NCLR and Wells Fargo Help Latinos Pursue Careers in Financial Services

NCLR (National Council of La Raza) today announced a new, multiyear workforce development program in partnership with Wells Fargo to raise awareness about careers in financial services, encouraging Latino millennials to apply. The program, Latino Millennials in College and Careers, provides young Latinos entering the workforce a range of tools, resources and information needed to pursue careers and potentially gain employment in financial services.

“Latino youth are the fastest-growing segment of the American workforce, yet many still are unaware of the tremendous career opportunities that exist in the financial services area,” said Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President of Programs at NCLR. “We are pleased about our partnership with Wells Fargo and our joint efforts to not only inform Latino millennials about careers in financial services, but inspire and create the next generation of leaders in the financial services sector.”

The program highlights a series of activities including in-person workshops and webinars that cater to Latino millennials, depending on where participants are in their development journey. The initiative includes:

• High school students: A financial services leadership module for the NCLR Escalera Program will allow participants to explore careers and opportunities in the financial services sector. The Escalera Program’s principal components are career exploration, technology skills development, leadership development, personal development and academic support. The program addresses various youth population needs and creates awareness about high-demand careers.
• College students: NCLR’s LíderesAvanzando program offers a series of workshops and other activities to support students through graduation. Wells Fargo will provide participating college students the opportunity to start a financial services career with summer internships while in college, join full-time programs upon graduation and gain cross-functional exposure and leadership experience in banking, insurance, investments, marketing and other areas. The program is currently being piloted in Los Angeles and will officially kick off in the fall of 2015 in select markets including Los Angeles and San Antonio, Texas.
• Workforce: NCLR, in partnership with its Affiliate AltaMed Health Services, is creating a curriculum to train Latino millennials for employment in the financial sector. Participants will develop the necessary skills to start banking careers as bilingual tellers, customer service associates and financial representatives. The program is designed to enhance the Latino community’s ability to contribute to and share in the nation’s economic opportunities by boosting Hispanic employment and bridging Latino workers’ skills gaps.

“We are pleased to be partnering with NCLR and Wells Fargo,” said Ozzie Lopez, Director of Workforce Development at AltaMed Health Services in Los Angeles. “Serving as the pilot site, we have seen firsthand how providing such support and guidance is greatly needed, especially since many of our students are the first in their families who will go to college. The Líderes Avanzando program is preparing them to succeed not only with their studies, but also with their career aspirations.”

“Wells Fargo is committed to supporting NCLR’s efforts to promote long-term economic growth and quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Oscar Suris, Head of Corporate Communications at Wells Fargo and member of NCLR’s Corporate Board of Advisors. “The company’s investment in NCLR’s workforce development program is one of the many ways we strive to strengthen our communities and support the next generation of young leaders entering the workforce.”

For nearly a decade, NCLR has collaborated with Wells Fargo through a multimillion-dollar partnership to address needs that impact the Latino community. Funding is targeted to support community outreach and development efforts including homeownership counseling, workforce development and financial education programs serving primarily low- to moderate-income communities.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.7 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 266,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune’s 2014 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

About NCLR

NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.