Latest news with #TecCentro
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tec Centro Capital Region reveals new development center in Dauphin County
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A new workforce development center opened in Dauphin County. Tec Centro Capital Region held a ribbon-cutting today on North 3rd Street in Harrisburg. The center aims to provide training, support, and opportunities to disadvantaged communities. 'We offer adult basic education, which includes English as a second language, computer literacy and allied health programs, which include medical assistance, phlebotomy, and certified nurse aid courses,' said Robert Torres, the Executive Director at Tec Centro. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices The center has been open for nearly five months and is currently in the process of designing and building a training space on the second floor to offer skilled trades. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tec Centro Berks gets $30,000 donation from Comcast
Adela Rodriguez grew up in an analogue world. 'I've always had blue collar jobs,' Rodriguez said. 'Just the thought of using Microsoft Office made me nervous.' A new job as a part-time administrator made Rodriguez, of Reading, realize that her skillset needed an update. Luckily, her employer was Tec Centro Berks, also known as Berks Latino Workforce Development, a nonprofit that offers no-cost career training and certifications to Berks County residents looking to build marketable skills and gain financial stability. Rodriguez enrolled in Tec Centro's digital literacy training program. 'Every time I learned something new, it felt like a personal victory,' Rodriguez said. 'I earned my Office 365 certification…it meant I had overcome the fear, and proven to myself that I could still grow.' Rodriguez is now a case manager overseeing several Tec Centro programs, where she supports people aiming to better their lives like she did. When Rodriguez shared her story at Tec Centro in Reading, and was gifted a new laptop from Comcast, it felt like a full-circle moment. She received a standing ovation from about 80 Tec Centro students attending the nonprofit's Digital Opportunity Day event Tuesday, all of whom were also gifted new computers from Comcast. Comcast personnel distribute laptop computers to Tec Centro students during a Digital Opportunity Day Luncheon at Tec Centro Berks on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Tec Centro, 450 S. Sixth St. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP) The event was to announce a $30,000 donation from Comcast to help fund Tec Centro's digital literacy programs. 'Providing connectivity is about more than internet access,' said Ricky Frazier Jr., senior vice president, Comcast Keystone Region. 'It's about fostering community, empowering communities, and creating new opportunities for growth and learning…In line with our mission, Tec Centro Berks is also making sure this community stays connected and future ready.' The donation will help Tec Centro provide its basic and advanced 12-week computer courses to 150 students at no cost to them, Tec Centro said. 'At Tec Centro, we deeply believe in the power of technology,' said Violet Emory, executive director at Tec Centro. 'That is why we've made digital literacy a core component of all our training programs. Because we know that whether someone is entering the workforce, or simply trying to navigate daily life, technology is essential.' Emory thanked Comcast for helping Tec Centro students gain critical digital skills. She noted that students in Tec Centro's Certified Nursing Aid program receive 20 hours of digital literacy training in partnership with Reading Area Community College. 'Digital literacy is also a key component in all training programs offered at Tec Centro Berks, including English as a Second-Language, HiSET (high school diploma), Culinary Arts, and our Allied Health training program,' Emory told MediaNews Group. Any Berks resident over age 18 can sign up for Tec Centro's programs. There are currently 110 people on the waitlist for Tec Centro's standalone digital literacy courses, Emory said. She noted that the construction of a new computer lab has helped Tec Centro expand the program and better serve students. Ninety-two percent of jobs today require at least one digital skill, Broderick Johnson, executive vice president of public policy and digital equity at Comcast, said at the event. 'But nearly a third of the workers in the United States lack the ability to build those skills, so we've got to address this,' Johnson said. Jobs requiring digital skills also offer economic advantages, with positions that require at least one digital skill paying an average of 23% more than those that require none, Johnson said. 'That's why the work you all do here, and that we in Comcast are proud to partner with you on, is so critical,' Johnson said. Johnson also mentioned several Comcast initiatives in Reading, such as an internet essentials program, which offers low-cost internet to qualifying households, including 18,000 homes in Reading, and the Lift Zone program, which offers free Wi-Fi at community centers in underserved areas. He said there are 17 lift zones in Reading. Jack Gombach, city managing director, representing Mayor Eddie Moran, and state Rep. Manny Guzman (D-127th Dist.) also thanked Comcast for its investments in Reading. Guzman said he also relied on a public resource to build digital literacy — he said his first experiences with the internet were at the Reading Public Library decades ago. 'What was true then is true now,' Guzman said. 'Internet connectivity is not a luxury anymore, but a straight-up necessity…This $30,000 grant is going to be able to help people across the community, whether it's something like building a resume, job searching, or connecting to educational opportunities…This grant is going to open doors.' He thanked Comcast for their help connecting people in the city and challenged them to keep it up. 'We recognize that there are pockets across the city of Reading that don't have connectivity to the internet,' Guzman said. 'We've done a lot of work, and Comcast has been a great partner, but we know we have a lot more work to do.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Promoting a strong, diverse workforce in Berks [opinion]
By Amy Young Tec Centro Berks For over four decades, I have called Reading home. My journey from working in corporate insurance to teaching in public schools has always been about one thing: empowering people to reach their full potential. Today, as the adult basic education coordinator at Tec Centro Berks, I am privileged to be part of an organization that is breaking down barriers and opening doors for Black and brown individuals striving for financial stability and generational wealth. When people hear the term 'generational wealth,' they often picture extravagant homes, luxury cars or investment portfolios. But for many families in communities of color, generational wealth can simply mean the ability to pass down a home, a life insurance policy or a pension. It can mean having a stable, well-paying job that allows parents to build a college fund for their children or avoid the cycle of paycheck-to-paycheck living. At its core, generational wealth is about economic security, something that cannot be achieved without access to quality jobs and career training. That's where Tec Centro comes in. Tec Centro is committed to workforce development that prioritizes real career pathways, not just temporary employment. We provide training in industries with long-term financial stability, including health care, technology, government, construction and food. These fields are essential to the health and vitality of our region and offer opportunities for upward mobility, particularly when individuals receive the right certifications and education. And contrary to the belief that lucrative careers are only found in major metropolitan hubs, opportunities exist right here in Berks County. However, workforce development alone is not enough. Structural barriers such as limited access to quality education, child care and financial literacy continue to stifle economic mobility for Black and brown individuals. Without affordable child care, parents are forced to choose between earning a paycheck and ensuring their children are cared for. Without financial literacy, individuals struggle to build credit, buy homes or start businesses. These challenges are not just personal hurdles; they are systemic issues that require institutional change. Employers play a critical role in either reinforcing or dismantling these barriers. When I moved to Reading, there were Black professionals in human resources and managerial roles, positions that allowed them to influence hiring decisions and foster a more diverse workforce. Today, if decision-makers lack diversity or fear it, the workforce remains homogenous, shutting out qualified Black and brown candidates. True workforce diversity isn't about filling quotas; it's about recognizing that diverse teams drive innovation, strengthen businesses and reflect the communities they serve. Policymakers at the local and state levels must also take action. Workforce training should be accessible to anyone willing to put in the effort — without the stigma that often accompanies government-funded programs for communities of color. Historically, assistance for white Americans has been framed as an investment, while similar programs for Black and brown communities have been dismissed as handouts. This narrative must change. Investing in workforce development for all Americans strengthens the economy and benefits society as a whole. The impact of programs like Tec Centro extends beyond the individuals we train. When children see their parents and neighbors pursuing education and career advancement, they are more likely to follow that path. Representation matters. When community members serve as role models, whether as students, educators or business leaders, they create a ripple effect that influences future generations. My message to business leaders, policymakers and the broader community is simple: Get to know the people in your community. Recognize their talent, potential, and contributions. Understand that no one succeeds alone; everyone who has reached financial stability has received support along the way. Be that support for someone else. If I could make one major change to improve workforce diversity and economic opportunity, it would be to challenge the growing resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. When those in power frame diversity as a problem rather than a strength, it is deeply demoralizing to those of us who embrace it. Despite this, I remain committed to uplifting and supporting diversity, ensuring that Tec Centro continues to be a beacon of opportunity for all communities. Building generational wealth is not an overnight process, but with intentional investment in workforce development, financial literacy, and equitable hiring practices, we can pave the way for a future where economic security is within reach for all. Amy Young is the Adult Basic Education Coordinator at Tec Centro Berks, where works to advancing workforce development opportunities for all communities.
