding Access to Tech Sector Jobs for Underserved Communities

New York, NY – Civic Hall is pleased to announce a generous $25,000 donation from Verizon, dedicated to funding scholarships for Civic Hall’s newly launched comprehensive Introduction to IT program. This initiative is designed to provide foundational training in information technology, empowering individuals to build essential skills for the modern workforce.

In collaboration with CompTIA, Civic Hall’s innovative program will equip participants with the critical IT knowledge and competencies necessary for today’s technology-driven landscape. The program focuses on the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ certification, a widely recognized credential that validates basic IT skills and knowledge. This certification is an ideal starting point for those looking to pursue a career in IT or enhance their technical skill set.

“We are immensely grateful to Verizon for their support of this critically important tech training program,” said Doug Binette, Director of Civic Hall’s NY Tech Alliance. “This funding will enable us to provide scholarships to deserving individuals from underserved communities, helping them gain valuable skills and open new career opportunities in the tech sector.”

The Introduction to IT program goes beyond technical training by incorporating financial literacy education, enhancing overall professional development. Participants will learn key financial concepts, ensuring they are well-prepared to manage their finances as they advance in their careers.

“We are proud to partner with Civic Hall and support its mission to create opportunities for individuals through technology education,” said Tavonia Davis, Regional Director of Government Affairs and Local Engagement at Verizon. “By investing in these scholarships, we are empowering individuals to drive innovation, shaping a more equitable and inclusive digital landscape, and helping to build a diverse and skilled IT workforce for the future.”

The program is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on underrepresented communities in the tech industry. Applications for the scholarship are now open, and Civic Hall encourages individuals to apply. For more information about Civic Hall’s Introduction to IT program and how to apply for the scholarship, please contact Jay Quaintance at JQuaintance@fedcap.org.

About Civic Hall
Civic Hall is a collaborative innovation center that brings together civic-minded technologists, social entrepreneurs, government officials, and community leaders to develop technology solutions for the public good. Located in Union Square, Civic Hall fosters a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge sharing and cooperative action.

Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall facilitates groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact organizations, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and New York’s employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. Civic Hall also serves as a tech incubator and accelerator, helping to spur new innovations and ideas. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org.

About NY Tech Alliance
The NY Tech Alliance is a non-profit organization focused on supporting the tech community, with the goal of creating the most diverse, equitable and accessible tech ecosystem in the world. The team at NYTA works every day to connect businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, organizations, educational institutions, government, and people from all parts of the New York City tech ecosystem to the resources and networks they need to grow, serve, and be successful.

With over 60,000 individual and institutional members, the NY Tech Alliance represents the full spectrum of the greater New York area tech community, making it the largest tech organization in the region.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed in 2000 and is one of
the world’s leading providers of technology and communications services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0 billion in 2023. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security.

Contact
For media inquiries or more information, contact: Jim Malatras at JMalatras@fedcap.org.

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Civic Hall Announces Exciting Lineup for New York City Tech Week with Events Focused on AI

Civic Hall Announces Exciting Lineup for New York City Tech Week with Events Focused on AI

Civic Hall to Offer Complimentary Co-Working Space for AI-Aligned Companies During the Week

New York, NY – May 30, 2024 – Civic Hall, in collaboration with The Fedcap Group and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, is thrilled to announce its comprehensive schedule of events for New York City Tech Week, taking place from June 3rd to June 7th. This week-long celebration of technology and innovation is set to feature a diverse array of events aimed at showcasing the latest advancements in AI, fostering collaboration, and supporting the tech ecosystem in New York City.

Founded with the mission to advance the use of technology for the public good, Civic Hall serves as a hub for innovators, entrepreneurs, and civic-minded organizations. By providing a collaborative workspace and hosting events that bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, Civic Hall aims to drive social impact and community-driven solutions through technology.

Jim Malatras, Chief Strategy Officer of The Fedcap Group, stated, “Our partnership with Civic Hall for New York City Tech Week exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the vibrant tech community in New York City. We are excited to see the groundbreaking ideas and collaborations that will emerge from this dynamic week of events.”

Event Schedule Highlights:

Monday, June 3rd

    • NY Tech Week AI Startups Demo Day hosted by Lynx Collective
      • 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM, 3rd Floor Conference Breakout Rooms
      • Link: Lynx Collective
    • AI Tinkerers Meetup (sponsored by NYCEDC)
      • 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, 2nd Floor Craig Newmark Auditorium
      • Link: AI Tinkerers

Tuesday, June 4th

    • AI Day Pass: Coworking with NYCEDC and AI Furnace
    • AI and Digital Health with Digital Health New York (sponsored by NYCEDC)
    • Hiring for the AI Generation of Tech: Strengths Constraints & the Case for Skills-Based Talent Strategies by Hack.Diversity
      • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, 3rd Floor Conference Breakout Rooms
      • Link: Hack.Diversity
    • A Spotlight on AI Meetup by New York Tech Alliance

Wednesday, June 5th

    • AI Day Pass: Coworking with NYCEDC and AI Furnace
    • AI & ML: Novel Use Cases in Financial Services NY by NYCEDC and Columbia University Data Science Institute
    • Reimagining Accelerators for Tomorrow’s Startups by NYCEDC and AcceleratorCON
      • 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM, 3rd Floor Breakout Conference Space
      • Link: AcceleratorCON
    • Data and AI Summit by Data School
      • 1:30 PM – 6:30 PM, 2nd Floor Craig Newmark Auditorium
      • Link: Data School

Thursday, June 6th

    • Classroom Sponsorship Ribbon Cutting Event by Amazon
      • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 6th Floor
    • Techstars Demo Day
      • 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, 2nd Floor Craig Newmark Auditorium
      • Link: Techstars 
    • Data Duel: The Tableau Viz Games by Data School
    • Shark Tank and Social by StartED
      • 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM, 3rd Floor Conference Space
      • Link: StartED

Friday, June 7th

    • Growing AAPI Startups and VCs in NYC by WorkOnward
    • How to Succeed as an International Founder by The Vertical
      • 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM, 2nd Floor Craig Newmark Auditorium
      • Link: The Vertical

Civic Hall is proud to partner with The Fedcap Group and NYCEDC in delivering this dynamic lineup of events. Our mission is to foster innovation, support the tech ecosystem in New York City, and provide a platform for networking, learning, and collaboration.

For more information on New York City Tech Week at Civic Hall and to register for events, please visit our website.

Contact:
Civic Hall
Email: info@civichall.org
Phone: (212) 555-1234

About Civic Hall

Civic Hall is a collaborative innovation center that brings together civic-minded technologists, social entrepreneurs, government officials, and community leaders to develop technology solutions for the public good. Located in Union Square, Civic Hall fosters a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge sharing and cooperative action.

Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall facilitates groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact organizations, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and New York’s employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. Civic Hall also serves as a tech incubator and accelerator, helping to spur new innovations and ideas. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org.   

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CIVIC HALL AND STARTED LAUNCH EDTECH HUB AT CIVIC HALL’S STATE-OF-THE-ART CENTER AT UNION SQUARE

CIVIC HALL AND STARTED LAUNCH EDTECH HUB AT CIVIC HALL’S STATE-OF-THE-ART CENTER AT UNION SQUARE

 

New York, NY – [March 25, 2024] –Civic Hall and StartEd have launched a new strategic partnership to launch The EdTech Hub, a dynamic space at Civic Hall at Union Square dedicated to fostering education-related entrepreneurialism and innovation.

 

StartEd will deliver programming year-round at Civic Hall to build the strongest EdTech network of opportunity in the nation, via Meetups, Think Tanks, and Shark Tanks that bring together diverse senior leadership to discuss and tackle key issues in the learning and workforce ecosystem. The partnership establishes Civic Hall as the physical home of a persistent education innovation community that attracts and develops early to mid-stage companies and not-for-profits.

 

Civic Hall will become the new home of StartEd’s EDTECH WEEK™ (www.edtechweek.com), the Global Education Innovation Festival in New York, back for its 10th year on October 8-10, 2024. StartEd’s EDTECH WEEK™ brings together every stakeholder in the education and workforce innovation community to learn from and meet with the best and brightest in the industry. The festival features Broadway performers, diverse thought leaders, and a unique combination of intimate experiences across the city designed to bring us even closer together than we had thought possible.

 

“Our new EdTech Hub will attract top talent and foster collaboration among industry leaders, startups, and organizations dedicated to shaping the future of education,” said Jim Malatras, Chief Strategy Officer & Senior VP for Education, The Fedcap Group—the parent organization of Civic Hall. “Together with the world’s leading EdTech network, StartEd, Civic Hall at Union Square will be the nexus for education and workforce innovation in New York.”

 

“Our work, deeply rooted in New York City’s vibrant tech ecosystem, has consistently provided a fertile ground for the necessary stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and scale,” said Ash Kaluarachch, CEO at StartEd and Producer of EDTECH WEEK. “For a decade, this nexus for entrepreneurs, educators, and investors focused on shaping the future of education and work. Our partnership with Civic Hall promises to further this legacy.”

 

StartEd’s program at Civic Hall kicks off in Q2 2024. Sign up for the newsletter to learn how to get started.

 

ABOUT CIVIC HALL

Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact organizations, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and New York’s employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org. 

 

ABOUT STARTED

StartEd attracts and develops early to mid-stage companies that solve the biggest problems in education and workforce learning, at any point in the journey of building an organization that makes an impact, to ensure equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. We offer access to community, capital, connections, and culture via subscriptions that align with a company’s stage and objective. Founded by industry-leading entrepreneurs, StartEd accelerates education innovators addressing Early Childhood, K-12, HigherEd, Workforce, and Adult Learning. We support for-profit and non-profit companies from anywhere in the world. For more information on StartEd, please visit started.com.

 

For media inquiries or more information, contact:

Josh Vlasto, for The Fedcap Group/Civic Hall (josh@joshvlasto.com)

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Happy Jack Entertainment to Broadcast Their Mental Health and Wellness Podcast from Civic Hall

Happy Jack Entertainment to Broadcast Their Mental Health and Wellness Podcast from Civic Hall

New York, NY (March 12, 2024) — Happy Jack Entertainment, a community of creatives for creatives that uses technology and music to provide mental health services, has joined Civic Hall. As members, Happy Jack Entertainment will be broadcasting their podcasts from Civic Hall, where they turn the volume up on mental health conversations. Their podcast “Therapy Sessions,” hosted by Z-100’s Maxwell, produces eye-opening interviews with celebrities, artists, and more as they break stigmas and foster a more welcoming, healthier world. Through their podcasts, they are creating a movement that’s making mental health a conversation for the entire community.

 

Happy Jack Entertainment is comprised of artists, speakers, entrepreneurs, and successful music industry veterans who use their voices and platforms to be a catalyst for change. Happy Jack Entertainment is destigmatizing the conversation around mental health using technology to encourage others to embrace mental health discussions across all communities, transcending demographics and creating an all-embracing and compassionate world.

 

“Civic Hall’s open, collaborative environment is the perfect home for our mission to normalize mental health discussions across all communities,” said David Nathan, co-founder of Happy Jack Entertainment. “We can’t wait to broadcast from this innovative hub and amplify voices transcending demographics through raw, honest storytelling.”

 

ABOUT CIVIC HALL

Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact tenants, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and NYC’s diverse employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org. 

 

ABOUT HAPPY JACK ENTERTAINMENT

Born from profound personal loss, Happy Jack Entertainment uses music, media, and candid storytelling to spark vital conversations around mental health. The company was created by David Nathan and Sam Koch, inspired by David’s late son Jack Nathan’s vision – to build a compassionate, judgement-free community for those struggling with mental illness and addiction. Jack’s brave vulnerability and advocacy through art, fashion and music laid the seeds for HJE’s powerful movement of openness, healing, and inclusion.

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FedcapCARES Achieves Milestone with Successful Completion of SOC 2 Type II Audit by Sensiba LLP

FedcapCARES Achieves Milestone with Successful Completion of SOC 2 Type II Audit by Sensiba LLP

New York, NY – The Fedcap Group is pleased to announce the successful completion of the System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type II audit conducted by Sensiba LLP for FedcapCARES—our nation leading automated cloud-hosted software application which serves as a hub for case management, client activity and tracks attendance, employment, and job retention. This milestone, alongside our ongoing ISO 27001 certification, first achieved three years ago and renewed annually, underscores our relentless commitment to the highest standards of information security, privacy, and our dedication to safeguarding our clients’ data.  

 

The SOC 2 Type II audit is a rigorous examination of controls relevant to the trust services criteria categories, including security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It provides a comprehensive report on the design and effectiveness of specified controls over a specific period. Fedcap has taken this important step to ensure that our systems and processes not only meet but exceed internationally recognized best practices and guardrails.

 

“We created FedcapCARES to help organizations better perform case management through state-of- the-art technology. This successful completion of the SOC 2 Type II audit reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security in our platform,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of The Fedcap Group. “This achievement by The Fedcap Group not only aligns with industry and regulatory expectations, but also ensures the highest level of data protection for our clients most sensitive data.”


It is anticipated that SOC 2 Type II compliance will become a standard requirement in most, if not all, future contracts and renewals within the nonprofit sector. By voluntarily undergoing this audit, The Fedcap Group is not only meeting regulatory expectations but is proactively ensuring that our clients’ data is protected with the utmost care. As the landscape of digital information security evolves, SOC 2 Type II compliance is increasingly becoming a benchmark for excellence and trustworthiness.

 

About The Fedcap Group

For nearly ninety years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. The Fedcap Group provides educational services to every age group, vocational training, and job attainment in high-growth industries, as well as support services such as behavioral health services—all targeted to helping people achieve long-term economic well-being. The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state, and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded, and delivered.

 

Contact:

Jim Malatras, 212-727-4200, (JMalatras@fedcap.org)

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Fedcap UK and the Community Impact Policy Institute Launches the Compass Series Focused on International Strategies to Improve Health, Employability, and Economic Well-Being

Fedcap UK and the Community Impact Policy Institute Launches the Compass Series Focused on International Strategies to Improve Health, Employability, and Economic Well-Being

Compass Series Kicks Off with Leading Scottish Policymakers in Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland–Fedcap UK and the Community Impact Policy Institute are excited to announce the launch of a new policy series, Fedcap Compass, dedicated to addressing the intersection of health, employability, and economic well-being. The inaugural event will take place tomorrow, February 20, 2004, in Edinburgh, Scotland, marking the beginning of a series of roundtables aimed at addressing these critical issues.

 

Daniel Johnson, Member of the Scottish Parliament, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Business, and Fair Work, will lead the roundtable with employability, health, public policy, and economic experts as distinguished chairperson. Secretary Johnson’s extensive experience and insights into the Scotland’s economic landscape makes him the ideal leader to kick off this pivotal series focused on improving health, employability, and economic well-being.

 

“We’ve launched the Fedcap Compass series to bring together key stakeholders, policymakers, and experts to engage in meaningful conversations about improving the health and economic well-being of communities,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of The Fedcap Group. “Our goal is to identify innovative solutions and actionable strategies, both in Scotland and across the globe— particularly in other Fedcap programs in the United States and Canada— that can have a lasting impact on communities.”

 

The focus of this inaugural event aligns with The Fedcap Group’s overarching mission to create positive social change through its Community Impact Policy Institute.

 

“We encourage all stakeholders, community leaders, and individuals passionate about making a difference to join us at this and future thought leadership events,” said Susan Paterson, UK Operations Director for Fedcap.  “We hope to gain a broad cross-section of perspectives and to help shape a comprehensive policy strategy for governments and other institutions.”

 

For more information about tomorrow’s event contact, Neal Smith for Fedcap UK, (Neal.Smith@fedcap.org.uk).

 

About the Community Impact Policy Institute

The Community Impact Policy Institute is a thinktank of The Fedcap Group conducting leading research to provide solutions in breaking down barriers to economic well-being. The Institute, and its partners, have conducted groundbreaking analysis and solutions to many pressing needs including building wage and wealth for disadvantaged communities, effects of minimum wage increases, early childhood education, employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, socially responsible investing, immigration and its impact on the economy, and more. The Community Impact Policy Institute also provides technical assistance and training, products and hands on support to government agencies and community-based providers working to change their delivery of services and enhance the community integration of people with individuals with barriers to employment.

 

About Fedcap UK

Fedcap UK is a member of The Fedcap Group committed to excellence and an innovative approach to improving economic and social well-being. Fedcap UK delivers employability solutions, health services, and community projects in partnership with like-minded organizations and stakeholders. This includes the delivery of the UK Government’s Restart Scheme and the Scottish Government’s Fair Start Scotland program.

 

Media Contacts:

Neal Smith for Fedcap UK, (Neal.Smith@fedcap.org.uk)

Jim Malatras for the Community Impact Policy Institute, (JMalatras@fedcap.org)

 

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Hospitality Pathways Joins Civic Hall to Empower Marginalized Communities Through Innovation in the Retail Cannabis Industry

Hospitality Pathways Joins Civic Hall to Empower Marginalized Communities Through Innovation in the Retail Cannabis Industry

New York, NY (January 29, 2024) —Hospitality Pathways, a leading organization dedicated to providing in-demand job skills for members of marginalized communities, has joined Civic Hall. Hospitality Pathways offers training programs that lead to sustainable employment, livable wages, and future growth opportunities within the emerging retail cannabis industry.

 

As members, Hospitality Pathways will leverage Civic Hall’s ecosystem and incubator to drive innovation to strengthen its training and employment pathways for barriered communities. Hospitality Pathways goes beyond technical skills, offering extensive soft skills training in areas such as the culture of hospitality, professionalism, teamwork, prioritizing, time management, industry terminology, work ethic, and conflict resolution. Students are provided with a stipend, a weekly unlimited MetroCard, and daily meals. Hospitality Pathways collaborates with a robust network of employer partners to help connect graduates with jobs in the field.

 

“Our partnership with Hospitality Pathways demonstrates the power of Civic Hall—plugging in a  training provider into a diverse innovation and educational ecosystem broadens opportunities within emerging workforce sectors, with a specific focus on empowering historically marginalized communities,” said Seema Shah, Executive Director of Civic Hall.

 

“Our collaboration with Civic Hall marks a strategic alliance that enables us to harness the vast innovation ecosystem they offer, unlocking the full potential of social equity within our rapidly evolving industry,” said Beatrice Stein, Founder and Program Director of Hospitality Pathways. “This partnership transcends rhetoric; it’s a commitment to tangible impact. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality training complemented by wraparound support for our students. As members of Civic Hall, we are poised to elevate our program to new heights.”

 

ABOUT CIVIC HALL

Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact tenants, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and NYC’s diverse employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org. 

 

ABOUT HOSPITALITY PATHWAYS

Hospitality Pathways is a pioneering organization dedicated to empowering members of marginalized communities by providing in-demand job skills and opportunities within the expanding retail cannabis industry. Through comprehensive training programs, we aim to bridge the gap and create a pathway to sustainable employment, livable wages, and future growth. Visit Hospitality Pathways for more information.

 

For media inquiries or more information, contact:

Jim Malatras, The Fedcap Group/Civic Hall (Jmalatras@fedcap.org)

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LaGuardia Community College and Apex Technical School Partner to Build Pathways for Students in the Trades Seeking College Degrees

LaGuardia Community College and Apex Technical School Partner to Build Pathways for Students in the Trades Seeking College Degrees

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (January 25, 2024) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY and Apex Technical School [apexschool.com] have officially entered into a partnership, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to enhance educational opportunities for students pursuing trades and seeking college degrees. The agreement, signed by Kenneth Adams, President of LaGuardia Community College, and Steve Markowitz, President of Apex Technical School, establishes the Apex–LaGuardia Pathway—a first phase in a longer partnership between the two institutions.
Under this partnership, LaGuardia Community College will offer two college credits to students enrolled in Apex’s Home Digital Automation (focused on energy efficiency to meet climate goals) and Robotics (technology) programs. The collaboration aims to provide students with a seamless transition from technical training to pursuing college degrees, addressing the evolving demands of today’s job market.
Apex Technical School, known for its hands-on training in the trades since 1961, has been a key contributor to equipping New Yorkers with marketable skills for employment. Licensed by the New York State Education Department, Apex Technical School sees this partnership as an opportunity to facilitate easier access to college education for its students.
“Our partnership with Apex Technical School will go a long way in supporting students obtain their college degree after they graduate,” said LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams. “This is another example of how LaGuardia serves the community and helps New Yorkers with socioeconomic mobility and finding sustainable jobs.”
“Apex students will now have easier access to a college education at one of the best colleges,” said Apex Technical School President Steven Markowitz. “This partnership is creating a pathway to college and help students follow their dreams of earning their degree in an area they are passionate.”
“These are the first of a number of pathways between LaGuardia and Apex that will count for college credit,” said Sunil Gupta, Vice President for Adult Continuing Education at LaGuardia. “We hope this pathway will encourage students to explore the opportunity to enroll at LaGuardia and earn their degree.”
LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 degrees and certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to educate New Yorkers seeking new skills and careers. As an institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of underserved populations. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students while providing them with access to a high quality, affordable college education.
Apex Technical School [apexschool.com] is a member of The Fedcap Group [fedcapgroup.org]. This international nonprofit, headquartered in New York City, is dedicated to creating opportunities for people with barriers to economic well-being. The work of The Fedcap Group is structured through four major areas of practice: Education, Workforce Development, Occupational Health and Economic Development, each led by experts in the field and delivered through top-tier nonprofit agencies across our growing footprint.

Media Contacts:

Elizabeth Streich | office: (718) 482-6131; cell (347) 229-8674; estreich@lagcc.cuny.edu.
Manuel (Manny) L. Romero, Ed.D. | office: (718) 482-5061; cell: (480) 235-3366; mlromero@lagcc.cuny.edu.
Jim Malatras for Apex Technical School | 212-727-4200; JMalatras@fedcap.org.

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This Encore Fellow Is Helping A Nonprofit Serve 60,000 Children A Year

This Encore Fellow Is Helping
A Nonprofit Serve 60,000 Children A Year

Helping Mamas provides essential baby items and period products to women and children in need throughout the state of Georgia and in Knoxville, TN. The nonprofit was started in 2014 by Jamie Lackey, a social worker who saw moms use plastic grocery store bags as diapers and knew something needed to be done.
Helping Mamas has experienced exponential growth over the past eight years, particularly during the pandemic. The organization now serves nearly 60,000 children a year and distributes 2 million essential items through 150 partnerships with social services agencies.
Last year, Pegi Amend, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) retiree, joined Helping Mamas as an Encore Fellow, a seasoned professional who takes on a significant, paid assignment at a nonprofit for 6-12 months. When her fellowship ended, Amend accepted a full-time position as Helping Mamas’s director of finance and operations. Learn why, in the words of Jamie Lackey and Pegi Amend, below.

Jamie Lackey CEO

When the pandemic hit in 2020, we saw a 400 percent increase in need and that hasn’t slowed down one bit. I needed someone to help with finance and operations, because we basically blew up overnight.
We posted a job listing and I believe Pegi saw it and reached out to someone from Encore.org who contacted me, to see if I’d be interested in bringing her on as an Encore Fellow. She’d taken an early retirement from HPE and they were offering to cover the stipend. That struck me as a pretty incredible opportunity – to get access to someone with so much experience for six months before investing in a salaried position.
And it turned out being such an easy and natural fit. Within a week I was like, “Will you stay forever?”
I couldn’t even wrap my brain around the processes we needed, and she immediately knew how to organize everything. She had a lot of experience working with smaller companies that had been acquired, so all of that change management work allowed her to clearly see best practices and processes for our organization. That’s really what we were lacking – we had policies, but not practices and procedures. I had no idea how efficient we could be until she came along.
I was willing to do whatever needed to happen to get her to stay. In September, I started planning the budget for her position. I asked for her recommendations on the job description. And when her fellowship ended, we rolled her into a full-time position.
She’s helping us get a blueprint in place because we’re looking to expand into other locations. We’ve also been experimenting with a mobile program, where we have a van that we take out to communities, and people are able to drive through and get the items they need —like what food banks have been doing, but with baby supplies and period products.
The pandemic opened us up to partnering with a lot of schools and campuses, in addition to continuing to work with domestic violence shelters, kids and families in foster care, refugee resettlement organizations and hospitals — to name a few.
We certainly get a lot of thank yous and grateful comments from people who can put the money they would have spent on diapers toward rent and utilities. That feels good, to know we’re making a difference. This whole thing started out as a passion project and it’s turned into something much bigger.

Pegi Amend Director of Finance and Operations

At HPE I had a number of roles. I eventually moved into operations, but the whole time I was there I was very focused on helping the community and I ran HPE’s employee volunteer program for 15-20 years.
If life had been different, I would have been a social worker. But my mom encouraged me in another direction, so I went into engineering. I knew at some point, though, after the kids finished school and the house was paid off, I’d retire and be able to spend more time working in the nonprofit space.
About five years ago, I started eyeing what would be next and, I think through Google searches, I learned about the Encore Fellowship program. When I retired in 2020, I knew HPE sponsored a certain number of people in Encore Fellowships each year.
But I was still exploring nonprofit opportunities and having a field day volunteering — at The Red Cross, a couple of food pantries, Covid-19 vaccination sites — trying to figure out what I wanted to do.
When I saw the job at Helping Mamas I was really interested — their work seemed like such an essential piece of the poverty puzzle — but I worried that if I just sent my resume over they’d say no, seeing me as overqualified. So I reached out to someone at Encore.org to have them approach Helping Mamas, and see if they’d be interested in having HPE sponsor me as an Encore Fellow in the role. And, luckily, I was able to get one of the two sponsorship opportunities HPE offered in 2021.
At the beginning, a lot of my work was just straightening out the financials, reviewing their systems and helping to organize and document their processes. I had just done that at HPE so it was something I could easily pass along. I also had a lot of experience with software and hardware and knowing which programs could help. It was exciting to realize what a big impact I could have through making little changes here and there – things that come second nature to me, but that you don’t often have time to think about at a small organization.
At HPE, I was working with mostly older people.. My experience at Helping Mamas is much more age diverse. Every year, we have eight AmeriCorps VISTA members serving one-year terms and they skew pretty young. They’re energetic and willing to take on anything, and I feel like they’ve helped me understand my kids better. It’s been fun.
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This Encore Fellow Helped Embed Social Justice in Engineering

This Encore Fellow Helped Embed
Social Justice in Engineering

Jim Blakley joined an intergenerational team at Arizona State University working to make social and environmental justice practices the norm for engineers

After working in the tech industry for nearly 40 years, Jim Blakley knew he wanted to pursue an Encore Fellowship, working part-time for a nonprofit organization that aligned with his values. At 60, he was ready to retire and knew several colleagues who had enjoyed their Encore Fellowship experience. He submitted an application, expressing interest in a virtual opportunity so he could work from his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Around the same time, Darshan Karwat, 37, heard a colleague at Arizona State University (ASU) mention Encore.org (now CoGenerate) and the next day saw Encore.org mentioned again in a book he was reading. Seeing it as a sign, the college professor and founder of Project Confluence, googled the organization and was excited by the Encore Fellowship program. He sent an email, saying he’d love to have an Encore Fellow collaborate with him on a new project.
Shortly after, this intergenerational pair was matched. Both spoke with CoGenerate’s Sarah Gibson below.
What is Project Confluence and what inspired you to start it?
Darshan: In talking with students and other practicing engineers, I was hearing a hunger to apply their skills in other ways – not just following orders or designing systems to ensure a profit, but also considering the social and environmental impacts of their work, and creating positive social and environmental value in the world. I saw them struggling to see themselves working in engineering, being dissatisfied, and dropping out of engineering altogether. It was frustrating to see so much talent leaving this field when they could be having such a positive impact.
Engineers build things — the cars we drive, the way power is generated, the buildings and infrastructure we live and work in, the weapons used in wars, artificial intelligence — and all of these things have impacts on the world, positive, negative, and unclear. I believe it is possible for engineers to create less damage and more beauty in the world. Project Confluence is one effort to embed environmental protection and social justice in engineering.
How does it work?
Jim: Eventually, we hope it will become a certification program like LEED, but to start we created a professional development program that sensitizes engineers to social and environmental justice and teaches them how to make decisions with that in mind. We developed a curriculum and delivered it over eight weeks to an architecture, engineering and consulting firm as a pilot. Next up is rolling it out to other firms in the industry.
In the early part of the fellowship, I helped Darshan develop a strategy and plan for Project Confluence. In the second half, I was one of the developers and instructors for the curriculum.
Darshan: Engineering promotes values. For example, we hear a lot about efficiency as a driving value in engineering. But there isn’t yet a standardized process for how to approach social and environmental justice, for how people and natural resources are impacted.
Can you give us an example of how decisions might change, using the lens of social and environmental justice?
Jim: Sure. We worked with a firm that was tasked with building a bypass in a busy area of South Carolina. They did an analysis and the client chose to go through a historic community that was predominantly African American. Their reasoning was that it would impact the fewest number of people, and the firm had no real way to factor in the impacts or influence of their client’s choice.
The community went into an uproar and the engineering firm had to go back and re-do some of the design as well as improve a local park as a way of mitigating the impact. This was all because there were no standards applied to help the engineers make decisions with social and environmental justice in mind. Engaging with the community in a meaningful way early and often could have changed their design decisions and saved a lot of money and heartache.
How was the Encore Fellowship experience?
Darshan: It was awesome. I gained a mentor and, in doing so much work together, Jim became my friend. He has a perspective that I generally am not exposed to. He has 40 years of experience and has all of this wisdom. He was at a very high level at a large tech company when he retired, and I assume you only get to that point by having demonstrated leadership, management and organizational talent. The way he thinks about what we’re doing is different from how I think about it, and I love that.
Jim: It was such a great collegial exercise, working with Darshan, some of his students and other professors and professionals with subject area expertise. There was a great deal of respect between everyone and it felt like we were on a shared mission. We each had to apply our creativity and skills to put this program together and deliver it. To get such a positive response from the firm we did the pilot with has been really rewarding.
The participants from Mead & Hunt and facilitators in the Project Confluence pilot program.
What kind of impact are you having?
Jim: The firm we did the pilot with is now getting new business from clients who value social and environmental justice. They’ve gone after new grants that support doing this specific type of work, and they’re experiencing cost savings by avoiding potential problems they may have encountered down the line. Their current employees report being more engaged and they’re having an easier time attracting new talent since young engineers really care about environmental impact. They’re demonstrating leadership in this space and are able to include their efforts in their ESG reporting. So far, there really hasn’t been a downside.
Darshan: Longer term, we want to create working examples of how principles of environmental and social justice can become part of how engineering firms do their business. To date, the connection between engineering and social and environmental justice has tended to engage individual engineers and communities rather than firms. There are regulatory changes coming where firms will have to think about this differently but that can all too easily become a checkbox exercise, like greenwashing. We’re trying to move beyond that – so this isn’t something you have to do, but something you want to do.
Any final thoughts for those considering becoming an Encore Fellow?
Jim: One of the main reasons I retired was to have more time to do things that I cared about and to get more involved in causes that were important to me. The Encore Fellowship was a great way to make the jump from a high-pressure work environment to a nonprofit. I was able to use what I’ve learned and not just be an extra set of hands. The match was ideal and my friendship with Darshan is a great added bonus.
LEED certification took 25 years to become a standard practice and this might take just as long. I probably won’t be around then, but hopefully what we’ve built will be the seed.
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