
Black tech professionals make up just 7% of the high tech sector. We want to change that. Flatiron School is launching the John Stanley Ford Fellowship to support the advancement of Black tech professionals by creating long-lasting change.
Through this program, we're partnering with companies to create 4-month-long apprenticeships that offer on-the-job training, ongoing mentorship and ultimately access and opportunities to the Tech community.
The John Stanley Ford Fellowship's north star is apprentice success. We believe that the John Stanley Ford Fellows will be the most smart and capable talent entering the workforce and so we have created a program of support along the way to ensure they have the tools to succeed. Every JSF Fellow will receive weekly and monthly mentorship from within their hiring company along with an opportunity to interview for a full-time position prior to the end of their apprenticeship. They will also become a part of the larger JSF network having real-time access to their peers along with ongoing career coaching to navigate on-the-job acclimation and performance. Lastly, we will be organizing frequent leadership town halls with Black tech professionals sharing their personal journeys with our fellows.
Together we can work towards racial equity in tech.
Become a hiring partner
How to participate in the John Stanley Ford Fellowship program.

Hire at least 2 of Flatiron School's Black alumni as Fellows
Apprenticeships must be a minimum 4-month duration, and provide $60,000 annualized compensation
Each Fellow must have weekly 1:1s with their direct manager, as well as monthly 1:1s with a mentor from within the company
Provide an opportunity to interview for a full-time position prior to the end of the apprenticeship

Best practices on how to hire and onboard apprentices, as well as training sessions for designated mentors at your company.
Peer community and networking channels across all partners
Ongoing career coaching to navigate on-the-job acclimation and performance
Leadership Town Halls with Black tech professionals sharing their personal journeys
Meet John Stanley Ford, the first Black software engineer in America

John Stanley Ford was a pioneer in the earliest days of computing. He was the first Black engineer, not only at IBM, but in America. Ford, hired in 1946, spent his days building the predecessor to IBM’s first commercial business computer while coaching other African-Americans to get hired at IBM. Even though his career was marked with struggle and hardship, his legacy will be remembered for his fight to reach equity in the workplace and his dedication to creating opportunities for others.
We have partnered with John Stanley Ford's estate to create this fellowship program. If you want to learn more about John Stanley Ford's life and the history of Black professionals in the tech sector, Clyde Ford, John Stanley Ford's son, recently released Think Black a novel centered around his father's and his journey inside corporate America.
John Stanley Ford Fellowship Hiring Partners
These companies have already committed to the advancement of Black tech professionals by creating multiple apprenticeships beginning Summer/Fall 2020.















Committed speakers include...


Formerly Deputy Director, National Economic Council at the White House



Resources and community
A look at the realities of where we are today and some thought starters on how we can create lasting change.


