St. Louis local Keisha Mabry’s friends said she has changed her career at least 10 times in her life. But this time, as leading the St. Louis chapter of Per Scholas, she found her calling.
Per Scholas is a national organization funded by grants and family foundations that provides free training in IT and cyber security fields. The organization has over 20 sites, but Mabry calls the site in St. Louis “special to her.”
“I’m so biased, I would say we have the best team ever. But nothing makes us different [than the other sites.] We’re really big on learners and alumni being able to access the same quality training and support across the organization,” Mabry said.
“The biggest difference, typically, with a site is just the paths, the training, paths that you can go through.”
Mabry came to St. Louis as an 8th grade science teacher through Teach for America. Afterward she went into the food industry, helping entrepreneurs with distribution of their product. When she left the food industry, she returned to the education field, helping to expand schools.
After her second tenure in the education sector, she landed a role with a tech company. The firm launched a texting platform that helps high school students enroll in college using text messages over the summer, exploring other jobs in the tech and digital fields.
“Per Scholas was a perfect blend of all of my loves and experiences, you know, in tech and education as well as access to resources,” she said.
Per Scholas is celebrating its 30th year, and the St. Louis site is celebrating its third year. The organization recently recognized Mabry as a key leader in the organization.
“ Per Scholas is proud to celebrate its local leaders driving change and creating opportunities in St. Louis. Kiesha Mabry, our managing director in St. Louis is making a meaningful impact by equipping individuals from underserved communities with the skills needed to launch thriving tech careers,” Per Scholas said in a press release.
The organization said under Mabry’s leadership, hundreds of learners have passed through the program, bridging the divide in access to education and training in the technology sector.
“Kiesha Mabry brings immense passion driving towards Per Scholas’ mission of advancing economic mobility and diversifying the tech industry,” the release stated.
Those who go through the program can choose between two routes: IT or cyber security.
Students complete a training program that lasts 13 to 15 weeks. After the program, they can earn their CompTIA certification.
“80% of our training is technical, and then the other 20% is professional development, and this is all at no cost,” Mabry said.
“The other thing I like to point out is the community and family vibe of our campus and our programming, I think our teachers are just amazing. They make it so fun. Every time I’m in class it feels like a family reunion.”
After the program, Per Scholas helps connect the learners with companies who hire them full time and often offer a path to an undergraduate degree. Per Scholas also ensures their alumni feel comfortable in their careers after graduation.
“Most of our learners come in with no experience, and they graduate getting into careers where their salaries, on average, increased by 153% and here in St Louis, we’ve graduated and trained over 200 learners, 80% of which are people of color,” Mabry said.
The only requirement for the program is to be 18 and pass a math assessment. The program also provides access to the campus to take the assessment on their computers.
“It really is bringing yourself, having the drive, having the will, because the program is intense,” Mabry said.
The program also offers a 0% loan that provides support for learners as they go through the program, including their accommodations and groceries. Mabry said the main goal of the organization is to help people receive holistic help to achieve their financial and personal goals.
“We’re trying to, at every single turn, in every single way, reduce the barriers of entry for our learners so they could not only graduate and get certified, but get a job as well,” Mabry said.
Mabry said seeing students graduate from the program makes her happy, and she celebrates everyone in the classroom. She said the program is crucial in helping communities of color achieve economic mobility and success for themselves and their families.
“We make it a big deal because they are donating 13 to 15 weeks of their lives, you know, to get these certifications and to better their lives, not just for themselves, but their families and communities,” Mabry said. “And so, when people graduate, the biggest thing that they say is how life changing the experience and the program is for them. And that’s just heartwarming, just to be able to do work every day, that is life changing.”