Southern one of first HBCUs to partner with Google for digital skills training

NEWS RELEASE from Google

Google on Oct. 14 announced the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program, a new initiative to help Black students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) prepare to enter the workforce through digital skills training. Through a $1 million investment in the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Grow with Google will provide digital skills workshops in the career centers of 20 HBCUs, reaching 20,000 students over the next school year. The program will be available to all HBCUs by fall 2021. Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is one of the first four schools in the program, along with Virginia State University, Winston-Salem State University, and Bowie State University. 

“Today, nearly two-thirds of all jobs in the U.S. require medium or advanced digital skills, but 50 percent of Black jobseekers lack digital skills,” said Bonita Stewart, Vice President for Global Partnerships at Google and Howard University alumna.“To address this skills gap and help Black students obtain the digital skills they need to succeed in the workforce, we’re proud to partner with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to launch the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program."

“Digital skills are essential to landing a job and succeeding in today’s workforce. I’m proud of the partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Google for investing in HBCUs by bringing the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program to Southern University and A&M College," said Congressman Cedric Richmond. "I look forward to seeing this program grow to reach all HBCUs and the leaders that develop from it for years to come."

TMCF—the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community—has a track record of successfully connecting HBCU students with scholarships, training and jobs as they navigate college and careers. Its long history of on-the-ground work will ensure the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program is tailored to meet student needs. 

“Southern University and A&M College is excited about this initiative and we are elated that Google, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund selected our Career Services Center to launch this amazing program for our scholars,”  said Tamara Foster-Montgomery, Director, Office of Career Services at Southern University and A&M College.

The Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program will provide HBCU career centers with funding and a semester-long in-person and online digital skills program, which will become available to students in November. The program will combine existing Grow with Google workshops with custom jobseeker content for Black students, including design thinking, project management, and professional brand building. TMCF, which is contributing to the program’s design, will work with HBCU career centers to onboard the program. 

“We are excited to join in partnership with Google to help students at our member-schools gain the digital skills necessary in order to be successful,” said Harry L. Williams, President & CEO of TMCF. “We are confident that the Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness program will help to move the needle and provide endless opportunities for our HBCU students.”  

This $1 million Grow with Google investment is part of a $15 million commitment to upskill Black workers. Announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai in June, the investment aims to help Black jobseekers learn new skills in partnership with national workforce development organizations.

Grow with Google is Google’s initiative to create economic opportunities for all by providing free tools and training. Since 2017, the program has trained more than five million Americans on digital skills. The Grow with Google HBCU Career Readiness Program builds on the company’s ongoing investments in HBCU students. Since 2013, the Google In Residence program has placed Google software engineers at HBCUs and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) as faculty. The company also hosts Tech Exchange, a virtual student exchange program that teaches HBCU and HSU students applied computer science courses. 

For more information on Grow with Google’s HBCU Career Readiness program, please visit this website.

ABOUT GROW WITH GOOGLE
Grow with Google was started in 2017 to help Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses. It provides free training, tools, and expertise to help small business owners, veterans and military families, jobseekers and students, educators, startups, and developers. Since Grow with Google’s inception, it has helped more than five million Americans grow their skills, careers and businesses. Grow with Google has created a network of more than 7,500 partner organizations like libraries, schools, small business development centers, chambers of commerce and nonprofits to help people coast-to-coast.

ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the PK-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: tmcf.org.