Carolina Youth Coalition

College and Career Readiness is a key area of focus for our team within Equitable Foundation. We support our college access partners intentionally with resources and support for college tours and believe the following benefits are instrumental in a student's post-secondary success. 1. College tours provide a firsthand view of campus life, academic facilities, and support resources, helping to make college feel more tangible and attainable. 2. Seeing other students on campus and interacting with organizations that support diverse communities can help students visualize themselves as part of the college environment. 3. College tours often include sessions on financial aid, academic advising, and campus support systems. These resources are crucial for students navigating complex systems for the first time. 4. Walking around a campus can inspire students to dream bigger by showing them opportunities they might not have previously considered, like internships, study abroad, or specialized academic programs 5. For students from underserved communities, unfamiliarity with a college setting can feel intimidating. Tours help reduce this anxiety by allowing students to ask questions, explore the environment, and familiarize themselves with the logistics of campus life 6. For first-generation college students whose families may not fully understand the college process, tours can also help parents and guardians feel more comfortable with the idea of their child attending college, fostering a sense of partnership in the journey. Ultimately, the Equitable college tours we support play a transformative role in bridging gaps of knowledge and access, empowering first-generation students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to make informed and confident decisions about their education. Check out a recap of a recent tour we supported with our community partners from Carolina Youth Coalition. https://lnkd.in/e8BmKWsd

Grab a meal that matters tomorrow at Salata SouthPark! 15% of all sales benefit CYC! #everydreamneedsateam

?? Today is Funder Friday, and we’re excited to highlight our partnership with Honeywell! ?? Since 2020, Honeywell has been a key supporter, offering not only financial backing but also mentorship, career guidance, and hands-on assistance to help our Fellows excel. Honeywell’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of Futureshapers has been truly transformative. Through active involvement as CYC mentors, their employees help shape the next generation of leaders. In addition, Honeywell has assembled over 300 care packages for our college Fellows, providing essential resources to support their success. Honeywell further enhances students' professional growth by offering career exploration opportunities and expert guidance through CYC’s Career Club, helping Fellows build key professional skills needed for future careers. A key highlight of CYC’s partnership with Honeywell is the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy, which has sent 20 Fellows to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama over the past two years. During their most recent trip, our Fellows participated in astronaut training simulations, worked with advanced technology such as Raspberry Pi, and gained insights from astronaut Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson. These hands-on STEM and leadership experiences are equipping Fellows with valuable skills and inspiring them to pursue careers in aerospace and engineering. ???? As we look ahead, we are excited to see our Fellows continue to gain more valuable experiences through the Honeywell Futureshaper Innovation Challenge next month, where they will pitch sustainable ideas and innovations for Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. A sincere thank you to Randell Nairn, MBA, Chair of CYC’s Young Professional Auxiliary Board, for your leadership, and to Marcey Stevens Stone and Sanjay S Srinivasan for your continued support. We are incredibly grateful for Honeywell’s involvement and dedication. Their support continues to spark growth, opportunity, and positive change, creating a lasting impact on our Fellows and in the greater Charlotte community. ???? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam #FunderFriday #CarolinaYouthCoalition #Futureshapers

??Career Club Recap: Behind the Scenes at Carolina Foods, Inc. ?? Our Fellows had an incredible experience teaming up with Falfurrias Management Partners to tour their latest investment, Carolina Foods, home to delicious treats including donuts and honeybuns! ?? During the visit, our Fellows gained firsthand insights into the private equity process-learning how firms like Falfurrias assess companies and make strategic investment decisions. This hands-on opportunity offered an invaluable glimpse into the world of finance and business strategy in action. A huge thank you to Katie-Rose Austin for making this unforgettable day possible! We're excited for more Career Club trips that inspire our Fellows to explore diverse career pathways through engagement and real-world learning! ?? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam

This Funder Friday, we're excited to highlight Marand Builders, Inc. for their unwavering support of Carolina Youth Coalition and its mission to advance educational equity! ?? Since 2021, Marand Builders has generously awarded $5,000 renewable STEM scholarships to 28 CYC College Fellows, totaling $189,776 in scholarship funds. The Marand Scholarship underscores Marand’s commitment to opening doors for students pursuing careers in STEM and technical fields. Last week, Marand's 4th Annual Scholarship Clay Shoot Fundraiser raised an impressive $264,000 to support scholarship to CYC Fellows, Latin Americans Working for Achievement, and Central Piedmont Community College students. Two inspiring stories of Marand’s impact include CYC College Fellow, Zadok Adua, a senior at UNC-Charlotte studying Computer Science and current Marand Scholar, and Ruth Berhana, a CYC Alumni Fellow from UNC-Chapel Hill, now working as a Digital Marketing Coordinator at Marand Builders. As Zadok shared, “Being awarded the Marand Builder Scholarship gives me an extra boost of confidence and motivation.” Through Marand's steadfast support, our Fellows are empowered to excel and pursue their goals, shaping the future of countless students along the way. We are truly grateful and would like to thank Jeannette Alvarado and Francisco Alvarado for their unwavering leadership and vision. Your dedication to bettering our community through dedicated service and generous support of CYC is truly inspiring. Thank you, Marand Builders, Inc., for your ongoing commitment to inspiring the next generation of leaders. Your investment in our Fellows' futures is transformative, and we are immensely thankful for your embodiment of our core values - growth, empowerment, community, openness, and excellence. ?? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam #FunderFriday?#CarolinaYouthCoalition

The 2024 Jordan Wings Design Program has officially taken flight! ???? The Jordan Wings Design Program, a collaboration between Air Jordan Brand, Triple Threat, and their incredible mentors, brings 16 CYC Fellows into a 4-week immersive design lab for the 2024 Jumpman Invitational. Over the next few weeks, Fellows will dive deep into the creative process, learn design techniques, and master storytelling through design. In their first session, our Fellows gained insights into color theory and took on a team-building challenge, brainstorming team names and taglines to guide them throughout the program. Equipped with mentorship, art supplies, and boundless creativity, they’re ready to break boundaries and build lasting connections. ?? A big thank you to the amazing organizations making this journey possible: Jordan Brand, for leading the design program with Triple Threat and their talented mentors, making this experience transformative. ?? Charlotte Sports Foundation and Truist, for their partnership in the Jumpman Invitational, ensuring the program's success. Social Status, for hosting each workshop in their inspiring Be Social event space, giving our Fellows the perfect place to grow creatively. We can't wait to see how our Fellows level up their skills in each session! ?? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam

Carolina Youth Coalition had the privilege of having Zadok Adua share his story of impact at the Marand Builders, Inc. 4th Annual Clay Shoot fundraiser. Marand Builders has provided 28 CYC College Fellows with $5,000 STEM scholarships since 2021 for a total of $189,776. We are thankful for their continued investment in educational equity and CYC. #education #STEM #scholarships Photos: Kram Kran Photography

It's Funder Friday! Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible support of Wells Fargo and the?Wells Fargo Foundation! Their dedication to our mission continues to transform lives, and we are so grateful for their partnership. A special thank you to Jay Everette and Rodrick Banks at the Wells Fargo Foundation. With their continuous support, we’ve launched our “Financial Habits Program,” empowering 41 Fellows with essential tools to build emergency savings, establish healthy financial habits, and understand long-term investments for a secure future. Their sponsorship of our Torch Awards and Signing Day has allowed us to honor the outstanding achievements of students, families, and supporters who make our mission possible. ? We are deeply grateful to Wells Fargo for its commitment to empowering young people and strengthening our community. Thank you for standing by us and making brighter futures possible! #CommunityImpact #FinancialEmpowerment #TorchAwards #WellsFargo #FunderFriday #Gratitude #EveryDreamNeedsATeam

?? What an amazing night! CYC had a fantastic time at Equitable’s Scholarship Night, celebrating the launch of the 2025 Equitable Excellence Scholarship with over 50 of our incredible Fellows at the U-City Equitable campus! ?? A huge thank you to our partners at Equitable for hosting such a wonderful event. We’d also like to thank Cassandra Efta and Sue Busse from Scholarship America for their guidance throughout the scholarship application process. Your expertise is invaluable in supporting our Fellows on this important journey! ???? We also want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Jarian Kerekes for his unwavering dedication to CYC. Your commitment and support have been vital in helping CYC grow and empower our youth. Applications for the 2025 Equitable Excellence Scholarship are now open! We encourage all eligible students to apply by December 18th—don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to fund your future! We’re excited to witness the bright futures our Fellows will build and the remarkable milestones they will reach. ?? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam

This week, we are thrilled to shine our Funders Friday spotlight on Duke Energy Corporation ?? We are incredibly grateful for Duke Energy’s unwavering support of Carolina Youth Coalition since our inception. Their commitment to empowering under-resourced students has been instrumental in helping us achieve our mission. Last month, we received an incredible boost with a $20,000 grant from Duke Energy, which will allow us to enhance our College Access Program. This support means we can provide even more personalized mentoring, invaluable resources, and dynamic workshops that prepare our students for success in higher education. Duke Energy has also been a vital sponsor of our annual Torch Awards Ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of our exceptional Fellows and recognizing the community that supports them. A special thank you goes to Dominique Johnson, the Foundation Manager at Duke Energy, for being a fantastic partner. Your support and collaboration has truly made a difference. Additionally, we acknowledge the efforts of our Young Professionals Board member, Austin Lowrey, CPA, whose dedication and advocacy have helped strengthen our partnership with Duke Energy. Thank you, Duke Energy Corporation, for believing in our mission and for being a vital partner in nurturing and propelling high-achieving students to and through college. Together, we are changing lives and shaping brighter futures! ?? #EveryDreamNeedsATeam #FunderFriday