Our Core Program: IT-Ready

Through its IT-Ready Apprentice Program, the Creating IT Futures Foundation — in partnership with local employers and training companies — screens, trains, places, and mentors veterans, displaced workers and under-represented populations in six-month paid apprenticeships that can lead to permanent full-time employment with family-sustaining wages as a skilled IT worker.

Who We Serve:

• Veterans, spouses, and caregivers of wounded military.
• Individuals living below the poverty line or at risk of falling into poverty due to recent unemployment.
• Displaced workers whose skill sets are no longer in high demand.
• Groups under-represented in the ranks of IT workers such as women, African-Americans and Latinos.

Step 1. IT-Ready assesses the needs of area employers in terms of job roles and duties, ideal employee profile and required training for entry-level IT jobs.

Step 2. IT-Ready uses a rigorous assessment and screening process to identify deserving and capable individuals and provides them with the IT technical and soft-skills training necessary to complete the CompTIA A+ certification and begin an apprenticeship job-ready.

Step 3. An employer provides the candidate with a six-month apprenticeship in an IT-related role. To provide the candidate with the best chance at success, the employer also provides an in-company mentor to the apprentice to help that individual acclimate to the culture of the organization. IT-Ready will also supply an outside mentor for additional guidance.

Step 4. At the end of the program, IT-Ready alumni will remain connected to Creating IT Futures and will be expected to pay it forward in the future, either by hiring an apprentice, mentoring an apprentice, building awareness of IT-Ready or donating time or money.

Where We Work:

In 2012, the IT-Ready Apprentice Program debuted in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Minneapolis / St. Paul. Other locations are currently being considered for expansion in 2013 and 2014.