INROADS News

Jul 22, 2011

INROADS & IOTA PHI THETA Launch Community Service Partnership

INROADS & IOTA PHI THETA Transforming Lives with Community Service Partnership
Multi-City Pilot Program – Training Underserved Students for Corporate Management

INROADS, the nation’s largest non-profit source of salaried corporate internships for outstanding diverse students, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. will announce the launch of a partnership to develop a nationwide collegiate pilot program to provide outreach, recruitment, professional mentorship, coaching, training and career development for underserved youth during the fraternity’s 33^rdNational Conclave in Boston, this week.

Supported by Iota Phi Theta’s Chi Chapter (University of Massachusetts - Boston), the INROADS-Iota pilot program will launch from the U. Mass. – Boston campus this fall to advance the careers of underserved youth, primarily from urban areas, where they have limited or no access to career exploration in corporate America. Corporate partners supporting this effort include UTC and Liberty Mutual.
 

“We are very excited about this innovative, collaborative, community service and diversity partnership built on the development process from INROADS, the community network of Iota and the joint campus relationships that will drive student recruitment, professional mentorship and skills training for youth to help launch their careers,” according to INROADS CEO Forest Harper.

United in Purpose:

The INROADS-Iota partnership was born out of a shared community service vision. INROADS Mission is to develop and place talented underserved youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership. Iota Phi Theta is dedicated to the development and perpetuation of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, fidelity and brotherhood among all men. Both organizations’ founders were inspired by the 1963 March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech amidst the challenges of the Civil Rights Era. Upon witnessing Dr. King, Frank C. Carr, INROADS founder, quit his executive job in corporate America and pledged to create an organization that would uplift Black, Hispanic and American Indian youth from the barrios to the ghettos and give them the education, training and skills needed to succeed in corporate America.

INROADS, now in its 41^styear, has graduated over 24,000 leaders in business and industry, including many vice-presidents, presidents and CEOs. In 1963, on the campus of Morgan State University, Iota’s “Founding 12” launched what is now the nation's fifth largest, predominately African-American social service fraternity. Iota has historically focused its efforts on uplifting Black youth and Black men as well as participating in various community efforts. The fraternity is now expanding its purpose in outreach and uplift for all underserved youth from diverse cultures.

WHEN & WHERE?

At the invitation of Karl Price, Grand Polaris (President) of Iota Phi Theta, INROADS CEO Forest T. Harper, Jr., a Morgan State alumnus, will officially announce the partnership during Iota’s 33^rdNational Conclave Awards Gala at the Quincy Marriott Hotel on July 22 at 6 p.m. Press are invited to attend.