About Us
What’s our Why?
NextGen Collar was founded in 2022 by Ms. Crawford, a woman of color with over 20 years of experience in the tech industry in various roles and leadership positions across sales, engineering, and business development. After meeting a recent African American college graduate with a Computer Science Degree who was having difficulty obtaining a job, she realized she might be able to connect him within her own network and open a door to opportunity. At the same time, the evolution of AI is continuing to expand, and the need for capable TECH talent is growing with it!
The future of IT (information technology) depends on innovation and the TECH talent of ALL people. The next generation technology workforce needs to be more diverse, educated, confident, and ready to meet the demands of the future.
The NextGen Collar Foundation, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2023, and a team of educators, professionals, and technology industry experts came together to expand the vision. Our board members bring diverse experience from business, education, and nonprofit leadership, united by a shared passion for advancing opportunity in tech. Guided by both this passion and the growing body of research showing that inclusive workforces drive stronger outcomes, they help steer our mission with purpose and impact.