By Jennat Jounaidi
During a recent visit to Per Scholas Greater Boston, I spoke with Site Director H. Kay Howard about the organization’s mission and its evolving relationship with Kendall Square companies. Per Scholas offers tuition-free tech training to adults traditionally underrepresented in the industry, blending 80% technical instruction with 20% professional development to ensure learners are job-ready.
The program offers four 13–15 week tracks—Cybersecurity, IT Support, AWS re/Start, and Salesforce Administration—and supports students with career coaching, licensed social workers, and financial guidance. In 2025 alone, 2,700 individuals are projected to be trained in Greater Boston, with an 85% graduation rate.
While several Kendall companies have stepped up by hosting events, networking opportunities, and mock interviews, direct hires remain lower than expected. Howard frames the employer relationship as a “two-way street,” encouraging companies to not only show up, but to rethink traditional hiring pathways and view Per Scholas as a long-term talent pipeline.
One learner’s story stood out: a former gig worker and school IT assistant who thrived in the cybersecurity track and now works at a major Telecommunications company right here in Massachusetts. “Per Scholas taught me how to learn,” they said—a powerful reflection on the impact of access and support.
The takeaway is clear: proximity matters. When companies engage deeply and intentionally, they help unlock real opportunity for individuals, and for the future of inclusive innovation in Kendall Square.
To learn more about how Per Scholas delivers on this promise, I caught up with one alum who is using what he learned in the classroom in his current role.
In 2021, like many people recalibrating after the height of the pandemic, Kevin Beaube found himself searching for stability and a sense of direction. A friend—also a Per Scholas alum—introduced him to the program, describing it as more than just technical training. It was a community, a foundation. “It became an anchor for me,” he recalls. “It gave me structure and routine when I needed it.”
Midway through the IT Support cohort, he began to feel a shift—not just in his skillset, but in his confidence. The program’s blend of hands-on tech training and professional development helped him build habits that extended well beyond the classroom. “It was a 10 out of 10 experience,” he says, describing how the support system and momentum carried him not only into the tech field but into a mindset of possibility.
Today, he works at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, where his day-to-day involves both technical responsibilities and collaborative projects that contribute to the company’s broader mission. “The professional development part of Per Scholas is what really prepared me to work in a space like this,” he notes.
Working in Kendall Square has been another layer of inspiration. Surrounded by innovation, biotech, and a diverse workforce, he says the environment itself challenges and motivates him to keep growing.
His advice for others? “Take the risk. Be a sponge. You never know how far it can take you.” Two years later, he’s still hearing from Per Scholas—and still paying it forward, encouraging others to join the ripple effect.
