Adrian Devezin is helping high school students make an early segue into the tech sector. He has created Empowr, an organization that brings evasive high-salary positions within reach.
Devezin used his free time after he dropped out of college and went to work at a call center to teach himself software design. He quickly became adept at the undertaking and developed what would end up being the top finance app in the Play Store at the time, reported Black Enterprise.
After that success, he created Empowr.
Empowr is a non-profit organization that focuses on teaching career-level tech skills to Black high school students.
It’s vital since STEM is a higher-paying field and a field where collective Black presence is lacking before the end-user stage.
A Pew Research Center study found that only 9 percent of the tech workforce is Black. One of the reasons for this is failed recruitment of Black professionals tied to younger minorities not seeing enough role models in the industry that look like themselves.
“Over 43% of Black students did not have access to the math and science classes to become college-ready. Black schools were given fewer resources, and school districts were creating a prison pipeline from our schools. Regardless of their potential, Black students would have very little chance of success,” Devezin said.
To gain acceptance into the Empowr program, Devezin said that they are looking for students who are motivated. While hopeful participants don’t have to be geniuses at science or have a high g.p.a, they have to be good problem solvers who are willing to work. However, spots are coveted and limited.
Empowr is accepting volunteers who would also like to pour into these promising students. Tech professionals or leaders are encouraged to reach out. For those who are not tech-savvy but still want to contribute, Amazon has partnered with the organization to donate a portion of purchases on the site to the young hopefuls.
While many of the problems that beset Black students on their educational journey are insidious, people such as Devezin will be how we power through them.
