December 3, 2018, Charlotte, North Carolina—Carolina FinTech Hub and BLKTECHCLT announced today an official partnership to onboard the city’s high potential, yet traditionally underserved talent (particularly underserved minorities and women) into high-paying, high-tech jobs. The year-long partnership positions BLKTECHCLT as the primary recruiting arm for Carolina FinTech Hub’s forthcoming Workforce Investment Network (WIN program) and as a supportive partner to the organization’s investments in boosting financial technology startups and investments throughout the Carolinas.
WIN is a collaboration of community and national leaders to create new pathways for untapped talent to find great work in technology within the region’s financial services and insurance companies. WIN will offer paid professional development to underserved, motivated candidates in the Carolinas. Upon successful completion of the intensive 6-month program, participants will be awarded full-time employment at a predetermined sponsor institution.
“This program aims to make a positive impact in upward mobility across the southeast,” stated Tariq Bokhari, Executive Director of Carolina Fintech Hub and Charlotte city councilman. “We strive to do our part in impacting the upward mobility challenges across our region by becoming national leaders in unlocking the potential of Fintech workforce opportunities. The WIN program is the central vehicle to drive that mission forward.”
Participants are selected through an application process which includes an initial assessment test. The program includes over 700 hours of training in JavaScript programming in addition to soft-skills training and one-on-one mentorship with industry managers and career development coaches.
“We’re excited to team with Carolina Fintech Hub to ensure that this initiative truly reaches underrepresented talent in our community,” said Sherrell Dorsey, CEO and founder of BLKTECHCLT. “Our core mission is to enable opportunities within the technology sector for people of color to get access in the growth and prosperity of our city. The WIN program is a big, bold, and audacious commitment to the future of this city and we’re up for the challenge to help connect our members to the opportunity.”
BLKTECHCLT, established in 2016, is Charlotte’s first innovation hub providing training, professional development to Black entrepreneurs and technologists in the city, in addition to developing meaningful data collection and insights on Charlotte’s local Black tech community.
The hub serves over 2,000 people in the Charlotte metro area through its monthly learning labs, career boot camps, and access to local mentors and investors.
BLKTECHCLT and Carolina Fintech Hub will also work throughout the year on a series of campaigns to better connect with the local community and will host information sessions about the WIN program and opportunities within the local technology community.
Additional partners to the WIN program include Tech Talent South, Jobs For the Future, Road to Hire, YearUp, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ally, BB&T, E&Y, AIG, the City of Charlotte, and many others.
Interested applicants can learn more about the WIN program by visiting the WIN website at www.carolinafintechhub.org/win/ and requesting to be notified when applications open.
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About BLKTECHCLT
BLKTECH Interactive is a social venture training, educating, and developing entrepreneurs and technologists of color. As the first dedicated technology training and leadership development initiative driving diversity in the North Carolina startup ecosystem, BLKTECH Interactive aims to make North Carolina filled with the most diverse cities for entrepreneurship and tech talent development in the southeast.
About Carolina FinTech Hub
Carolina Fintech Hub is a nonprofit partnership of leading financial services firms, fintech companies, universities and government working to fuel the future growth and success of emerging financial technologies. By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, we ensure fintech in all verticals have access to the talent, capital, financial industry expertise and strategic alliances they need to succeed.
Media contact:
Sherrell Dorsey
sherrell@sherrelldorsey.com
646-450-2033
