“Growing up in the South Bronx, Plinio Ayala saw many talented peers take the wrong path. ‘There weren’t any opportunities for them,’ he says. Determined to change that, Plinio dedicated his career to creating better futures for his peers and beyond.
He found his calling at Per Scholas, a not-for-profit organization that provides free technical and soft-skills training for careers in tech. Founded in 1995 and based in the Bronx, the organization has since graduated over 30,000 learners nationwide.
‘Our learners’ lives are improved, but so too are those of their families,’ explains Plinio, who became CEO in 2003. ‘Employers win, our communities win. And at the end of the day, our economy wins.’”