Making Tech More Diverse: An Actionable Strategy
summary
Describes a paid six-month Verizon apprenticeship called Project Athena that sources 40 apprentices from 400 applicants in New Jersey and Texas, trains them on full-stack JavaScript with online modules plus in-person coaches, and spends months embedding business-unit technologists to prepare hires for internal placement. Reports day-17 retention of all 40, an 80%+ placement target modeled on Laboratoria outcomes, and executive funding approval, framing this as an operational pipeline rather than a diversity manifesto.
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chapters (7)
- 0:00Introduction
- 12:25Identifying the apprentices
- 14:50Placement
- 15:44Benefits
- 16:26How Athena came to life
- 20:49How you can help
- 22:47Conclusion
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