First Tech Fund joins Civic Hall as it expands workforce development offerings
FTF joins innovation and connection hub to foster ongoing collaboration with NYC ecosystem partners
NEW YORK, NY - First Tech Fund—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering low income NYC high school students in identifying, navigating, and attaining academic and professional opportunities— has officially joined workforce training and innovation hub Civic Hall. An education collaborator, Civic Hall works to foster innovation, education, and network growth in New York City’s tech economy with a commitment to expanding opportunities for all.
Through First Tech Fund's free, year-long high school fellowship program, over 300 students across NYC have accessed mentorship, college preparation, career readiness, free technology, and pathways to careers of the future since 2020. Building on this opportunity-generating support, the nonprofit recently launched its Dual Impact Internship Program, where underrepresented, college-aged students are paired with entrepreneurs of color and or female entrepreneurs through a paid, eight-week internship placement over the summer. First Tech Fund piloted the workforce development program in 2023 and is expanding the program from 2 seats to 20 seats in 2024, with the capacity to expand and add additional seats through the support of Civic Hall ecosystem partners to meet the needs of their 125+ college-aged alumni.
“We’ve heard constantly from our student community about the difficulties they face once they arrive to college when navigating the complex internship process and we’ve seen how transformational it can be to help students land their first meaningful work experience after their freshman year. With more companies cutting staff and making reductions in DEI programs, it’s more important now than ever to invest in this programming that is creating real systems change. We’re excited for the numerous opportunities that Civic Hall’s hub of partners and resources will open for students” said Josue De Paz, CEO and co-founder of First Tech Fund.
“Through the First Tech Fund internship program, I was able to get my first opportunity in the biotechnology space, get real-world experience that will inform the rest of my journey through higher education, and learn the importance of building skills for the future,” said Raquel Cosme, a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University from the Bronx who is a 2021 alum of First Tech Fund’s fellowship program and one of two students who were part of the internship pilot program with FTF partner Hera Health Solutions. “Thanks to First Tech Fund’s resources and support, I was able to take part in an opportunity that I wouldn’t have been able to access without their support”.
Located in the heart of the NYC tech community at Union Square, Civic Hall is a new, 85,000-square-foot learning and training center at the state-of-the-art Zero Irving building, where First Tech Fund will now run all operations and in person programming.
“We’re thrilled that the First Tech Fund team has joined the Civic Hall community here at Zero Irving,” said Seema Shah, Executive Director at Civic Hall. “Through our collaborative network and capacity building resources, we’re excited for how our partnership will support even more students across NYC to access diverse pathways to educational and career opportunities.”
To support First Tech Fund’s work catalyzing careers for NYC high school students, make a donation at firsttechfund.com/donate-now or contact info@firsttechfund.com.
In spring 2024, First Tech Fund will open the application for its free fellowship program to New York City high school students. The program runs from September to June via weekly, virtual workshops in the evenings where students receive digital skills training, personalized mentorship, career exploration and networking opportunities to build social capital. Workshops cover various topics including navigating the college admissions process, resume writing, financial literacy, brand building, and more. Through virtual and in person career panel events, fellows gain insight into a broad range of fields including law, medicine, finance, business, public service, technology, and more. Community members, partners, families, and students can sign up for First Tech Fund’s newsletter at firsttechfund.com to learn more
ABOUT FIRST TECH FUND
First Tech Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to empowering low income high school students in identifying, navigating, and attaining academic and professional opportunities. First Tech Fund provides a supportive, adaptive ecosystem where students get access to free tech, free broadband, skills training, social capital, mentorship, and more. Follow First Tech Fund on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
ABOUT CIVIC HALL
Civic Hall is a member of The Fedcap Group. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall will facilitate groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact tenants, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and NYC’s diverse employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. For more information about membership opportunities, please visit civichall.org.
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