ServiceNow joins other tech companies in support of SJ Aspires

At ServiceNow, we’re committed to making work—and the world — work better for people This includes supporting our communities by helping to develop future leaders. To reshape what our future looks like, we must create a more equitable world that provides young people with access to the education they need to reach their fullest potential.

ServiceNow is proud to join Apple, Adobe, and others by committing $100,000 for the 2021-2022 school year to SJ Aspires, an education and equity initiative launched by City of San José Mayor Sam Liccardo in partnership with the San José Public Library Foundation.

SJ Aspires enables youth in underserved neighborhoods to set goals toward receiving a college education and helps reduce the barriers disadvantaged students of color face in accessing academic opportunities.

Fostering student potential

We all know systemic barriers prevent students from getting access to the tools and resources they need to advance their education. One of the greatest barriers stems from economic constraints, such as paying for education, preparatory classes, etc. The world simply will not work better if we don’t tackle issues of access in our underserved communities.

Did you know that only 30% of students in San José, California, complete a postsecondary education program within six years of high school graduation?¹

SJ Aspires is addressing these obstacles head on. SJ Aspires is a micro-scholarship program that helps students navigate the preparation process for their postsecondary education and informs them about their college and career choices in real time. The goal of the program is to provide high school students with access to micro-scholarships while simultaneously preparing them for the college application process.

The program is performance-based and allows students to earn up to $5,000 in micro-scholarships for their achievements and actions taken upon graduation. Each student gets the opportunity to participate in individual counseling and mentorship through an online platform that allows them to stay up to date on their progress and track their success.

Investments in a student’s education can transform their career direction and ensure we have a more diverse, innovative workforce in the future.

"ServiceNow's commitment and partnership with San Jose Aspires will help reduce barriers for hundreds of underserved San Jose students to college, elevating their career trajectories and life aspirations," says Mayor Liccardo.

Making a difference

As we continue our global impact journey, ServiceNow has identified racial equity as a key focus area. Both internally and externally, we’re committed to helping ensure that the world of work, works better for everyone and that access to opportunity is a top priority.

As a purpose-driven company, our focus on diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIBs) is at the core of what we do as a business. We value our people and the incredible work they do every day to drive innovation for our customers’ success, but we know new ideas begin with different perspectives. That's why investing in future generations from all backgrounds is imperative to our purpose.

We believe programs such as SJ Aspires can begin to break down some of the barriers preventing low-income, predominantly minority students from gaining postsecondary education.

This is only the beginning, and we plan to continue our impact in communities where we have offices across the globe.

¹ San Jose Public Library. (2021). SJ Aspires: Expanding Access to College.

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