We are building a future where opportunity truly is for all
Our goal is to break the poverty cycle
The American dream remains elusive for low-income, underprivileged individuals. Trapped in a cycle of poverty, they find themselves in low-wage jobs with limited career progression and little prospect for upskilling. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to overcome these barriers and access better opportunities.
Skilled trades drive our economy, but traditional education models fall short
Skilled trades are the backbone of our economy, yet the education and training for these roles are often out of reach for those who need it most. Traditional brick-and-mortar programs struggle to cater to these individuals, whose challenges often extend far beyond the classroom. We're striving to transform this outdated model, making high-demand trade careers more accessible and more effective.
Our technology is powerful because it's human-centered
We understand the transformative power of technology. But we also believe that technology is at its most potent when it's used to empower humans – our participants, instructors, and partners. We've designed our platform with this principle at its heart, creating an empowering, supportive environment for everyone involved in the journey of upward mobility
How we got here?
In 2020, Gabe and Zo co-founded Ameelio, a tech nonprofit that builds education and communication tools for prisons. During their journey, they encountered individuals full of hope for a better life upon release but struggled to find employment due to their past incarceration. This is the societal issue that Emerge Career seeks to solve.
Leadership
Gabe holds a Computer Science and Psychology degree from Yale, magna cum laude. A former engineer at Facebook, he was awarded Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business 2021, and elected to Forbes 30 under 30.
Zo holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the University of Cambridge, and JD-MBA from Yale Law and Yale School of Management. He is a Truman Scholar and a 2022 MIT Tech Review 35 under 35 recipient.
Cody holds Master's degree in higher education from Canisius College. He has spent the last 10 years building technology-enabled companies designed to better support underrepresented special populations into college and employment.
Jillian Sutherlin is experienced in working with government to deploy technology-driven solutions. Previously she was a non-profit founder focused on providing direct care to the unhoused and worked as a licensed barber/shop owner at a small barbershop in SF.
We're in good company
