Back on My Feet is a nonprofit organization multiple Oliver Wyman offices have worked with in recent years. According to their website, Back on My Feet “seeks to revolutionize the way our society approaches homelessness. Their unique running-based model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead and move toward jobs, homes and new lives. After 30 days in the BoMF program, members earn the opportunity to receive educational support, access to job training programs, employment partnership referrals and housing resources.

In 2017, an Oliver Wyman employee (now alumnus) Zach Boven, helped to pilot a computer literacy program in our Dallas office after realizing many of Back on My Feet’s members do not have regular access to computers or have a familiarity with programs that might be prerequisites for employment. The pilot provided one-on-one volunteer support for the basic computer programs found in Microsoft Office. The pilot was a success and positive feedback came from all who were involved which led BoMF to identify other cities in which to expand the program. Our New York and San Francisco offices quickly joined in and leveraged the materials created from the Dallas pilot. Here are their stories:

Dallas, TX: Pilot Program

For three years the Dallas Office held morning training sessions where attendees were taught basic job skills using the programs found in Microsoft Office. Also on certain occasions the office volunteers held sessions to help attendees create resumes and practice interviewing. Attendees came to multiple sessions making it easy to track progress and really see each individual’s computer literacy grow.

New York, NY

For two years the New York Office hosted 10 computer literacy sessions in the office with Back on My Feet. During these sessions, volunteers worked one-on-one with attendees, helping them to build essential job skills by using computer programs in Microsoft Office.

San Francisco, CA

New to the office this year, San Francisco held two sessions with Back on My Feet. In the workshops, our staff taught individuals the foundations of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. In the Microsoft Word Workshop, participants practiced drafting interest letters to potential employers and learned the use of tables to organize information. In the Microsoft Excel workshop, participants were taught the use of basic excel functions through a budgeting exercise.

This has been such a worthwhile program to continue supporting across offices over the years. In addition to volunteering our expertise and time, Oliver Wyman also donated computers to the cause. We were able to put 29 laptops into service for the Back on My Feet sessions in Dallas, New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago.