ABOUT US
Our Mission
The FREE vocational training offered at RTI is geared especially to the youth ‘at risk’. We want these students to know that because they did not graduate from high school, they still have an opportunity with us to improve their lives and do better.
Get involved. Your donation is tax deductible
Interested in our free programs?
See Admission Information or Request Info
OUR STORY
David Hiraldo – Founder and Executive Director
Before the Renaissance Technical Institute (RTI) started as a non-profit, David Hiraldo, Founder and Executive Director, worked as a ‘Special Education Teacher’ in the city of New York, for eleven years. As a teacher, David worked with several high school students, who were socially and mentally different than the average students, and whom were not able to afford paying a college tuition. David learned about all the struggles these students faced, which were amplified when some ended up being incarcerated or involved in gangs, making it almost impossible for them to earn a degree, start a career or obtain decent paying jobs.
David, a hard-working immigrant and special education teacher originally from the Dominican Republic, felt compelled to take action and make a difference in the lives of the students he taught and knew were struggling. Thus, he decided to combine his passion for teaching with caring for the community he loved, and in 2014 he founded ‘Renaissance Technical Institute (RTI)’ as a non-profit organization offering workforce development for the youth ‘at risk’ and others. Our first class began in 2016, and initially, trainees met twice a week in a tiny conference room in Washington Heights. It all started with 8 students training in Plumbing, and 12 students in HVAC.
Currently, RTI operates out of its own 5,250 square feet center in Harlem, New York. The short-term training has been so successful and impactful among the students who enroll in our vocational center, as they can start a career within a few months.
Our students can learn: HVAC; Carpentry; Electricity; Plumbing; Solar Panel Installation; Information Technology; Optometry Assistant, etc. within a few months.
RTI is adding new programs and classes for students, as it continues creating equity of opportunity and decreasing unemployment thru vocational training.
We are an all-Inclusive Institute
Students are welcome to enroll whether they hold a high school diploma or not; and no matter if they had a criminal record.
OUR VALUES
Our values guide all the work we do and help us inspire and instill hope in our students
Be Accountable for Your Own Success
Be Humble, Respect & Value Others
Strive to Learn & Do Your Best
Work Hard & Have Fun
RTI’s Community Impact
From the beginning of RTI’s social mission in 2016 to present, the success of our vocational workforce development programs can be seen in our tremendous results.
Our training programs enable students to open doors to successful careers in the trades. We are also extremely proud to have witnessed some of our students become entrepreneurs and watch them start their own business or seen them work as independent contractors in the trades they learned from us.
Our training programs enable students to open doors to successful careers in the trades. We are also extremely proud to have witnessed some of our students become entrepreneurs and watch them start their own business or seen them work as independent contractors in the trades they learned from us.
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who have been placed in jobs after completing our programs since 2016
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currently enrolled in our training programs
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currently waitlisted to participate in our training programs
OUR FUTURE VISION
As we strive to educate and empower our community, we now offer programs and classes in English, Spanish, and French, expanding our offerings to meet diverse needs and foster comprehensive workforce development.
We envision an RTI vocational center in every borough in New York City. Yes, we know it sounds ambitious, but we are big dreamers. And one day, we hope to be able to offer our highly effective vocational development to similar communities in other cities, in other states and also nationwide.
When we hear people speak about addressing equity of opportunity, that is exactly the type of work we do at RTI. We focus on educating the youth ‘at risk’, the immigrants, and the underserved, with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve better opportunities, and emerge from poverty regardless of prior circumstances.
Education in trades is an alternative to education, and at RTI we support our communities with workforce development for a better tomorrow.
Get involved. Your donation is tax deductible
Be Accountable for Your Own Success
Experienced educators conducting and supporting employment training, no matter what the students’ backgrounds may be. Contact us today!
TESTIMONIALS
Alexander Santana
The plumbing program at Renaissance Technical Institute, helped me to enhance my plumbing abilities and gain confidence in myself. After finishing this course I feel more prepared to do any plumbing task, doing it with respect and professionalism. Thanks to Renaissance Technical Institute for the support and the free training.
Ricco Herrera
My Guidance Counselor at my school told me about Renaissance Technical Institute (RTI). I came to RTI during my last year of high school. During that year I was able to obtain my high school diploma in my school and my plumbing level one diploma at Renaissance Technical Institute. RTI placed me in a paid internship in a plumbing company where later I was hired as a fulltime employee. Now I am working as a plumber helper and I am attending college too. Thanks to Renaissance Technical Institute, I’m able to work, go to college and have a job that allows me to help my parents’ costs and my regular expenses.
Brayard Arno
Renaissance Technical Institute allowed me to gain new knowledge in the field of plumbing. It also gave me an opportunity to interact with other people. I feel prepared and optimistic about my future after finishing the course at Renaissance Technical Institute.
Anthony Malcolm
What I learned from attending the program at Renaissance Technical Institute was how to use various tools used in the field for plumbing and learn about tools that I’ve never seen in my life and be able to use them
Shaquana Boye
Coming to Renaissance Technical Institute was one of the best decisions I could have made. The teacher was very informative and didn’t mind helping if you did not understand. I had a wonderful experience at this program and I am definitely coming back for another course.
Randy Beltre
Renaissance Technical Institute has given me the opportunity to improve my life and regain confidence in myself. Thanks to the opportunity that I receive at RTI, now I am working in a NYC hospital. Here I am using the knowledge that I learned in my Plumbing class.
DONORS & PARTNERS
Our sincerest gratitude to our DONORS & PARTNERS for all your generosity and support provided to our educational mission, our students and our community. Thank you!
New York City Council
AMY AND JAMES HARBER FOUNDATION
madddequities
comptoneye
Infotep
Consulado de la Republica Dominicana
Building Company
index
Poweruploud.org
OUR PROGRAMS
RTI offers a wide range of vocational educational programs. Our training is free to the youth at risk’, and underserved adults in our communities, who do not have to pay tuition to take our courses, nor do they incur any large amounts of student debt, in order to complete a technical career with us.
Students may choose to participate in vocational training in any of the following listed below
Interested in our free programs?
See Admission Information or Apply Now
NCCER Core Curriculum
The NCCER Core Curriculum is a prerequisite to all other Level 1 craft curriculum. Its modules cover topics such as Basic Safety, Communication Skills and Introduction to Construction Drawings. This is an industry-recognized program for career in technical education.Completing this curriculum gives the trainee the basic skills needed to continue education in any craft area he or she may choose.
Carpentry
Carpenters make up the largest building trades occupation in the industry and those with all-around skills are in high demand. Carpenters are involved in different kinds of construction activities, from building highways and bridges to installing kitchen cabinets or repairing structures and fixtures made from wood and other materials.
HVAC Technician
The HVAC/R Program offers the student the technical and practical knowledge and skills to help perform installation tasks, service, and repairs in heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning situations. Students will learn to diagnose and troubleshoot various HVAC/R systems, ensuring they are equipped to handle both routine maintenance and complex repairs. The program includes hands-on training with industry-standard tools and equipment, preparing graduates for real-world scenarios.
Plumbing
Most people are familiar with plumbers who come to their home to unclog a drain or install an appliance. Plumbers install, maintain, and repair many different types of pipe systems. For example, some systems move water to a municipal water treatment plant and then to residential, commercial, and public buildings. Job opportunities for plumbers are always in demand and they will continue to grow in coming years. The average annual salary for a plumber starts at approximately $55,160.
Solar Panel Installer
Increased global concern on climate change and growing interest in transitioning to renewable energy is directly impacting employment of solar photovoltaic installers, which is projected to grow by 52 percent from 2020 to 2030. This profession is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. Our program covers the basic concepts of PV systems and their components, along with general sizing and electrical/mechanical design requirements.
Information Technology
The Information Technology Basic Skills program provides the skills necessary to support fundamental hardware and software related issues for business environments and other related fields. Students who completed the program can intern with a variety of IT-intensive businesses such as financial institutions, hospitals, education, and local government agencies that are dependent on IT for daily operation.
Culinary Classes
NEW
Learning cooking skills can be a very worthwhile investment. Students passionate about the culinary arts can obtain transferable skills that allow them to pursue a lifetime of career success. In our culinary class, students learn a variety of profession-specific and general business skills preparing them to pursue a career in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
This course will take up to 12 weeks to complete.
Basic Computer Skills
NEW
This course is designed to teach basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in 6 -8 weeks.
This is good for beginners or people with little to no knowledge of computers and the internet.
The class will also teach students how to navigate the internet and how to conduct searches using different websites platforms.
Commercial Driver License
NEW
A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) such as tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, dump trucks, school and passenger buses. This course can be completed in one month if the student has the CDL permit or two months if the student does not have the permit.
Paraoptometric Technician
NEW
Paraoptometric technicians/assistants work with an ophthalmologist to provide patient care by performing eye-related clinical tasks. The ophthalmic technician – assistant – plays an important role in helping the eye doctor detect, treat, and prevent disorders that may affect vision.
Drywall
NEW
Drywall applicators often install walls and ceilings, as well as place insulation, soundproofing, and firefighting materials behind and over those walls and ceilings. They can also apply textures and ornaments to enhance both the interiors and exteriors of buildings.
This course is also available in Spanish.
Electrocardiography / Phlebotomy
NEW
Electrocardiograph (ECG) technicians are doctors who administer tests to determine patients’ cardiovascular health. Its main functions include performing diagnostic tests on patients, monitoring the patient’s blood pressure, and collecting medical data for use by physicians. Phlebotomy technicians, on the other hand, collect blood from patients and prepare samples for testing. Most work in hospitals and clinics.
Home Health Aide
NEW
The care industry is one of the largest economic sectors, it is expected that about 2.4 million more jobs will be added to the care industry by 2029. This makes it rich with opportunity for those looking to find employment because of its job stability and the growing demand for workers. Home health aides help care for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, age-related issues, and cognitive impairments.
Flagger Training
NEW
The flagger training course is ideal for individuals responsible for managing traffic control. It offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of traffic control, including flagging techniques, hazard identification, and hazard prevention measures. To ensure thorough preparation, the course includes intermittent practice quiz questions leading up to a final written exam. Additionally, a practical exam is included to assess your near-awareness skills in real-world scenarios.
Patient Care Technician
NEW
Patient care technicians (PCTs) work at the bedside of patients, attending to basic needs such as meals and hygiene. PCTs generally have more training that allows them to complete other tasks as well. For example, under the supervision of physicians and RNs, PCTs may be responsible for some medical or medication-related care. The PCT course is a combination of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Electrocardiography (EKG) and Phlebotomy (PHL). This course lasts 8 weeks 4 days a week and 12 weeks on weekends.
Security Guard
NEW
Renaissance Technical Institute, Inc. will offer the two courses to our students at no cost.
This course can be taught in several weeks or in a month. A general introductory course is conducted which upon successful completion, the guard is issued a training certificate that will allow him to work as a security in stores, companies, schools, restaurants, and any business where security is required.