Serving Those Who Serve Our Country

According to the Department of Defense, each year, over 200,000 service members leave the military. And findings from Pew Research Center show that about half report they separate without having employment opportunities secured. 

The work we do at NPower takes the acknowledgment and gratitude to the military-connected community a step further. We are committed to serving military veterans, military spouses, Reservists, and most recently transitioning active-duty service members through the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge partnership by supporting them in transitioning to and thriving in high-quality tech careers. The NPower program has made a real difference. Over the past ten years, we have trained over 1600 military-connected individuals. On average these graduates land employment earning annual starting salaries over $52,000. And they are more likely to return to NPower to earn specialized certifications in cybersecurity or cloud computing further increasing their earning potential

We are continually motivated by seeing military members transition into tech professionals and are honored to play a part in the process of helping them find continued success in a post-military career.

To our military-connected family, we thank you for your service and are grateful for the opportunity to serve you in return. If you have a friend or family member affiliated with the military, be sure to take a moment this month to acknowledge and express gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
 

In Solidarity,

PROGRAM FEATURE

Scalable Solution, Intentional Impact
Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Partnership

NPower’s impact will now extend to serve our active-duty military as they prepare for civilian transition through our newest partnership program, SkillBridge. This Department of Defense program allows for active duty service members to participate in training and education programs or apprenticeships during their last 180 days of active duty service. NPower is one of very few 501(c)3 partnership organizations accredited by the Department of Defense for the SkillBridge program, allowing us to recruit active duty students on installations nationwide as well as those stationed abroad.  
 
SkillBridge is unique in that it looks to counter the problem of veteran unemployment or underemployment - before it becomes an issue, by training active duty while they are still receiving a paycheck, and before they transition, allowing for seamless integration back into civilian life. Earlier this year NPower successfully launched our first cohort in cybersecurity at Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, in Arlington, Virginia. 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

EVENT RECAP

“If it wasn’t for NPower, I wouldn’t know what type of help I needed or what that help entailed. It’s very challenging for us veterans to admit to ourselves and others that we need help, but it’s the first step to begin healing, so that we can then conquer our personal and professional goals.

Without NPower’s support, I wouldn’t be here today, and I mean this in a literal sense. With my experience and training, I am now an Information Security Engineer, but more importantly, I am now in charge of my own story.”

Sara D. – NPower Graduate

NPower received a generous grant from MetLife Foundation to support the integration of Trauma-Informed/Responsive Care in our Tech Fundamentals program. This support is an investment in multi-generational success for individuals and communities.

Read more about the impact MetLife Foundation’s support has in transforming lives. 

COMMAND SHIFT

Happy 2nd Anniversary to the Command Shift Coalition

May 2023 marks the celebration of the second anniversary of NPower’s Command Shift Coalition, a consortium of partners, allies, and advocates focused on increasing the representation of women of color in tech from 5% to 10% over the next ten years.

We are grateful to the coalition members, partners, supporters, advocates, allies, and friends who have remained devoted to intentionally prioritizing women of color as they enter, persist, and thrive in tech. 

While there is still much more work to be done, there are many milestones to celebrate including: 

• A 70% increase of women of color enrolled in our programs from Spring 2021-2023
• Since the launch of Command Shift in 2021, 433 women of color have been placed into tech apprenticeships, job placements, and internships
• Featured in over 100 publications with over 1 billion media impressions since 2021 

Stay up to date on all things Command Shift, subscribe to The Command Center, a monthly LinkedIn e-newsletter highlighting the work of Command Shift. 

Members from WWT at NPower Missouri’s ‘Jazz IT Up’ fundraising event
L to R: Nicole Tate, Ashley Harris, Se’Vonne C. (NPower Graduate), Shay Gillespie, Ann Marr

As a dedicated partner for over a decade, WWT has engaged in a variety of ways and at different levels within NPower: from Ann Marr, Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources serving as a member of the Command Shift Coalition to Nicole Tate, Vice President, Enterprise Business Development & Client Enablement serving as NPower Missouri Regional Advisory Board Chair providing strategic counsel to their hiring of NPower Missouri graduates like Se’Vonne C. to volunteers like Shelly Hayhurst and Simon Bernie who have supported students through mock interviews and other professional development activities 

As a steering committee member of the Command Shift Coalition, WWT has been a true advocate in advancing more women of color into tech careers. 

Their 360-degree, holistic volunteer approach has enriched the volunteer experience for both the volunteers and NPower students impacted by these efforts. Thank you, WWT for your commitment to creating positive change within our NPower Missouri community and beyond.

NEW RELEASE: INNOVATING FOR DIVERSITY