Launchpad Philly

Thank you to one of our industry partners, Seer Interactive, for hosting our Launchpad 101 students for a tour. Students had the opportunity to hear from founder and VP Innovation, Wil Reynolds, who inspired students by sharing his own personal story getting his first job. Wil reminded the students of the power of their phone in their pockets remaking "there is no iPhone for billionaires". From there, students heard from Devonte Grant (SEO Associate), Kelly McCullough, SHRM-CP (Sr. Manager, Talent Acquisition), and Christina Blake (Director, Product) about the three main focuses of Seer - Paid Media, SEO, and Analytics. We wrapped up with informational interviews followed by a tour. Thank you to Joanna Bowen for coordinating our visit and being an advocate for our work. #launchpadphilly #seerinteractive #employerpartner #mentorship

?? Four of our LiftOff students—Sianni Strickland, Bryan Gunawan, Antonio Archer, and Mohamed Souare—put their skills to the test at Philly Codefest, hosted by Drexel University's College of Computing & Informatics (CCI)! Philly Codefest is a hackathon that brings together students and professionals of all backgrounds to develop AI-driven solutions for real-world challenges. This year’s theme, "AI in Industry," explored how artificial intelligence can transform industries like healthcare, retail, finance, education, and more. Using Next.js, TypeScript, Firebase, and Figma, our students built Philly Social—a hub for Philadelphia news, events, local businesses, and community connections. ?? ?? Check out their work ???? : https://lnkd.in/ekZxvmsU

I’m heading to SXSW in Austin! If you're passionate about: ?? Career-connected learning — building real pathways from classrooms to careers ?? Employer partnerships — especially when corporate DEI is under fire ?? Tech training programs — equipping young talent for the future of work Let’s connect! Austin’s all about bold ideas and even bolder conversations — and I’m ready to dive into both. Whether over tacos, live music, or a good old-fashioned coffee chat, I want to swap strategies and share what’s working (and what’s next). Who’s in? Drop a comment or DM — let’s build something great, y’all!?

?? Wishing a very Happy Birthday to our amazing VP of Technology Instruction, Rob Thomas! Rob’s love for Launchpad runs deep—so much so that he relocated here to create and lead our forward-thinking tech training curriculum. We’re so grateful for your vision and leadership, Rob! Here's to another year of innovation and success. Want to get to know Rob better? Check out our Q&A blog ?? https://lnkd.in/eXxVzDaw

Launchpad is #hiring. Through our partnership with PHENND Fellows VISTA we are excited to announce that we are hiring a VISTA Fellow scheduled to begin this Fall. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to make an impact and help to transform the lives of young people in our city. The VISTA will be supporting Launchpad's recruitment efforts, forming relationships with high schools and partner organizations and helping spread awareness about Launchpad to the community! Thank you Eden Kainer and Roslynn Blount, MSW for all of your support through this process! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/ewgdVKSG

Over the next few weeks, LiftOff Associates will be diving into Unmasking AI by Dr. Joy Buolamwini as part of our Launchpad Lit series! ???? At Launchpad Philly, we’re encouraging our associates to think critically about the tech they’ll help create—and the responsibility that comes with it. Before even beginning the book, and after exploring the The Algorithmic Justice League website, our associates had some powerful questions on their minds: - What does a just world with AI look like? - How can we all take action to make sure that AI serves all of us fairly? These questions are central to the journey we’re embarking on with Unmasking AI. We’re eager to explore them further as we continue reading and, hopefully, get the chance to connect with Dr. Joy herself to learn even more! As we dive deeper into the book, we’ll be reflecting on the idea that "who codes matters, how we code matters, and we can code a better future"—a future where our work as technologists shapes a more equitable and just world for all.

Meet Antonio Archer! Antonio is currently in the final phase of our program and will be ready to transition to a tech career this summer. Visit his portfolio to see his work and journey firsthand! #launchpadphilly #portfolio #developer #engineer #tech

?? Host a Launchpad intern and invest in the future of tech!?? Looking for skilled, motivated talent to bring fresh perspectives to your team? Launchpad is connecting high school graduates with forward-thinking companies for paid summer internships! Our graduates bring Python programming, UX/app development, and project management expertise, with 70+ hours of workplace readiness training. ? Expand Your Talent Pipeline – Gain access to early tech talent. ? Boost Productivity & Innovation – Interns are work-ready, bringing new ideas and hands-on experience. ? Demonstrate Impact – Showcase your commitment to cultivating GenZ talent, workforce development, and community impact while meeting CSR goals. ?? What You Need to Host an Intern: ?? Provide a dedicated mentor ?? Offer a real-world project ?? Minimum 20 hours per week ?? Compensation starts at $13/hour (funding available for qualifying organizations) ?? Internship Timeline: ?? March 2025 – Collaborate with Launchpad to co-design the intern project. ?? April 2025 – Students apply for available internships. ?? May 2025 – Employers review applications and extend offers. ?? June/July 2025 – Internships begin! ?? Be part of the movement to unlock untapped tech talent! For more details or to get started, reach out to Dannyelle Austin [email protected] or visit launchpadphilly.org. #TechTalent #Internship #FutureOfWork #GenZ #WorkforceDevelopment #Launchpadphilly

Cohort 3 is officially taking off! This Spring, our newest group of Launchpad students isn’t just learning tech skills—they’re competing in our?Race Across The Stars! Each student is part of a flight crew, earning points for attendance, participation, and in-class challenges. At the end of the term, only one crew will claim victory. Each flight crew is lead by a fearless navigator, one of our student interns from Cohorts 1 and 2 who come back on Tuesdays to help the next class. Here are the teams ready to take flight: ? ??? Astronomers ??? Saturn’s Achievers ??? Tech Titans ??? The Launchers ?? SuperNova ?? Grand Covenant With every session, they’re sharpening their skills, supporting each other, and proving they have what it takes to thrive in tech.?Which crew will come out on top??Right now Tech Titans leads, but it’s anyone’s game! #LaunchpadPhilly

Launchpad Philly students continue to amaze me with their dedication and creativity! It’s inspiring to see them go above and beyond by redesigning projects from a year ago, integrating the new tech skills they’ve acquired along the way. This is the true essence of authentic learning—real-world projects that reflect their passion and growth. In celebration of Black History Month, I’m excited to highlight a project that showcases Black film and TV. This project blends innovation with the power of storytelling, highlighting both Antonio Archer’s technical skills and cultural impact. I already have a few tv shows added to my list!