Creating Career Pathways for Underserved Youth and Underrepresented Professionals in Our Community
Challenge
To increase diversity and equity in Charlotte’s high-tech, high-growth, high-earning career paths.
Actions
Founded by Red Ventures’ CEO Ric Elias, Road to Hire (R2H) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit which promotes economic justice for young adults through onramps to college and career-path jobs. In each of Road to Hire’s three programs—Pathways, Scholarships, and Apprenticeships—students make powerful investments in themselves and help close the opportunity divide in our community. Road to Hire’s partners and hundreds of volunteers proudly support high school seniors, college students and young professionals on their way to strong, sustainable careers.
Outcomes
- R2H Pathways: Launched in 2019, Road to Hire’s Pathways in-school program grew to 200 students, serving seniors at five Title 1 high schools (schools where 70% of the students receive free or reduced lunch) with paid internships, tech classes and college prep electives. When the students graduate this summer, 140 Pathways participants will enter college and apprenticeships (with the tech and business fundamentals they learned in Pathways). They are on track to graduate debt-free from Road to Hire partner universities and jumpstart their careers with jobs in high-growth fields.
- R2H Apprenticeships: Over the last six years, Road to Hire’s apprentice alumni group has grown to include 156 emerging tech professionals in career-driving, life-changing jobs at companies like Lowe’s, Bank of America, Novant Health, Atrium Health, and Red Ventures. Students complete a 6-month paid apprenticeship, learning core tech and professional development skills. Through this program, young adults have the opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives from a path that might otherwise be headed toward minimum wage jobs, into wealth-accumulation careers.
- R2H Scholarships: Through Road to Hire's college-focused Scholarships program, first-generation university students receive four years of mentorship, career guidance, extended learning opportunities, and more. 357 students continued toward their degrees in 2020 with four-year tuition scholarships from Road to Hire. They will join 112 program alumni working at Apple, Bank of America, Red Ventures, in graduate school, and as mentors, paying it forward!
Contact
Khalan Boyer
Quote
At Road to Hire and Red Ventures, we believe we must be the change we wish to see in the world. We believe that action expresses priorities and that we have a responsibility to interrupt injustice and indifference whenever we see it. We will hold ourselves accountable to being open and inclusive teammates, community members and leaders at Road to Hire and Red Ventures.