MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today at the 2015 Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) meeting, Capital One Financial Corp. and Grovo, an online learning platform for the 21st century workforce, announced the launch of the “Future Edge Digital Literacy Challenge,” a free digital literacy curriculum designed to prepare more low-to-moderate income Americans with the digital skills they need to fill open, middle-skills jobs — which are those that typically require less than a bachelor’s degree and that pay above the national living wage. The CGI Commitment to Action is part of Capital One’s five-year, $150 million Future Edge initiative, which is designed to empower more Americans to succeed in an ever-changing, digitally-driven economy.
The Future Edge Digital Literacy Challenge will be available through Grovo’s online platform at futureedge.grovo.com and is entirely free and accessible to anyone. The curriculum will teach 10 digital competencies using Grovo’s science-based microlearning method — expertly designed 60-second videos followed by short quizzes to improve retention and performance. Topics include computer fundamentals, navigating Microsoft Office Suite, digital communications, online “netiquette,” security and privacy, online personal branding and networking, and productivity — competencies that are vital to empower the two-thirds of Americans who don’t have a college degree with the ability to secure better-paying, middle-skills jobs.
"There is an insatiable demand for great technology talent as the rate of change across industries continues to accelerate. Helping more people become more digitally literate is essential for our future workforce and our economy," said Carolyn Berkowitz, Managing Vice President, Community Affairs, Capital One. “We are excited to partner with Grovo and our Future Edge nonprofit partners across the country to launch this first-of-its-kind curriculum, which will help motivated individuals build the skills required to succeed in the digital world.”
A recent study from labor analytics firm Burning Glass Technologies and Capital One found that middle-skills jobs — such as administrative, management and sales roles — across all industries increasingly require digital skills and are rapidly outpacing those jobs that don’t require any form of proficiency in technology. In fact, middle-skill jobs currently comprise 39 percent of total employment in the U.S., found the study. And these jobs pay, on average, 18 percent more than jobs not requiring technological proficiencies. Through the Future Edge Digital Literacy Challenge, Capital One and Grovo hope to put more Americans on a path toward securing these higher-paying, digitally-driven job opportunities.
“Grovo empowers people and organizations around the world with the skills to do their best work. We believe investment in effective digital training and education is not only critical, but often transformative,” said Jeff Fernandez, Cofounder and CEO, Grovo. “The free microlearning curriculum we’ve developed in partnership with Capital One will give thousands of people the opportunity to achieve digital literacy and secure stable roles in the growing digital sector.”
The curriculum for the Future Edge Digital Literacy Challenge was developed based on Grovo’s deep expertise in digital-skills training, research on middle-skills jobs from Burning Glass and Capital One, and qualitative interviews with Capital One Future Edge nonprofit partners who serve underserved communities across the country, including the Latin American Youth Center, 501cTECH, and Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School, in Washington, DC; Elk Hill and Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia, in Richmond, Va.; Goodwill of Southern Nevada, in Las Vegas; LEAP, Inc. dba Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, of New York, NY; The Food Bank of Delaware, in Wilmington, DE; and Action for Boston Community Development, in Boston.
Capital One Future Edge nonprofit partners across the country will work with Capital One to provide the curriculum directly to 15,000 individuals over the next three years, as well as provide access to Grovo’s broader training platform, which includes over 5,000 videos covering 170 topics, and intuitive technology to deliver customized professional education.
For more information on how to access the Future Edge Digital Literacy Challenge visit futureedge.grovo.com. For additional information on Capital One’s Future Edge initiative, visit www.capitalone.com/investingforgood or follow us on Twitter at @YourFutureEdge.
About Capital One
Capital One Financial Corporation, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, is a Fortune 500 company with branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Its subsidiaries, Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N. A., offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. We apply the same principles of innovation, collaboration and empowerment in our commitment to our communities across the country that we do in our business. We recognize that helping to build strong and healthy communities – good places to work, good places to do business and good places to raise families – benefits us all and we are proud to support this and other community initiatives. www.capitaloneinvestingforgood.com
About Grovo
Grovo is a better way to learn at work. The SaaS-based platform empowers companies with the training technology and content to align, educate, and inspire their teams. From onboarding to professional development, Grovo’s 60-second microlearning videos teach everything 21st century employees need, delivered in a way that learners love.
Grovo trains businesses, nonprofits and universities in over 190 countries. The learning technology company is headquartered in New York City and was recently named the "Best Place to Work in NYC Tech" by Internet Week. Grovo has raised venture financing from Accel Partners, Greg Waldorf, Costanoa Venture Capital, SoftTech VC, Lerer Ventures and Red Swan Ventures. To learn more, visit: www.grovo.com.
About CGI America
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) addresses economic recovery in the United States. CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made more than 400 commitments, which have improved the lives of nearly 1.4 million people.
CGI also convenes an Annual Meeting, which brings together global leaders to take action and create positive social change, CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world, and, this year, CGI will also convene CGI Middle East & Africa, which will bring together leaders across sectors to take action on pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
