For Sarah, a member of the first community cohort in TN, Persevere represents an opportunity to start fresh. “I thought that I had used up all of my chances in life and when I was given this opportunity I was over the moon,” Sarah said. “As someone who is justice involved, it’s hard to find a good job or even be taken seriously.” Though she is only a few weeks into the program, Sarah was pleased to report that she is already excited about the material she is learning in class. “The class itself is awesome. I love what we are learning about and it really feels like I have finally found what I am supposed to do.”

The community based program in Tennessee, which began classes on July 17, is unique within Persevere. Though Persevere began behind the walls, the community based program offers the opportunity for individuals who are justice involved, justice impacted, or at risk to pursue a new career in tech. This significantly broadens Persevere’s reach, and allows us to provide life-changing opportunities to more people across the state. 

Sarah’s instructors, Kyle and Jason, are collaborating to create a classroom experience that is both engaging and realistic. “One of the main things we’ve been doing in our class is introducing more projects that foster creativity and problem solving,” said Kyle. “We are trying to implement tools and resources that are seen frequently in the industry.” Persevere instructors are encouraged to supplement the Persevere coding curriculum with projects they design themselves, which provides additional opportunities to share knowledge of the software development industry. Jason has loved how engaged the students are–and the way that has pushed him as an instructor. “My favorite thing is when a student finds that little nugget of code that is so rarely used and or instructed that when they ask me to explain it, it takes me a moment to remember that specific item. It makes me proud that they are digging deeper,” said Jason. 

While being in the Persevere program itself is an exciting time for many participants, it’s critical to remember the end goal: to provide individuals with the opportunity to pursue the life they want through meaningful, well-paying employment. Once participants progress through the program, they are paired with a Technology Employment Specialist who supports them throughout the job search process. Sarah is already looking ahead to how her future will be impacted by Persevere. “I am excited to go to class everyday and learn as much as I can,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier with how things are going–I can’t wait until I can get a good job with the skills I learn and have a real career so that I can provide a better life for my son.”