Website: www.inroads.org

Phone: 314-241-7488

It's no secret that for years, people of color -- African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans -- were noticeably absent from the ranks of corporate North America. By June of 1970, it was time to make a change. It was at that time that Frank C. Carr, our late founder, planted the seeds for what INROADS has become today. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s landmark "I Have a Dream" speech, Frank quit his executive level corporate day job and committed to taking swift and decisive action to increase the number of people of color in corporate management in the U.S., and to help change the way people of color gained entry into the business world.

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.

Frank launched INROADS in his hometown of Chicago with just 25 college student interns and 17 sponsoring corporations. Today, INROADS is an international organization with more than 60 offices serving approximately 7,000 interns in over 900 companies.

There are three keys to success for INROADS students: Selection, Education and Training, and Performance. For over three decades, INROADS has helped businesses gain greater access to diverse talent through continuous leadership development of outstanding students of color and placement of those students in internships at many of North America's top corporations, firms and organizations.

Without a doubt, Frank C. Carr inspired a tradition of mentoring and opportunity that has grown with our company over the years. It is a heritage we are proud to continue today.