PITTSBURGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH BALTIMORE-BASED POWER52 FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR UNDERSERVED INDIVIDUALS
Co-Founded by NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Partnership with Power52 Foundation to Place an Emphasis on Technology-Focused Courses
PITTSBURGH—January 26, 2021 – Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) has partnered with Power52 Foundation, a 501(c)3 non- profit foundation dedicated to providing employment training for at-risk and underserved individuals in the city of Baltimore, Md., and surrounding counties to prepare them for careers in the solar industry. The partnership will provide Power52 students with an opportunity to receive entry in a college program and course credits in pursuit of a PTC certificate or degree.
Power52 students will have the opportunity to enroll in a technology-focused curriculum in the School of Trades Technology with a certificate in Electrician Technology or in the School of Energy and Electronics Technology with an Associate of Science in Smart Building Technology.
Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith, PTC President/CEO shared, that as part of its five-year Strategic Plan, PTC has a primary focus on expanding access to education to specialized populations locally as well as nationally and internationally. PTC will provide Power52 students with its expertise in technology with its state-of-the-art, 15,392 square-foot Energy Tech Center. Additionally, Power52 students will have the opportunity to utilize PTC’s workforce development resources and community partnerships throughout the region via student mentorships, job shadowing, field trip experiences and internships to prepare for a future in their field of study.
“At Pittsburgh Technical College, we take great pride in providing all students a clearly defined pathway to fill the middle skills careers that will fuel economic development and rebuild not only our Commonwealth, but neighboring regions as well,” said Dr. Harvey-Smith. “Our partnership with Power52 is the latest example in our commitment to these endeavors and we’re excited to welcome its students into the Pittsburgh community.”
Cherie Brooks, Visionary Co-Founder, President & CEO of Power52 Foundation, shared her excitement about the new partnership to place Power52 graduates, while applauding PTC for joining in on Power52’s mission to empower historically underserved communities.
“We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Dr. Harvey-Smith and our collaborative work with her team. This transfer articulation agreement creates an awesome opportunity for Power52 grads in pursuit of higher education,” said Ms. Brooks. “The opportunity for our graduates to have their credentials with Power52 transfer to college credits at Pittsburgh Technical College not only incentivizes students, but it expands opportunity, builds excellence and provides access to the portfolio of learning and growth opportunities at Power52.”
Co-founded by Brooks, as well as electrical and energy engineer, project manager and business consultant Rob Wallace, and NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, Power52 Foundation is dedicated to a long-term community development strategy designed to break the cycles of poverty, unemployment, under employment and incarceration in urban communities while simultaneously advancing community resilience through sustainable energy.
“Every partnership we lock in guarantees the hope that Power52 provides,” said Co-Founder Ray Lewis. “I am truly grateful for this new journey together with PTC to tackle so many issues in our country when it comes to low-income communities. Every life we help redirect proves to make our country a better place, and now our graduates have another arm to lean on to further their individual greatness.”
The Power52 Energy Institute is the first Clean Energy Private Career School specializing in Solar PV installation to be approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
To celebrate the partnership, PTC and Power52 will conduct a virtual contract signing event on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m.
ABOUT POWER52 FOUNDATION
Power52 Foundation is a Maryland-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that disrupts the cycle of poverty by meeting individuals where they are and giving them mentoring and a skillset for a more resilient lifestyle. POWER52 provides career training and job placement opportunities in the field of renewable energy, bringing forth equitable opportunities and inclusion to a highly underrepresented demographic and population while simultaneously being a voice and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the clean energy sector. Like @power52official on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Text the word POWER to 69922 to stay updated on future events. For more information about Power52 Foundation, visit http://www.power52.org.