CPC Technology Exploration & Skills Training (TEST) Program is Officially Underway | Chinese-American Planning Council
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CPC Technology Exploration & Skills Training (TEST) Program is Officially Underway

Oct
31

The Chinese American Planning Council (CPC) is thrilled to announce the launch of our new training program this October! The CPC Technology Exploration & Skills Training (TEST) program has been revamped from previous initiatives and is officially underway. Our Meet & Greet event on Friday, October 18th marked a wonderful start, bringing together program participants and IBM mentors and representatives to the CPC One space.

CPC TEST is a collaborative effort with the IBM SkillsBuild platform, designed to provide community members with mentorship and tech training, along with certificates and digital credentials in Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Cloud Computing. Our program goal is to assist participants in connecting with the tech field and exploring internships or job opportunities in the coming months.

Currently, there are 50 community members across New York City who are participating in the CPC TEST program. Participants engage in self-paced online skills training, but also with support through cohort-style check-ins. Each cohort is led by an IBM professional volunteering their time to help members set goals, develop teamwork and communication skills, and network with industry professionals.

We are honored to have Shirley Han (AI Engineer / Data Scientist at IBM), Yinzhe Ma (Senior Data Scientist at IBM), Rolando Franco (Technology Strategist, Technical Sales Manager, Board Member Financial Services Market at IBM), and Warren Zhou (AI Product Manager at IBM) as our four IBM Cohort Leaders. A small cohort of individuals with specific learning schedules and accommodations is also led by a CPC staff. The generous support from IBM volunteers provides our participants with valuable guidance and mentorship. 

The Meet & Greet event began with Kevin Tse (CPC's Education & Career Services Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives & Development) welcoming the group and expressing gratitude to our advocates and supporters, while introducing the program’s formation and vision. Lucy Chan (Sales Coach, IBM Global Sales School, formerly Vice President at IBM) then shared her insights with the program participants, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and having skills like communication, teamwork, being reliable, problem-solving, taking initiatives, having a growth and open mindset, and applying technology in today's work environment. After the speeches, Cohort Leaders introduced themselves and their roles at IBM to the larger group. Each cohort gathered for a quick interactive conversation. Vickie Wong from CPC Employment Services and Fabyan Roldan (Director of Training Programs) lastly introduced their instrumental involvement with supporting our participants in career search efforts. The evening concluded with much appreciation and excitement for the program ahead. 

Following the event, a program participant shared their enthusiasm: "I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in this event. It was truly an amazing night meeting the IBM SkillsBuild guests and all the CPC TEST program staffs. I was especially impressed when Rolando and Lucy were giving their speech. Their life stories made me realize what is possible." It is our hope that the Meet & Greet event inspired participants and fostered a sense of community support.

The Chinese American Planning Council (CPC) extends our heartfelt gratitude once again to the dedicated IBM volunteers for their commitment to uplifting our community.

If you are interested to learning more about the CPC TEST program or joining future cohorts, please email kchen7@cpc-nyc.org.