#NNPA BlackPress

DRW Apprenticeship Program Wants People of Color in Tech

As one of the few Black men in his industry, Brawnski Armstrong counts his rise to become a software engineer as lucky yet unlikely. Armstrong came from meager beginnings, but he was one of those people who always knew what he wanted to do when he first touched a computer. He enrolled at the prestigious […]
The post DRW Apprenticeship Program Wants People of Color in Tech first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

12 months ago

May 11, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

DRW Software Engineer Brawnski Armstrong

As one of the few Black men in his industry, Brawnski Armstrong counts his rise to become a software engineer as lucky yet unlikely.

Armstrong came from meager beginnings, but he was one of those people who always knew what he wanted to do when he first touched a computer. He enrolled at the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, which has a computer curriculum, and he attended the University of Michigan on a golf caddie scholarship. His family was also supportive, he said. In summary, Armstrong found his life’s calling early and has been answering it more than 20 years later.

“I have never wondered about my career or what I would do with the rest of my life since that day,” said Armstrong in a published interview.

But it should be different for people of color who want to work in the tech industry but do not have the opportunity to gain meaningful experience or attend the right schools.

That’s why, for the last three years, he has helmed an innovative tech apprenticeship program at Chicago-based trading firm DRW, helping to create a more straightforward path for people of color who want to work in software engineering or development operations.

“We wanted to provide opportunities for underserved people and give them a better path forward that is sustainable. That lasts,” said Armstrong.

While Black people make up 12 percent of the overall workforce, only 8 percent of them are employed in tech, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association’s State of the Tech Workforce.

That disparity means that candidates from marginalized communities are denied access to higher-paying jobs in tech. According to Indeed.com, the average base salary for a software engineer is $114,214. For a devops engineer, that amount is $125,230.

“We can teach you the technology because we believe that we have the expertise to help anyone who has the grit, who has the communication, who has the perseverance,” said Brawnski Armstrong, Senior Software Engineer at DRW.

Diversity in Tech: Answering the Call

Armstrong said he answered a call to action by DRW Founder and CEO Don Wilson and created the technical apprenticeship program in 2020.

“There have been plenty of times I’ve walked into the office with my new employer, and I’ve been the only person of color in the office,” he said, explaining his motivation for launching the program.

The technical apprenticeship program aims to widen the talent pipeline for talented and diverse candidates to be mentored and trained for future employment at DRW or one of its organizational partners.

Thus far, the program is doing its part.

For instance, 62 percent of the current DRW apprenticeship class are people of color.

46 percent are women;
46 percent are people of color focusing on software development;
73 percent are women concentrating on software development;
83 percent are people of color focusing on DevOps (development operations)

But Armstrong insists that establishing this program wasn’t a philanthropic or charitable act.

“DRW gets an employee or the opportunity to train an employee for the benefit of themselves and their corporation for a very long time. It’s a win-win for everyone,” he said.

How the Apprenticeship Program Finds Candidates

The program doesn’t accept resumes. You have to take a test for consideration.

Besides your background and proficiency in math, science and problem solving, the screening process examines whether you have these core intangibles to succeed — grit, communications skills and perseverance.

“How do you stick through problems, how do you work your way through problems, and how do you navigate around constraints,” added Armstrong.

“Do you recognize the rock and the hard place, and how do you get around those things?”

Plus, you don’t have to have a technical background or computer science degree to be accepted into the program, which can last up to 18 months.

Candidates with liberal arts degrees have enrolled, as have those with science, technology, engineering and math backgrounds, said Armstrong.

It’s about something other than what school you attended. Having an Ivy League degree doesn’t guarantee a spot in the rigorous apprenticeship program.

“We can teach you the technology because we believe that we have the expertise to help anyone who has the grit, who has the communication, who has the perseverance,” said Armstrong.

A DRW Apprenticeship Success Story

Having a communications degree and not abundant experience won’t disqualify you either. That’s precisely the profile of Myron Castillo, an alum of the technical apprenticeship program.

When Castillo graduated from the University of Illinois with a communications degree, he wanted to learn software engineering and took classes on the side.

While working as an application developer for a company, Castillo was referred to the DRW technical apprenticeship program in 2021. Upon enrolling, he had to learn the fundamentals of finance and trading, which are core parts of DRW’s business.

It took him six months to complete the program, but he became a better software engineer from the experience.

“What would tie me down a lot was I would get focused on how I can do this as efficiently as possible on the first try,” he said. “Instead of just jumping right in, ‘here’s my bare bones solution.’ I can go back out and rework it if I need to.”

“It’s helped me work faster, and it’s helped me work a lot smarter,” he said.

When asked how the technical apprenticeship program has changed his life, Castillo, a software engineer at DRW, said, “It has really solidified that I have a career.”

“To come to this point in my career has been very inspirational for me,” he said. “It’s been very motivating so that I can continue to build up my software skills.”

He reflected on his journey of working various jobs, including selling health insurance.

“Compensation isn’t always the most remarkable thing to think about when it comes to career growth,” he said. “But it helps to reflect the journey that I have been on, to go from here to there…that it really helps drive that point home for me that I’ve come a long way.”

Castillo added, “Not only have I come a long way, but with DRW, it has shown me that there’s still much more to do. There’s still a longer way to go.”

To Learn More

For more information about the DRW Technical Apprenticeship Program, visit this link.

The post DRW Apprenticeship Program Wants People of Color in Tech appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post DRW Apprenticeship Program Wants People of Color in Tech first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Chicago Defender Staff

Posts by Chicago Defender Staff

Up Next

What bridge is that?

Don't Miss

Miami Grand Prix 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.