October 24, 2016
Written by Nadia Rizk, Auditor at Rockwell Automation and IT United Member
Back in 2015, I embarked on a technology journey that focused on helping United Way’s agency program partners build their Information Technology (IT) skills. When I entered this journey I realized two things: first, there is a great need for these agencies to maintain their technology infrastructure, and second, they often don’t have the extra money to spend to get help in this area. Instead, their money is helping serve others in our community and paying the bills to keep the doors open. This is why my plea to you to “volunteer” for IT United or lend your IT skills to help others is so important, and for me very personal.
I grew up in areas of cities where poverty, unemployment, and violence often defined my existence. Without these agency partners, that I now am helping to serve, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today. Whether it was saving a family from the brink of becoming homeless, sheltering a mother who had been a victim of domestic abuse, or offering a free after school program to keep a kid like me from becoming another statistic, I am extremely thankful for these agency partners. I credit them for saving my life and countless others. That’s why I’ve made it a goal to help these agencies preserve their dollars and teach them the IT skills necessary to sustain their agencies. Today, if you are reading this and you are an IT professional, IT United member, or just tech savvy I ask you to join me.
Please lend your IT skills to an agency in need. We owe it to these agencies to Live United. If you are an IT member already and attend the IT United CIO Forum then please give an hour or two of your time to an agency. Your service will help these agencies become more sustainable.
Think about it. If it weren’t for volunteers like you helping these agency partners, I wouldn’t be writing you this letter today.
Are you Tech Savvy? Volunteer with IT United
Have fun and network with other IT professionals at IT United Blutender October 25