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“It is imperative that every student has access to career development and workforce training,” said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. “Thanks to the generosity of Google and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, students at Saint Augustine’s University will be equipped with the skills needed to land a job and increase their economic potential through the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program.”
TMCF—the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community—has a track record of successfully connecting HBCU students with scholarships, career training and jobs as they navigate college and careers. Its long history of on-the-ground work ensures the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program is tailored to meet student needs.
“A central part of the mission of TMCF is to prepare the next generation of workforce talent. Our partnership with Google enables this mission and ensures students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities are positioned to compete for meaningful careers”, said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
“We are excited to partner with Google and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to facilitate the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program. This initiative will assist our students at North Carolina Central University to enhance their digital skills which will make them viable and employable citizens when they graduate,” said Dr. Angela Coleman, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University “In addition, we also look forward to all the resources that our alumni and faculty will also have access to. This partnership will truly benefit the entire NCCU community,” said Dr. Angela Coleman, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University.
Started last October, the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program provides HBCU career centers with funding and a semester-long in-person and online digital skills program. The program combines existing Grow with Google workshops with custom job seeker content for Black students, including design thinking, project management, and professional brand building. TMCF, which is contributing to the program’s design, will work with HBCU career centers to onboard the program.
“Employment is a key driver to economic mobility. Being prepared with the technical acumen is a key enabler needed to enter today’s marketplace. We are excited about the opportunities that the Grow with Google’s (GwG) HBCU Career Readiness Program partnership will afford Saint Augustine’s University as we endeavor to be productionist of workforce ready graduates and leaders,” said Dr. Maria A. Lumpkin, Interim President, Saint Augustine’s University.
This $1 million Grow with Google investment is part of a $15 million commitment to upskill Black workers. Announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai last June, the investment aims to help Black job seekers learn new skills in partnership with national workforce development organizations.
Grow with Google is Google’s initiative to create economic opportunities for all by providing free tools and training. Since 2017, the program has trained more than five million Americans on digital skills. The Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program builds on the company’s ongoing investments in HBCU students. Since 2013, the Google In Residence program has placed Google software engineers at HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) as faculty. The company also hosts Tech Exchange, a virtual student exchange program that teaches HBCU and HSU students applied computer science courses.
For more information on Grow with Google’s HBCU Career Readiness program, please visit this website.
