Pursuit partners with employers to train and hire low-income New Yorkers who increase their average earnings to over $90,000 per year from $18,000 per year pre-program
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On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Pursuit hosted a Pursuit Gong Ceremony, its first-ever on the City Hall steps, alongside Councilmembers Shekar Krishnan and Nantasha Williams to celebrate Pursuit Fellow Tony Taylor’s recent employment at the New York City Council as a software engineer.
Tony Taylor is a participant in Pursuit’s Fellowship, a program which aims to train low-income adults to become leaders in technology. Over the past decade, Pursuit has helped New Yorkers move into the middle-class and beyond, nearing 5xing their incoming salary on average. Beyond offering technical, professional, and leadership skills, Pursuit continues to work with Fellows and employers to provide on-the-job job support to ensure that the Fellows go from high potential to high performing.
Tony’s story is reflective of the stories of grit and perseverance of Pursuit Fellows and the New Yorkers he now serves. He grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, where his love for technology began as he tinkered with discarded computers in his tight-knit Colombian community. His path wasn’t easy; after starting college to study mechanical engineering, he had to leave due to financial and personal challenges, juggling multiple jobs at a deli and in delivery services to support his family. When a childhood friend who worked for the City Council introduced him to Pursuit, he was initially hesitant but eventually joined, determined to make a better life for himself and his loved ones. While at Pursuit, Tony continued to manage grueling work to support himself, including a midnight security shift. An illness in the family marked a low point in his journey, but Tony continued to persevere and ultimately landed his first tech job at the City Council. His journey is marked by resilience and a refusal to quit, embodying the spirit of Pursuit’s mission to transform lives through tech.
Today’s Pursuit Gong Ceremony is part of a long-standing Pursuit tradition. With this special event, the Pursuit community celebrates Pursuit Fellows who have been connected to employment once they’ve gone through Pursuit’s software engineering pre-job training. Previous onsite gong ceremonies include celebrations at Citi, Blackstone, and Peloton.
“Tony Taylor is like many of my constituents-- driven by his commitment to his immigrant family and his community. He joined Pursuit’s workforce development cohort to gain the skills necessary to succeed in New York's thriving tech sector. But what makes us even prouder is his decision to use his new tech skills to better our city through his work in the City Council. Today, as we celebrate Tony at this Gong ceremony, we celebrate not just his achievements but his dedication to shaping a brighter future. And I thank Pursuit for their vital role in empowering New Yorkers with the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's economy. These workforce development programs are vital to the success of our communities and our city.”
– Council Member Shekar Krishnan
"I'm thrilled to celebrate Tony Taylor's incredible journey and success, which exemplifies the impact of workforce training programs like Pursuit. Programs like this, which open doors to rewarding careers and foster long-term growth, are essential to strengthening our communities and advancing economic opportunity. That’s why I’m proud to support Res 0522-2024, calling for The Good Jobs Guarantee Act, which will expand programs like Pursuit across New York State and create pathways to employment for more New Yorkers. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the support they need to thrive in high-quality, in-demand careers." – Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams
“It is crucial now more than ever to support workforce development programs such as those offered by Pursuit that help bridge the income and professional gap for everyday New Yorkers. Pursuit helps level the playing field within the tech industry, ensuring that talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds receive the opportunities and recognition they deserve. I congratulate all fellows that have completed their fellowship program and especially those that have chosen careers as dedicated public servants.” – Council Member Julie Menin
“Tony Taylor’s story shows what’s possible when we invest in real pathways to opportunity. The Good Jobs Guarantee program directs funding to workforce programs like Pursuit, helping New Yorkers access the skills and support needed to secure good-paying jobs and economic security. I’m proud to back people like Tony, whose success highlights the impact of targeted skills training and inclusive career paths.” – Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, Chair of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee
“New York’s continued growth as a global technology hub depends on building a rich and diverse local talent pool, which is what Pursuit is accomplishing through its programs that prepare highly skilled tech professionals for positions in both business and government.” – Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership for New York City
“Talent is equally distributed among ZIP codes, but opportunity is not. Today, we celebrate Tony Taylor's achievement, underscoring the impact of providing opportunities and training to everyone. As a computer scientist and the Assemblymember for District 73, I am thrilled to support Pursuit’s mission to expand access to the tech field for all New Yorkers. This ceremony marks a historic milestone as we recognize the first Pursuit Fellow joining the ranks of city government, and we are excited for more to follow. This year, my office secured funding to help sustain Pursuit’s impactful work, ensuring that more New Yorkers can access life-changing careers in tech. I am proud to support Pursuit as they work to build a stronger, more equitable future for our city.” – Assemblymember Alex Bores
“Congratulations to Tony Taylor and all Pursuit Fellows who have successfully completed Pursuit's software development program. This program is an important driver of economic mobility for young people in our city. I am happy to see that the City Council is providing opportunities for Pursuit Fellows to apply their skills and build a career.”– Assemblymember Harvey Epstein
"Pursuit's and Urban Upbound's complementary missions aimed at facilitating the upward economic mobility of New Yorkers are the foundation of our collaboration. Quintessential Queens stories of grit and determination, such as Tony's, are the reason why we continue to build on our longstanding partnership. We congratulate Tony Taylor on his achievement and are excited to see many more Pursuit Fellows launch meaningful careers in public service."– Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO & Co-founder, Urban Upbound
Pursuit is an innovative social impact organization whose mission is to close the opportunity gap in America. Founded in 2011 and based in New York City, Pursuit trains adults with the most need and potential to get their first tech jobs, advance in their careers and become the next generation of leaders in tech. On average, Pursuit Fellows increase their annual income from $18,000 to nearly $90,000, and work at leading companies, including Citi, Uber, Peloton, and Blackstone. Pursuit Fellows begin their journey with a year of high-quality, intensive, and supportive training, followed by three years of career development once they’ve been hired. Pursuit also works directly with companies to secure hiring commitments, which results in long-term growth and retention. To ensure the Pursuit Fellowship is sustainable and scalable, Pursuit uses a blended finance model that enables it to tap into philanthropic capital as well as impact investor funding. By breaking down barriers and connecting talent with opportunity, Pursuit empowers their Fellows to bring change to their families, tech companies, and communities across the nation. To learn more, visit pursuit.org.