Happy springtime from OppNet! Just as the season lifts our spirits and ushers in new life, the OppNet community continues to grow and thrive.
I am so proud to share that we have scaled our programs and curricula nationally to reach over 10,000 students of color. In 2021, our first full year of delivering our programs virtually amid the pandemic, we:
- continued to expand our Career Fluency® Partnerships nationally to collaborate with 44 Partners across 14 states and 21 cities,
- launched Opportunity Ignited, a new consultative practice helping 13 corporate employers build more diverse and equitable workplaces, and are actively recruiting new partners now,
- served more than 1,000 students across our intensive six-year Fellows program, with 100% of our students graduating high school and 100% accepted into college
Your support made all of this growth possible. With gratitude I thank our community: thank you, supporters and partners; thank you, students; thank you, staff. The last few years have made it even clearer that only through community, collaboration, and solidarity can we make real progress on the path to a more just world.
We've been busy: scroll down to read more about what OppNet has been getting up to. If the past few months are any indication, 2022 is poised to be one of OppNet's biggest years yet and I can't wait to see what we accomplish—together.
AiLun Ku
President and CEO
P.S. OppNet is hiring! Please help us spread the word or apply directly if there is a role that suits your talents!
BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
We are thrilled to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors, and announce the appointment of Joy Booker to Board Secretary. Joy Booker is Managing Director and Head of U.S. Retirement Plan Client Relations at PineBridge Investments. Joining the OppNet Board are Caron Veazey, Founder and CEO of talent management and consulting firm Something in Common, and Molly Stern, Founder and CEO of Zando, an innovative new publishing house. To learn more about OppNet's robust Board of Directors, click here.
PARTNERSHIPS CONVENING: A SEAT AT THE TABLE
Save the date! On April 28 at 1pm, OppNet is hosting A Seat at the Table: Building Dynamic Youth-Adult Partnerships. Join us for a mix of individual reflection, small group conversations, and a panel discussion to hear directly from youth about their leadership experiences. Spaces are going fast so register today!
OPPNET FELLOWS: WINTER CONFERENCE
OppNet's annual Winter Conference, held during December 2021 and January 2022 for our Fellows attending college, had record attendance this year! Students engaged in programming around salary negotiation, mental wellness, and showcasing strengths while networking. Fellows also heard from mental health educator Israa Nasir on the importance of taking care of your whole sense as a key to sustainable success. Check out more of Nasir's work here.
OPPNET IN THE MEDIA
Jessica Pliska, Strategic Advancement Officer, interviewed Sekou Kaalund, JPMorgan Chase's Head of Consumer Banking for the Northeast Division, for Forbes. Kaalund discusses his vision for creating growth for an inclusive economy and his own experiences as a mentor for young people of color.
Pliska also interviewed Albert Cheng, COO of Amazon Studios to discuss the power of representation on and off the screen, and in the boardroom.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH
April is National Volunteer Month and we want to take a moment to give a shout out and say thank you to all of the incredible volunteers who engage with our Fellows. Nearly 750 volunteers from over 200 companies and organizations, including Corporate Members, employer groups, employee resources and affinity groups, and more, engage with our Fellows annually, helping them practice their networking and professional communication skills, prepare for interviews and internships, refine their resumes, learn about new industries and fields, expand their professional networks, and so much more.
From College Essay Coaching and mentorship to Speed Networking and Resume Workshops, OppNet volunteers are a critical part of our community. Thank you to our amazing volunteers for all you do to support our Fellows on their college and career journeys.
If you are interested in learning more about how you or your company can engage in volunteer opportunities with OppNet, please email Sara Siegel, Manager of Individual and Corporate Engagement, at volunteers@opportunitynetwork.org.
