Empowering career pathways in Boston’s booming tech industry: Per Scholas

Boston is known for being a place of innovation, a tech hub with a thriving tech economy and ample jobs. Yet, many Boston residents don’t see a pathway into these careers. 

“Many Per Scholas learners have similar dreams to enter technology career pathways that provide stability, work-life balance, and opportunities for growth and increased pay,” reflected Per Scholas Greater Boston’s Managing Director, H. Kay Howard, “but they also often face additional systemic barriers standing in the way of achieving those dreams.” Per Scholas’ tuition-free programs help to break these barriers and unlock the potential of each student.

Per Scholas has been offering numerous tech courses (and expanding its offerings) in Boston since 2019. Their program encourages people of color, women, and individuals with non-traditional educational pathways to participate, paving the way for more diversity in the tech workforce. 

Tech trailblazer, Hiba, exemplifies the value Per Scholas graduates bring to the workforce, enhancing not only the companies that employ them but the broader Massachusetts tech ecosystem as a whole. Hiba, born in Sudan, moved to Boston during the pandemic but struggled to find employment opportunities. She then discovered Per Scholas online and joined their AWS re/Start training to gain vital experience for developing a career in tech. The program exceeded her expectations, offering holistic training in a variety of topics that were centered around her professional development. After completing the training, Hiba secured a job as a Platform Engineer.