“In today’s world, having access to technology is a critical part of getting an education and finding gainful employment. No student should be forced to go to school without a functional and modern computer or tablet. The mission of the NERDiT Foundation is simple: we must close the digital divide for communities of color.”
A hands-on approach to learning. We provide our
pre-apprentice program participants with
equipment to test, configure, use, break, and repair. Yes, we said break. We offer a highly supportive environment where you can make mistakes, ask questions, and grow into a certified IT support professional. Our approach is simple: hear, see, and do. Magic happens when one can explore, and that’s what NERDiT Cares offers.
Pre-apprenticeship: You don’t need a degree, a certification, coursework, or prior experience. This program IS your prior experience, designed to begin your journey toward a tech career. Just show us how motivated you are to learn and how committed you’ll be to seeing your dream come to life. You’ll also get experience in resume building, interview training, and LinkedIn. You’ll walk away with three certifications that employers look for: CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+, and AWS Cloud Practitioner.
[12-week program | Ages 16+]
Apprenticeship: If you have some prior experience and some groundwork in IT, it’s time to use those skills and continue your training in a real-world, on-the-job setting. Learn to interface with customers, solve their problems, and gain IT certifications that’ll set you up to launch your career. Oh, and you’ll get paid while doing it! Walk away with your CompTIA Network+ certification, Microsoft certifications, and Apple certifications, along with that hands-on experience and a paycheck.
[52-week program | Ages 18+]
Whether you're interested in learning how to use a computer or fix a computer, we have opportunities. We even donate computers if you or your organization need support. We want all to feel included and welcomed into the NERDiT Ecosystem. Our goal is to close the digital divide, and we can do that when we support each other.
NERDiT Cares pays for you to learn IT support. We pay a $100 weekly stipend to pre-apprentices who are learning the fundamentals of tech support during our 12-week program. During our 52-week program, we pay an hourly wage to apprentices who are implementing that support, beginning at $15/hour, with the opportunity to make up to $18/hour. It’s a win-win.
This all started when a caring teacher gave NERDiT CARES founder, Markevis Gideon, the gift of a computer.
From that simple gift, Markevis began developing the skills that he would use to create a tech career and become an entrepreneur.
For over 5 years, us NERDs have been working to share this gift and this dream with others. NERDiT CARES is on a mission to close digital, income, and wealth divides by providing technology and skills to the communities we serve.
Our device donations ensure people aren’t locked out of the internet economy. Our workforce development programs launch men and women into high paying tech and entrepreneurial careers.
In 2020 we donated over 8,000 computers, and trained over 25 apprentices and pre-apprentices. Come grow with us!
Sarah Fulton is a communications professional, political operative, and current Board President for NERDiT CARES. In her day job, she works for the Delaware State Senate as the Deputy Communications Director of Outreach and Engagement. She has run several political campaigns and worked as the Political and Communications Director for the Delaware Democratic Party.
Sarah is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) through the Office of the Child Advocate, and serves on volunteer planning committees for the ACLU of Delaware and “Do More 24 Delaware,” an initiative of Spur Impact and the United Way of Delaware. She is a proud graduate of what is now known as the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, where she earned a degree in Public Policy and Economics. She lives in Wilmington with her husband.
Tyler Reynolds serves as the Vice President of NERDiT CARES, and has been an integral member of the team since the nonprofit was founded in 2018. Ever since he was a child, Tyler has always liked to tinker with technology and did his best to figure out how it worked. He has taken that same eagerness to learn and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, from Drexel University. Today, he is working as an Infrastructure Engineer and has a passion to help his community grow and thrive using technology.
Jabari K. Jones is the founding President of the West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative, West Philly’s largest business association. Under his leadership, the WPCC creates, connects and advocates for resources to help residents start new businesses and provides existing companies with the legislative representation, connections to opportunities and the geographic competitiveness they need to grow, thrive, and hire.
Over the last six years as President, WPCC has delivered over $10 Million in tangible investments including direct grants to businesses and non-profit organizations, formed international trade relationships opening new markets for West Philadelphia firms, provided over 1200 hours of
free entrepreneurship programming, and continues to influence more than $23 Billion in public-private spend for local contracting opportunities.
Jones is a proud resident of the Belmont neighborhood in West Philadelphia.
Alex Parkowski, a native Delawarean, is a Division Director at Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C), a marketing and communications agency based in Wilmington. Alex co-founded the Behavior Change division at AB&C and leads the agency’s social marketing efforts. She helps create and manage communications campaigns in partnership with the State of Delaware and City of Philadelphia, focused on issues that impact the health and well-being of citizens in both regions, including public health and safety, education, workforce and economic development, and environmental protection and conservation. Alex utilizes her understanding of government, social science, and community engagement to develop and implement marketing strategies that make a measurable difference. Examples of noteworthy areas of focus include the development of campaigns to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, prevent chronic disease, and address the opioid epidemic.
Alex earned a BA in business management from Washington College and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing Management from Wilmington University. She is a resident of Middletown, Delaware.
Born to parents Charalane Hoxter and Henry Swain, Jonathan was raised to understand the value of education, hard work, and family.
Upon graduating from the University of Delaware with his degree in finance, Jonathan recommitted himself to self initiated education, studying topics such as African history, wholistic health and financial markets.
Currently employed as a senior financial analyst at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Jonathan spends his free time as a consulting health advisor and community organizer.
He is empowered by the love of his wife Ngina, best friend Markevis, children (Aleem & Osila), and countless friends and family.
Nick Martin has a passion for finding the intersection of emerging technology and social impact. After studying chemical engineering at the University of Delaware, he went on to help build a local nonprofit, Fouryouth Productions, that does STEAM programming with youth from underserved communities. Currently, his time is split between two roles: consulting on emerging technology and telehealth for public libraries and building a climate technology startup focused on carbon capture. When he is not working, Nick enjoys discovering podcasts, traveling anywhere by plane, and exploring new restaurants.
Sahaana Rajagopalan is currently a high school student at the Charter School of Wilmington. She is very passionate about making a change in her community. She founded The S.P.A.R.K.S. Project which is an organization geared towards providing awareness and resources in the field of STEM for elementary students in marginalized communities. She is very excited to be a part of the NERDiT Cares Team and looking forward to seeing what the team accomplishes this year.
NERDiT CARES is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Wilmington, Delaware that is working to close generational tech and wealth divides in communities around the world. Our technology donation program works to provide children, families, and community organizations with access to internet, computers, smart devices, and electronics training and support. Our flagship Workforce Development programs teach young men and women the practical, emotional, and IT skills necessary to build careers in tech.
Phone: 302-283-9871
E-mail: support@nerditnow.com
1614 W Newport Pike
Wilmington, DE 19804