Over Four Decades: Creating Opportunity, Changing Lives, and Building Leaders

(BLACK PR WIRE) St. Louis, MO, June 22, 2010…One of the country’s foremost organizations will celebrate its 40th Anniversary commencing on June 22 and concluding on January 1, 2011 in order that the many merits of the organization are showcased and recognized for its historical contributions to diversity in the workplace.

Founded in1970 by Frank C. Carr, an IBM executive who at the time lived in Chicago, quit his job after he was inspired by words of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Mr. Carr recruited 25 top minority students from the inner-city of Chicago to fill intern positions at 17 sponsoring companies as the first class of INROADS’ elite interns. From his vast experience in corporate America he knew first hand the need for talented minority employees, but also he was keenly aware of the many challenges they would face in an environment not quite ready for change. Moonlighting evenings as a computer tape disk operator, Frank spent his days creating INROADS by calling in favors from his former corporate colleagues and setting out to cultivate new partnerships. The mission -- to develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership.

“We are more than excited to celebrate our 40th anniversary,” boasts, Tina Marie Bradley, Chief Operations Officer of INROADS, Inc. “But we are even more enthused to face the next 40 years in being the undisputed leader in providing the best future talent for today’s leading organizations. As our country continues to become more diverse, INROADS is well positioned to place the best interns of color not only today, but for generations to come.”

Founder Frank Carr encouraged the students to pledge to uphold the highest of standards of performance at school, on the job, in training and in community service. In return sponsored companies pledged unparallel career experience, a mentor for each student, a liaison to coordinate internships and financial support. This unique partnership has spanned over 40 years and produced over 125,000 well trained minority interns for some of the worlds most notable firms based here in the U.S. and around the globe. 

With over 40 offices, INROADS, like many other companies, have been impacted by the economic climate and experienced the country’s continued changes in population by age and diversity along with the ever-changing mind set of students. Despite all of the ups and downs, the organization continues to thrive. It is one the few organizations that recruits and develops students in their college careers and provides them a vast array of classes and opportunities to enhance their overall well being both in and out of the work environment. During their college career they are extended the opportunity to work as a full-time paid intern during the summer months at an elite corporation, which will provide them insight into their chosen industry of choice.

“INROADS was one of the biggest influencers in my career,” states Teri P. McClure, Senior Vice President, Legal Public Affairs and Compliance, General Counsel and Corporate, Secretary, United Parcel Service of America, Inc. “My five years of Interning experience helped me get into law school. Some of the assignments I had as an Intern gave me valuable experience that many of my law school peers did not have,” she adds.

In conjunction with the celebration of the 40th Anniversary, INROADS will conduct their annual day of community service on July 24th. Over 40 offices across the country will take on local community projects where the students will enhance a variety of community endeavors and efforts with their unique style of leadership and success, which was established over 40 years ago.

About INROADS
Founded in 1970, INROADS, Inc. is the nation's largest non-profit source of salaried corporate internships for excelling Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native American Indian college students. INROADS has placed over 125,000 students throughout its history, providing them with the skills and competencies necessary to be successful in advanced careers. With over 40 offices throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, INROADS has consistently been named one of “America’s Top 10 Internships” since 1993. Top corporate clients of INROADS include UTC, Deloitte, PwC, MetLife and Boeing. To learn more, visit http://www.INROADS.org.