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Responding to progressive companies' need to develop an increased pipeline of young talent in inner-city schools, DiversityInc and Rutgers University-Newark last week introduced the Business Connections Pipeline Program.  

The groundbreaking program will create financial and developmental avenues for the corporations to help the urban schools maximize the potential of their students.

Twenty corporate representatives met with principals and guidance counselors from nine schools in the Newark, N.J. area (see list below) to take the first step in helping the schools retain and develop their students. The principals and guidance counselors detailed the most pressing issues that keep their students from going on to further education and careers in corporate America, especially lack of facilities and infrastructure, and the scarcity of mentors to reach them before it's too late.

"We are a single-sex school and we have a residence program for 75 students. But there are three times that many students who need to live on campus, but we don't have the means," said Principal Father Edwin Leahy of St. Benedict's Prep High School, in Newark. "Many of these students would not have made it if they weren't able to step outside their neighborhood and study."

Corporate representatives talked about their need for more talent, especially from the Black and Latino communities, and the most effective way they could help. Initial suggestions included formal mentoring programs and job shadowing, as well as corporate funds to bolster school facilities.

"There is so much talent in these schools, but the approach to reaching the talent has to be systemic," said Allen Boston, partner and Americas director of campus and diversity recruitment from Ernst & Young, No. 17 on The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity®. "That systemic change has to go beyond helping individual schools but must impact all schools." Ernst & Young created a mentorship program with a high school in Brooklyn, N.Y., and has since increased the retention and graduation rates by nearly 60 percent.

The Business Connections Pipeline Program will formalize the relationships between the schools and the corporations over the next few months.

Here is a list of participants:

• Alicia Mahon, Guidance Counselor, University High School
• Allen A. Boston, Partner and Americas Director of Campus & Diversity Recruiting, Ernst & Young, No. 17 on the Top 50
• Amy L. Corona, Human Resources Director, The Pepsi Bottling Group, No. 29 on the Top 50
• Anthony W. Carnahan, Director of College Guidance, St. Benedicts Preparatory School
• Billy Brown, EOF Alumnus, Rothspein Kass
• Blair Goodman, Director Talent Acquisition, Merrill Lynch, No. 7 on the Top 50
• Carlos Nazario, Assistant Director Admissions, Rutgers Newark University
• Clinton Miller, Student Assistance Counselor, Elizabeth High School
• Cynthia Alfaro, Human Resources Manager, The Pepsi Bottling Group, No. 29 on the Top 50
• Daina L. Barbito-Wilpon, HR Manager, Assistant Vice President, Chubb & Son
• Donna Satterthwaite, Recruiting Director, ADP
• Elsie H. Dennis, MD, Executive Director, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp., No. 31 on the Top 50
• Eugene Garrison, Technical Recruiter, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• EvaMarie Raleigh, Principal, Hillside Public Schools
• Father Edwin Leahy, Principal, St. Benedicts Prep High School
• Jaqueline Grace, Vice President C&E Diversity & Inclusion, Merrill Lynch, No. 7 on the Top 50
• Jose Marcado, Guidance Counselor, Science High School
• Kira Cordoba- Brown, Project Analyst, Citigroup Inc., No. 45 on the Top 50
• Lisa Tsapenko, Vice President, Diversity Recruiting Manager, Recruiting Solutions, Wachovia. No. 14 on The Top 50
• Liza M. Lopez, LLC, Attorney at Law, University High School
• Marilyn Priestley, Vice President, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., No. 31 on the Top 50
• Mary Joe Trusso-Sabbers, Guidance & Media Specialist, Dickinson High School
• Mindy Hanna, Senior Director Diversity & Inclusion, ADP
• Neddy Perez, Chief Diversity Officer, KPMG, No. 49 on The Top 50
• Ramona Blake, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, PSEG
• Sally J. Nadler, University Relations Manager, PSEG
• Stephanie Lewis Desire, Manager, Equal Employment Opportunity HR Dept, The Port Authority of NY&NJ
• Steven Sbarra, Vice President, Campus Relationship Manager, Recruiting Solutions ,Wachovia, No. 14 on The Top 50
• Tony Carnahan, Teacher, St. Benedicts Preparatory High School,
• Toni McDaniel, Diversity Recruiting Manager, Prudential Financial, No. 24 on the Top 50
• Wanda Mendez, Assistant Dean, Director, Rutgers Business School, Newark & New Brunswick

For more information on the Business Connections Pipeline Program, please e-mail Luke Visconti at LVisconti@DiversityInc.com.

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