Road to Hire

08/25/2026

A new school year has started for our Road to Hire community! 📚 As Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students head back to the classroom today, we’re kicking off the school year with advice from across our community.

First up, West Mecklenburg High School graduate Brian Maradiaga shares a reminder for anyone stepping into something new: don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Even a small step can help you discover what you’re capable of.

Now heading to Appalachian State University, Brian is taking what he learned at Road to Hire with him into his next chapter.

Wishing our R2H community and all CMS students a great start to the school year!

08/19/2026

Congratulations to our Board Member Sathish Muthukrishnan on his appointment as Chief Digital & Consumer AI Officer at UnitedHealth Group!

Throughout his tenure at Ally, Sathish helped strengthen our partnership, contributing to Ally being recognized as Road to Hire’s 2026 Women in Tech Partner of the Year for hiring Road to Hire talent and supporting their long-term success.

Sathish is a trusted advisor to our CEO and Board, helping us think thoughtfully about how AI can strengthen our work and advance our mission.

Congratulations, Sathish! We're grateful for your continued leadership and look forward to all you will continue to contribute to Road to Hire!

08/13/2026

Kicking off the new school year alongside the school and community partners who make this work possible 💙

This morning, we came together for our Beginning-of-Year Breakfast to connect, celebrate student success, and prepare for the year ahead.

We were grateful to welcome principals, counselors, and CTE coordinators from Garinger High School, Harding University High School, Julius L. Chambers High School, Olympic High School, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, Rocky River High School, West Charlotte High School, and West Mecklenburg High School.

We were also joined by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district leaders and school board members, along with representatives from Communities In Schools-Charlotte, bringing together people across our community who are committed to supporting students throughout their academic journeys.

These partnerships help create a stronger, more connected pathway that supports students from high school through college and into their careers.

Here’s to another year of working together!

08/12/2026

Road to Hire is excited to welcome Jamese Ivy as our Vice President of Student Success!

​​In this role, Jamese will lead the teams responsible for supporting Road to Hire participants across high school and college as they prepare for their education and career goals. She will serve on Road to Hire’s executive leadership team and report directly to CEO Dr. Monique Perry-Graves.

Jamese brings extensive leadership experience across student success, community impact, and workforce development. She has led multiple teams and functions at scale, with a focus on strengthening systems, expanding opportunity, and driving meaningful outcomes for students and communities. She was also recognized in Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under 40.

"Jamese is a proven and respected senior leader who is ready on Day 1 to lead at scale. She joins us to lead one of the largest and most consequential spans of student-facing work at Road to Hire, encompassing all of our high school and college programs. As we continue into a new era of impact and advance our mission, I’m confident that Jamese, alongside our Student Success leadership team, will build on our foundation and take our work to the next level." - Dr. Monique Perry-Graves, CEO, Road to Hire

Please join us in welcoming Jamese to Road to Hire!

08/07/2026

AI is changing the future of work. We're making sure young adults are ready to lead in it.

At Road to Hire, we believe AI isn't about finding shortcuts. It's about asking better questions, thinking more critically, and creating smarter solutions.

During the summer, rising high school seniors built personalized college plans. Rising college freshmen created AI-powered Campus Navigators to confidently transition to college. Rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors developed AI tools to make the internship and job search more strategic and efficient. This is how our participants are learning to use AI in ways that prepare them for their next step.

The technology will continue to evolve, but the skills behind it matter most. By teaching young adults to work alongside AI while strengthening their creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking, we're preparing them for what comes next!

07/29/2026

Visiting our Corporate partner offices does more than introduce our participants to the workplace; it helps them envision themselves there.

Throughout Summer U, our participants visited Ally, Duke Energy, Honeywell, and
Lowe's Home Improvement to learn directly from the professionals who power these organizations.

Participants sharpened their resumes and interview skills, practiced elevator pitches, expanded their professional networks, explored career paths, and connected with Road to Hire alumni who shared what it takes to launch a successful career.

These experiences help bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, giving our participants the confidence, connections, and practical insights they need as they prepare for internships, college, and future careers.

Thank you to Ally, Duke Energy, Honeywell, and Lowe's for investing your time, sharing your expertise, and helping our participants envision what's possible. And thank you to our alumni for coming back to inspire the next generation by showing them what's possible.

07/24/2026

Learning doesn't end when Summer U does. It's just getting started.

Throughout the summer, participants challenged themselves to ask questions, build new skills, connect with peers and professionals, and step outside their comfort zones. But the most important lesson isn't found in a classroom.

It's the mindset to keep learning: not only during Summer U, but throughout every stage of the Road to Hire journey.

Whether that's seeking out new opportunities, staying curious, building relationships, or embracing new challenges, continuous learning is what prepares participants for what’s ahead.

Because at Road to Hire, Summer U isn't the finish line. It's the foundation for what’s next: college, careers and a lifetime of learning.

07/22/2026

Envisioning what's possible starts with experiencing it!

As part of Summer U, rising high school seniors participated in college tours to North Carolina Central University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, exploring campus life, academic spaces, and the communities that make each university unique.

These visits are about more than touring a campus. They're about exposing participants to what's possible, giving them the opportunity to ask meaningful questions directly to the admissions team and current students, and helping them make informed decisions about their future.

Thank you to the Equitable Foundation for investing in experiences that help turn exposure into opportunity!

07/20/2026

Today, we're proud to share a story that captures more than a moment. It captures momentum.

One year into Dr. Monique Perry-Graves' leadership as CEO, The Charlotte Optimist reflects on Road to Hire's next chapter. One defined by bold vision, meaningful partnerships, and expanding opportunities for young adults across Charlotte.

What began as a conversation about a new era of leadership naturally grew into something bigger: a story about what's possible when students are given access to opportunity, surrounded by a community that believes in them, and supported every step of the way.

That has always been the heart of Road to Hire, and it's the momentum we're building together.

Thank you to Michael Graff and The Charlotte Optimist for telling our story.

Read the full article: https://charlotteoptimist.com/road-to-hire-teen-takeovers/

While Charlotte debates a 9 p.m. teen curfew, Monique Perry-Graves and Road to Hire offer a counterpoint: 450 teens from Title I schools, all college-bound.