By Randiah Camille Green
January 21, 2026
This sponsored story was originally published by Outlier Media

This sponsored story was written by Randiah Camille Green and created in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. It is part of a year-long series focusing on programs and pathways to good paying jobs and careers in Detroit.

Despite her years of experience working in technology roles, Tracy Maricle could not find a job. She had just moved back to metro Detroit in 2025, after completing a contract in Dallas, and it felt like she couldn’t land an interview, no matter how many jobs she applied for.

“In the IT industry, as it has developed, companies are looking for people who are [both] certified and have hands-on experience,” she said. Though she had the work experience, she lacked many of the certifications that companies were requiring. 

So Maricle enrolled at Per Scholas Detroit, which offers no-cost training, certification, and career coaching for technology-related fields like systems support, cybersecurity, and data engineering. The program offers two tracks each year with a remote option and a hybrid option that includes both in-person and online classes. The 12-week courses consist of three eight-hour days onsite and two remote days of learning each week. 

Lots of industries are looking for employees to fill technology roles that Per Scholas trains for such as banks needing cybersecurity officers.

“Healthcare is another one. There’s a lot of demand in Corewell Health and we’re right near the Henry Ford Hospital as well,” said Per Scholas Detroit Managing Director Laura Chavez. “They’re always looking to upskill their employees, so we offer them the skills that they need to be the resume or applicant that stands out among others.”

The courses offered are adjusted yearly based on industry demands and evolving standards. For example, all courses will expand to 15 weeks to include an AI training component beginning in 2026. 

“That was something that all employers said that they wanted,” Chavez said about the addition of AI training. “We’re always trying to assess what is important and what employees are looking for. So our tracks change based on the demand in your area… We’re always in the field talking to employees, talking to our partners, trying to see what the best fit would be for the next year.”

The program attracts a variety of learners from people who are completely new to the IT field to those who want to further their career like Maricle. 

“We have a lot of veterans, retirees, and stay-at-home parents who are re-entering the workforce,” Chavez said. “It’s a lot of work, so they have to be committed to the program, but we commit to helping them with finding jobs.”

Upon completing the Per Scholas course in July of 2025, Maricle received certifications in CompTIA A+, Google IT, and ServiceNow, to help better her chances at landing a job. She now works as an instructional assistant for Per Scholas Detroit.  

“When I heard there was an opening, I thought, maybe I can set up the next round of learners for success and help put more qualified, certified techs out into the job world,” Maricle said of her choice to work at the Detroit office of the national Per Scholas nonprofit skills training organization. 

Per Scholas graduates have landed IT jobs at General Motors, Corewell Health, Henry Ford Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield and more. The IT service company HumanIT also partners with Per Scholas to place their graduates in jobs. In one cohort earlier this year, Chavez said, 75% of the students had secured a job prior to graduation.

“One of the essential things Per Scholas does for its learners is professional development,” Maricle said. “There were things that were covered that I hadn’t thought of [including] ways to rewrite my resume to make it pass all of those AI bots that are filtering resumes, that hadn’t been in place the last time I was looking for a job.”

Since completing the program and now working for Per Scholas, Maricle has received several job offers from recruiters. But, she says, she is happy to stay where she is, helping the learners who complete the program get high-quality jobs.

“Because of what Per Scholas does, I am able to forward those recruiters on to our learners, once they become alumni, to secure employment. It’s really a full circle experience,” she said.

According to Chavez, Per Scholas looks to place their graduates in jobs that offer at least $24 an hour, with medical benefits, paid time off, and vacation time.

“We are extremely appreciative for the funding we have received from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation because this is creating legacy and generational wealth in the city of Detroit,” she said. “A lot of them go from a regular nine-to-five low-paying job, or multiple jobs to make ends meet, and they can now go into a long-lasting career. The impact is not just an individual, it’s the family of the individual.”

Now located in the New Center section of midtown, in the Fisher building, Chavez says she hopes Per Scholas can one day establish another office in Southwest Detroit.

Nationally, Per Scholas celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2025. The organization, which serves 24 cities, has operated in Detroit since 2018. Anyone living in Southeast Michigan who has earned a high school diploma or GED equivalent, and who meets income requirements based on their household size, can apply to Per Scholas for hands-on, no-cost IT training. 

For more information or to apply, visit perscholas.org/locations/detroit.