The Nehemiah Community Empowerment Center lives by its mission, “Rebuilding & Restoring Communities & Families.” For over 10 years, this organization has served the needs of its community in Guilford County. With the help of ApprenticeshipNC, the Center has expanded its reach by offering apprenticeship programs for those interested in careers in information technology and STEM fields.

“Coming out of college, I had a hard time finding a job. One of the things that I lacked was certifications in my I.T. field. That’s when I found Nehemiah. I learned about what the program would do, and it gave me a sense of hope,” said Andre Jones, a graduate of the Nehemiah apprenticeship program. Jones was able to earn his I.T. Fundamentals Certificate in eight weeks, which is comparatively shorter than other apprenticeship programs.

Along with the apprenticeship program, the center also offers the “Phenomenal Women in Stem” program that helps educate and train women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Nehemiah works with underrepresented populations and is a registered service provider and employer partner with Guilford Works & NCWorks.  “Working with these local entities has allowed us to train, certify and prep people for the I.T. field right here in Greensboro,” says Randi Francis, executive director of the Center. “For those who qualify, participants may receive funding for their training and/or internship.  Nehemiah provides the much needed on-the-job training which makes our candidates more competitive when seeking employment.”

Francis adds, “Our apprenticeship program opens doors for so many people that might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn skills that will benefit them.”