The Academy for Career Development

The Academy is both a Community Based Technology Center and Registered Business School licensed by the New York State Education Department (Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision). The Academy’s educational programs are offered solely to individuals who are disabled, disadvantaged, or displaced. Its vocational programs prepare members of Rochester’s underserved populations with skills necessary to successfully participate in today’s information based economy. Academy curriculum not only provides strong academic content in technology and pre-workforce soft skills, but also links this content with real-world work experience through student internships and apprenticeships within The Academy's CommuniTech Community Service programs. We obtain applicants from Rochester’s underserved communities, train them for entry level positions in the Technical Support and Customer Service industries, and (through the work experience) are put to work delivering services back to the community from which they came. Apprentices from disadvantaged and disabled populations provide technical support services and become significant role models for the populations being served. The technical support services include both telephone and remote diagnostic helpdesk services, hardware and software installs, pc troubleshooting and repair, and network installs & maintenance. In addition to our technical support services, we provide technical education services for children, youth, and adults to over 40 Community and Faith based organizations. If awarded the proposed VISTA Position, we will utilize the VISTA Member to support our community outreach efforts by developing a volunteer recruitment and management system and processes that will help increase our capacity to better address the needs of the communities we serve.