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‘Tis the season when high school seniors launch their countdown to graduation. Simultaneously, many students have announced and finalized their postsecondary plans.
Last month, Charlotte-based workforce development nonprofit Road to Hire (R2H) held their own special celebration for their program participants. At one point, confetti rained down on the crowd of energized youth following the recognition of each of their post-graduation ventures.
R2H’s “Commitment Day” allowed students to get a head start by connecting with students who have committed to attend the same college as them. As powerfully spoken by keynote speaker Ohavia Phillips, the occasion wasn’t just about their commitment; it was a “confirmation of purpose.”
R2H’s approach to student success
Founded by Ric Elias, CEO and co-founder of Red Ventures, R2H has focused on student success for over a decade, guiding young adults through education into sustainable careers. According to their website, the goal is “to prepare a talented pool of young adults for Charlotte’s premier employers, shaping the future of local communities and the city itself.”
This is achieved by offering young people mentorship, scholarships, paid training, and direct access to corporate partners and universities.
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Through R2H’s College Prep Program, students learn professional, tech, and life skills beginning the spring semester of their junior year. More specifically, R2H’s senior program manager of college prep Allen Davis stated that their curriculum is divided into three main categories:
- College readiness and access: Students receive support with various areas needed to attend college. According to Davis, this includes backwards planning by first exploring potential career options that students may want to pursue. From there, R2H aids students with identifying requirements and next steps for accessing that career. Support also includes FAFSA completion (reported 97% completion rate) and college and scholarship application (reported that 230 scholarships will be administered across participants in May).
- Tech and business skills: Students receive training around coding, data analysis, and digital marketing. “We believe those technical skills, regardless of the major path, can be differentiators for student success,” Davis said. “We know that those skills are transferable, regardless of what you do.”
- Professional and personal skills: This category consists of things like communication skills and working in groups. Students are also exposed to topics such as budgeting, self-advocacy, and the practice of asking for help.
Increasing availability of opportunity
As a student and program participant with R2H, Lucero Garcia stated the program presented her with the opportunity to connect with many other students at her school with whom she had previously never interacted.
“I was able to meet all of these people that had the same goals,” she said. “We were all able to move together and motivate each other throughout the program.”
Additionally, public speaking has been one area that Garcia feels R2H has helped her grow tremendously. When recounting her experiences in Washington, D.C. for a student summit at the capitol, Garcia expressed that she was able to use the public speaking skills she learned through R2H as she spoke to government officials.
R2H currently serves seven schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Nicole Simmons, one of the high school instructors at West Mecklenburg, believes that the college prep program helps students to be well rounded. Simmons went on to express the inspiration she receives from witnessing the students “trailblaze forward” and really believe in the goals they set for themselves.
After graduation, Garcia plans to attend South Piedmont Community College with aims of becoming an ultrasound technician. She envisions attending a four-year college alongside a career in politics as well.
In all, Garcia extends appreciation to R2H for the progress the program has helped her make in preparing for her future career.
“It made me believe that I do belong in these rooms, and that I have a voice, and I’m able to use it. I look forward to seeing what I have after all of this, and I’m very thankful to Road to Hire. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to grow academically and personally,” she said.
After their senior year of high school, students transition to R2H’s college program. This program supports students by providing academic coaching and mentorship, networking, internship opportunities and financial support throughout their college journey. Currently, R2H serves 588 students across various universities.
R2H also offers an apprenticeship program and Golden Door Scholars (GDS) program as well. The six-month apprenticeship model offers paid technical training, professional development, and interview opportunities with corporate partners to young adults ages 19-26. Thus far, 546 students have launched careers through this program. The GDS program offers scholarships and support to high-achieving students from underserved communities, including many who are immigrants or first-generation college students.
As R2H’s new CEO, Dr. Monique Perry-Graves said that she aims to build upon the success that the programs have already had.
“Our founder talks a lot about opportunity but also economic mobility. He’s very keen on making sure folks have opportunity — but opportunity for high-paying jobs, and contributing to that in the community,” she stated.
In the time ahead, Perry-Graves’ vision consists of “continuing to scale that impact in a way that brings the community in,” while also ensuring “opportunity is available for all.”
More than a commitment to college
This May, R2H hosted its fourth annual Commitment Day. Nearly 260 seniors in the college prep program gathered at the site of Red Ventures. They heard from a line-up of speakers, including author, entrepreneur, and in-arena host of the Charlotte Hornets, Ohavia Phillips.
In her keynote address, she shared that, despite the hardships that she and her family endured growing up, she managed to become the first in her family to attend a four-year college.
“I did not know what I was doing. I was afraid. I was scared. I was wondering,” she stated, empathizing with the current position that some students must face.
However, Phillips also shared that she was confident and greatly anticipated embarking on her own journey.
“I was looking forward to starting my own story,” she expressed.
Prior to making the transition to a four-year institution, Phillips chose to attend Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). Her experience there informed her first piece of advice to the audience: “build the real deal around you.”
Given that she didn’t originally know what she wanted to study, Phillips credits CPCC with being a space where she could develop the team of people that she needed around her. She continued by expressing the impact of one’s environment, encouraging students to rid themselves of distractions and to find mentors.
“For some of you, it’s time for you to just change your environment and your scenery altogether, because you know there’s more, and you want to get out of comfort because it’s time to be catapulted into what’s next,” she said.
Phillips emphasized the importance of students taking ownership over their own journeys. While parents and loved ones may have dreams for them, Phillips asserted that it’s still the student’s responsibility to walk in alignment with their purpose.
“At the end of the day, this is your story to write, and one day you’re gonna be up here because it will be your story to tell. So don’t miss your moment,” she said.
Lastly, Phillips advised students to “get out of your own way.” She cautioned students to not allow the idea of perfection to stifle their progress. Additionally, despite the challenges that students may face, Phillips instructed that the soon-to-be-graduates “have to stand on that you’ve been called for such a time as this, and you cannot waver in the face of adversity.”
“This is bigger than a commitment, familia [family],” Phillips said. “This is confirmation for your purpose.”
Editor’s note: Dr. Monique Perry-Graves is the chair of EdNC’s board of directors.
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