ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is pleased to announce a partnership between the Pinellas County Urban League (PCUL), LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network and Knack that will encourage PCUL clients with a desire to return to education or training to do so with the help of an initiative called Complete Tampa Bay (CTB). Complete Tampa Bay’s primary service is re-enrollment coaching and support. Complete Tampa Bay’s personalized coaching model helps returning adult learners understand how to find available education and training options, what financial support may be available, access tutoring, and connect them to local education partners that can support the completion of their education and training goals. For those who need it, free tutoring will be offered by Knack, a unique tutoring service that pairs students with peers who have excelled in the courses they are taking. Complete Tampa Bay’s local education partners include St. Petersburg College, University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, Pinellas Technical College and Hillsborough Technical Colleges.
Urban League staff and the CTB Completion Coach will work together to identify other community resources that might be available to students in some cases; for example, those whose careers have been impacted by COVID-19.
“In these critical times, it is more important to focus on educational advancement, especially when we have seen the impact of COVID-19 on our customers. The key to future growth of any individual is utilizing all the resources available to them to achieve a better place in the workforce,” said Rev. Watson L. Haynes II, President & CEO of Pinellas County Urban League.
“Knack is also excited to partner with LEAP on the Complete Tampa Bay initiative to help support returning adult learners with free tutoring that aids in their progression towards degree completion. As the Tampa Bay community continues to flourish, and given this time of immense need, it is essential that we come together to support innovative programs like Complete Tampa Bay that ultimately help meet the needs of our local workforce,”said Samyr Qureshi, Knack’s Co-Founder & CEO.
“As a Completion Coach, I work to remove any barriers the student may have previously faced or are currently encountering so they can return to college and be successful,” said Matt Smith of Complete Tampa Bay.
“This hands-on approach to college and training enrollment will help streamline the frequently overwhelming process experienced by returning adult learners,” said Chuck Tiernan, Director of LEAP Tampa Bay. “We are honored to partner with PCUL and work together to serve their clients and to make Knack’s tutoring support available to them.”
