How we’re building tomorrow’s tech force, today with Camden Dream Center

The field of technology is rapidly evolving, but career and education opportunities aren't always equally distributed. Recognizing this disparity, a strategic partnership between Cisco and the Camden Dream Center provides students withhands-on learning opportunities across engineering and cybersecurity.

After spending decades building his own cybersecurity business, Pastor Keith Davis couldn't help but notice the growing digital divide, especially when it came to educational and career opportunities for vulnerable communities. In 2010, he opened the doors to the Camden Dream Centerwith one goal: develop a comprehensive, engaging learning environment that prepares students for college and careers.

In addition to basic computing, networking, and coding skills, students also receive literacy help - ensuring they can adequately read and comprehend material before diving headfirst into digital skilling.

In 2021, a decade after its inception, the Camden Dream Center gainedapproval from the Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. This pivotal achievement allowed Maryland students from Cisco Networking Academy post-secondary institutions to be placed in Cisco Engineering and Cisco Talos apprenticeship programs.

The Apprenticeship Advantage

Keith Davis (left) celebrates with students, staff, and volunteers of the Camden Dream Center after the organization was awarded a $475,000 grant from the CEF Youth-Serving Organization.

Breaking into a new career field or trying to get your first job isn't always easy. Many times, applicants run into the 'experience paradox', where entry-level jobs require more work experience than the average student has. Through apprenticeship opportunities, students are given both skills and professional experience.

Davis says the program itself is a win-win for students and employers alike.

"The apprenticeship program is the ideal mechanism to address both the skills development needs and the practical experience for the learner," he explained. "It provides a direct pathway to develop and integrate individuals who are actively gaining relevant experience."

This innovative model stops the traditional hiring paradox before it can start. For students, it gives instant immersion into their perspective roles. For employers, it gives them an economic edge, allowing them to easily build upon the skills of the student and onboard them quickly into company processes.

A Powerful Partnership

Billy Gibson, now a Security Research Engineer, launched his technology career after participating in an internship made possible through the Camden Dream Center.

The true measure of the program's success lies in the words of the students whose lives have been changed. Billy Gibson, who began his journey as a student apprentice and is now a Security Research Engineer, remembers how the program gave him access to meaningful, hands-on learning that set him apart in the tech field.

"Getting that opportunity to take those courses that, you know, normally wouldn't even be accessible to those outside of Cisco … that's a huge benefit from being part of the program as an apprentice," Billy reflects.

For Billy, the apprenticeship was more than just a foot in the door; it was also a launchpad for growth and confidence, both professionally and personally.

"Not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for the opportunity the apprenticeship gave me. Through programs like this and people like Pastor Davis, I've been able to build a career and a future I never thought possible."

Stephanie Nelson, Security Research Engineer, built her expertise through the internship program.

Similarly, the apprenticeship opened doors for Stephanie Nelson, helping her find her path through hands-on learning and shadowing opportunities with different tech teams throughout Cisco Engineering and Cisco Talos, our cybersecurity division.

"I was able to shadow four different teams within Talos, so that was great to see what other people do," she explained.

She also appreciated the community formed within the program, from fellow students to mentorship support.

"I would say a highlight for me would be gaining those real-world skills, like being on a team or even just using Outlook, communicating with my colleagues, and having mentors in so many different ways," she says. Nelson now proudly serves as a full-time Security Research Engineer at Cisco, a testament to the program's enduring impact on its participants' careers.

The Ever-Expanding Tech Frontier

The impact of the program far exceeds digital skilling and career growth; it helps develop an ongoing learner mindset. Billy credits the hands-on skilling and real-world learning during his apprenticeship for his ongoing success at Cisco Talos and beyond.

"One of my favorite aspects is that I get to take a course at work that's paid for by Cisco - so I literally get paid to go to class and learn, and by doing so, I get better at my job," shared Billy. "That's a huge benefit from working the program as an apprentice."

That dynamic environment is exactly what the partnership between Cisco and the Camden Dream Center aims to cultivate.

"Cisco makes this work possible," Davis explains, "It stretches my imagination, causes me to think on an entirely new level of what's possible. We would not be where we are now had it not been for the relationships that we currently have with Cisco."

(pictured on left: Keith Davis, founder of the Camden Dream Center, and his wife Linda proudly display their 2024 Cisco Networking Academy Golden Bridge Award, recognizing their outstanding commitment to empowering students and advancing technology education in their community.)