Dear Community Member,
Welcome to The OppDate! I am now in my ninth month as CEO and I'm excited to share what we have been up to. We are shaping college and career pathways for the next generation entering the workforce in bold and powerful ways. That's the essence of creating opportunity. Our work is more critical than ever, as there is much national conversation occurring regarding the value of a college degree and the emergence of skills-based hiring. At OppNet it is BOTH AND! We believe in the power of higher education, while developing strong skills that will assist students as they transition into the workforce. Social capital is our core, and relationships dominate maneuvering in life and especially in career. We pride ourselves on opening the door to great networks for our youth who are first-generation college students. Take a look below and see just how Fellows gained skills, met new people, were exposed to careers, rocked digital marketing projects, and learned so much while on internships this summer. It's been a great first summer for me as CEO, learning alongside our Fellows.
Join us in welcoming our college students, whether back on campus or experiencing college for the first time. Check out our social media channels highlighting their experiences.
We also invite you to volunteer with OppNet this fall to help us open more opportunities for our youth. There are many ways to do so, as you will read below. As the great Shirley Chisholm once said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." We are paying that rent here at OppNet as servant leaders and invite you to engage in serving our youth with your career experiences and talents. The reward for doing so is bountiful!
With gratitude,
Lucria Ortiz
President and CEO
OppNet is "Back On Campus" with the Class of '28!
As the new academic year begins, OppNet is thrilled to celebrate this year's incoming college freshmen and cheer them on as they embark on an exciting new chapter in their lives. To share their journeys, a few of our Fellows will be taking over OppNet's social media pages, offering an insider's view of campus life, exploring new environments and applying their networking skills in practice!
We invite you to check out this Instagram takeover by OppNet Fellow Yannick Doumde, who is currently a senior at Lehigh University! Don't forget to follow us on our Instagram and LinkedIn pages for more updates and insights from our dynamic and diverse community!
OppNet Summer Institute 2024
This summer, we were thrilled to welcome our newest class of OppNet Fellows at our annual Summer Institute! In July, the Class of 2030—comprising rising 11th graders from NYC—participated in an inspiring career exposure trip to BNY. During their visit, they delved into the world of global banking, cybersecurity, and AI, gaining invaluable insights. A special thank you to Senior Vice President Jason Rosado and the entire BNY team for hosting us and leaving our Fellows with the empowering message, “You belong here.” Indeed, they most certainly do!
OppNet Fellows Stand Out Among Macquarie Group's Largest LEADS Cohort
Congratulations to our four OppNet Fellows who were part of Macquarie Group’s largest-ever LEADS cohort! This summer, these Fellows honed their professional skills by collaborating with passionate Macquarie mentors on industry research projects and workshops. This year, Macquarie welcomed 21 students across its Jacksonville, New York, and Philadelphia offices for an intensive five-week program focused on professional development and mentorship.
Since 2008, the Macquarie LEADS program has empowered young people from historically underrepresented backgrounds to achieve their educational and career goals. This year's program, for the first time, embraced a hybrid externship model, blending daily remote industry research with weekly in-person workshops, offering greater flexibility for all participants. A heartfelt thank you to our friends at Macquarie for providing such invaluable opportunities and support.
OppNet Fellows Shine in CodeSpeak Labs' Next Step Apprenticeship
In August, our OppNet Fellows dazzled their audience with final presentations from this summer's Next Step Apprenticeship. In collaboration with CodeSpeak Labs, this program offers tech- and media-savvy young people hands-on experience, working with digital projects for real-world clients.
This year, OppNet had the privilege of being the client, and Fellows collaborated to pitch to staff.
Our talented Fellows pitched their visions for a refreshed brand and style kit, showcasing their skills in logo design, website development, and social media content creation to elevate OppNet's digital presence. From the creativity of their ideas to the polished professionalism of their pitch decks — let's just say that the client was beyond impressed!
Career Immersion Day with Blue Owl Capital
Our partnership with Blue Owl Capital continues to thrive as OppNet Fellows and students from Macaulay Honors College, STEER for Student Athletes, NJ LEEP, and MESA Charter High School participated in a Career Immersion Day focused on financial investment.
Co-President and Founder Michael Rees shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing that "entrepreneurship is a mindset." Students left inspired by his story and dynamic career path. The highlight of the day was OppNet's signature Speed Networking session, where students engaged in lively discussions with Blue Owl employees on investment, networking, and more. This is how OppNet builds corporate partnerships — through deep, meaningful engagement that benefits both our Fellows and our partners.
Corporate Volunteerism = Pathway to Success
"It gives you a deeper sense of purpose and, for employees, it gives them a deeper sense of morale."
—Erica Knox, Corporate Communications Coordinator at BET
At OppNet, corporate partnerships open doors to a multitude of career options and industries that help our brilliant and diverse young people navigate their futures with confidence and purpose. Hear from our CEO, OppNet alumni, and volunteers like Erica Knox from BET, Orlando Taylor from Deloitte, Robert Andrews of Evercore ISI, Jacob Pincus from Aquiline, and Tracy Hampton Fraser of Hakluyt & Company on how our program effectively empowers first-generation students and what they have personally gained from the experience.
Interested in becoming a corporate partner? Click here to learn more and join us in making a difference and shaping future leaders!
OppNet in the News
"Representation is Powerful. Without It, I Doubted Success Was Possible for Me," Chalkbeat New York
We're thrilled to share a powerfully written article by OppNet Fellow Shamima Ahmed on community, representation, and self-advocacy.
Published in Chalkbeat New York, Shamima's article speaks straight to the heart of OppNet's work to create more opportunities for young people to see themselves represented in every space they can imagine. Read the whole piece here.
"The Importance of Professional Business Networks," Authority Magazine
In a recent interview, OppNet's President & CEO, Lucria Ortiz, shared her path from growing up in public housing to a career in law and government and leading an organization dedicated to serving first-generation college students.
