Memorandum Provides Mentorship Support

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 14, 2014) – The Executive Leadership Foundation (ELF), the programmatic and charitable affiliate of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with A Better Chance (ABC), LEADership Education and Development Program (formerly LEAD Program) and INROADS. The agreement leverages mission synergies of each organization, ensuring innovative support to develop a talent pipeline from secondary school through undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Presidents and CEOs including Ronald C. Parker of The ELF and ELC, Sandra Timmons of ABC, Lawrence Drake of LEADership Education and Development Program, and Forest T. Harper, Jr. of INROADS, signed the MOU. The agreement will sustain the collaborative partnership, guaranteeing a continuous pipeline of diverse talent will be educated, trained, and workforce-ready. This effort provides students the opportunity to academically excel in secondary school, prepared for college; access customized career planning based on the student’s current academic and career aspirations; explore internship opportunities with practical experience based on the student’s selected field of study; and, benefit from pre-college-to-[active]-college level mentoring to assist with academic, personal and professional coaching.

The consortium will develop and coach high caliber talent, preparing future generations of leaders for promising careers. Members of The ELC will also participate in personal, academic as well as professional development training.

About

The Executive Leadership Council, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit, is the leading organization committed to increasing the number of black executives and leaders in the C-Suite, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. For over 25 years, it has empowered black, corporate leaders to make significant contributions in the global marketplace and their communities. The Executive Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(3), focuses on improving local communities, helping disadvantaged groups within the broader society, developing future business leaders and filling the pipeline from the classroom to the boardroom. Learn more at www.elcinfo.com

ABC since 1963 has opened the door to educational opportunities for thousands of young people of color in the U.S. Its mission is to substantially increase the number of well-educated young people of color, who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. ABC carries out its mission through its signature College Preparatory Schools Program; which annually recruits, refers and supports about 500 ABC Scholars at more than 300 of the nation’s leading boarding, day and public schools. Learn more at www.abetterchance.org.

INROADS was founded more than 50 years ago. Inspired by the famed I Have a Dream speech, Frank Carr founded INROADS to remove career barriers to corporate opportunities for people of color. It is the largest nonprofit organization committed to leadership and career development for underrepresented talent in the world. INROADS has prepared more than 154,000 diverse leaders with pre-employment skills and graduated more than 30,000 alumni into full-time professional positions with more than 1,000 corporate partners. Currently, INROADS serves 800-1,300 interns and 200 corporate clients. Learn more at INROADS.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn: @INROADSInc.

LEADership Education and Development, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, is an international cross-sector collaborative of premier U.S. corporations, government agencies, higher education and non-profit partnerships, that focus on developing high potential youth of diverse backgrounds into high achievers and responsible leaders. Learn more at www.leadprogram.org.