IBM, Hispanic Heritage Foundation Providing Free SkillsBuild Tech Courses to Latino Students

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation has partnered with IBM Education to provide IBM's SkillsBuild education program to Latino high school students free of charge, giving them skills they need to meet workforce demands, according to a news release.

IBM SkillsBuild helps learners develop new skills, with the aim of preparing them for career opportunities in tech fields. The program provides digital content, personal mentoring, and hands-on learning in technology, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills, HHF said in its announcement. "Our collective mission is to provide training and opportunities for our community to make an impact in the tech sector. We are grateful to IBM for allowing us to leverage their expertise and pathways in preparing the Latinx community for jobs that desperately need to be filled," said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of HHF.

Courses, available in both English and Spanish, will include communication and leadership skills, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and others. "I see every day the great opportunity to invest in skilling the next generation of STEM talent from the Hispanic community," said Claudia Cortes Romanelli, director of Corporate Social Responsibility at IBM. "We look forward to working with HHF as part of our commitment to equitably skill 30 million people worldwide."

HHF's mission focuses on education, the workforce, identity, and social impact through leadership and culture. Visit the organization's website to learn more about how it addresses its goals. IBM Education focuses on a personalized and diverse approach to STEM career and workforce readiness through its free programs to public schools, universities, aspiring professionals, and job seekers. In 2021 IBM committed to equip 30 million people worldwide by 2030 with skills they need to meet current and emerging technology career demands, with special emphasis on underrepresented communities. Learn more on the IBM website.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • cyber security padlock

    Report: AI Adoption Forces Trade-Off Between Speed and Identity Security

    AI adoption is forcing enterprises to trade security for speed — and identity controls are the first casualty, according to a new report from Delinea, a provider of identity security solutions for both human and AI agent identities.

  • teacher holding laptop in the class at school

    80% of Teachers Are Using AI Tools in the Classroom

    In a recent survey by PreK-12 marketplace TPT, 80% of educators reported using generative AI tools in their classrooms. The majority (58%) said they use AI regularly or occasionally, while 22% have tried it once or twice.

  • person typing on a touch screen schedule plan calendar

    Deadline Extended for ADA Title II Compliance

    Schools working to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II regulations for digital accessibility have received a temporary reprieve: The United States Department of Justice has published an interim final rule to push back the compliance deadline by one year.

  • abstract cybersecurity data protection

    Rubrik Announces Google Workspace Data Protection

    Rubrik has introduced Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace, a product the company said is designed to help enterprise customers protect data and restore operations across Google Workspace environments.