TAMPA, Fla. – The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay is pleased to announce a partnership between the Urban League of Hillsborough County (ULHC), LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network and Knack that will encourage ULHC 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.
ULHC has generously allocated $20,000 to support its clients who work with CTB to re-enroll in local colleges and training programs. 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.
“ULHC is focused on collaborative relationships with community organizations in fulfilling our mission for economic equity in the African American community. ULHC assists individuals to become competitive in the workforce by having a college education. LEAP Tampa Bay and ULHC have joined forces to assist individuals who have dropped out to get back into college and attain their degree,” said Stanley Gray, Executive Director of Urban League of Hillsborough County.
“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 ULHC and work together to serve their clients and to make Knack’s tutoring support available to them.”
About the Urban League of Hillsborough County
The mission of the Urban League of Hillsborough County is to bring about and assist with the attainment of economic equity for the African American and minority communities of Hillsborough County. This will be attained through individual responsibility, education, skills training and supporting programs coordinated with an emphasis on collaboration. –Learn more at Urban League of Hillsborough County
About the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
Founded in 1990, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay connects donors, nonprofits, community and business leaders, professional advisors, volunteers, and residents to make the maximum positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. For 30 years, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has been dedicated to making giving easy and meaningful for donors as a way to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build a better, more vibrant community. Learn more at https://cftampabay.org/.
About Knack
Knack is the leading tutoring technology platform helping colleges and universities such as local institutions University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, and St. Petersburg College streamline and scale tutoring programs to ultimately reach, engage, and retain more students. Knack’s all-in-one mobile and web apps for tutors, administrators, and student-learners facilitate one-on-one and group tutoring sessions on-campus and online. The platform’s unique sponsorship model also enables institutions to access corporate and philanthropic funders who choose to support tutoring programs as a means of giving back, building loyalty with top students (tutors), while ultimately driving free tutoring support for students receiving support (tutees). For more information about Knack, visit: joinknack.com.
