Each year, PEEP hosts about 200 students from seven local high schools and 100 career mentors at the Westin Charlotte at its Career Mentoring Luncheon.
This year the event sponsored by Snyder’s-Lance, included keynote speaker Patrick Hall of A Cultivated Mindset who spoke to students about his start and the road to entrepreneurship. Notables included event host, radio personality and founder of Girl Talk Foundation, Janine Davis, as well as WCNC news anchor Fred Shropshire who served as a career mentor for the event.
Dee Dixon spoke about why she began the organization and pointed out the value of education to students, while encouraging them to keep going even in the face of obstacles.
2009 PEEP Scholarship recipient Joi Emmanual made her first donation to PEEP to give back for the support she received from the organization as she began her college career.
Two student from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology spoke about the influence that PEEP career mentors who come into their classrooms have on their future planning.
After lunch, local professionals presented industry-specific breakout session for students to learn about careers of interest, including:
Accounting/General Business – Victoria Pittman, President, National Association of Black Accountants, Charlotte Chapter
Creative Entrepreneurship – Lashawnda Becoats, Editor-in-Chief Pride Magazine, and Partner, The Darling Media Group
Engineering – Lauren Carter, LEED Green Associate Associate, Engineering Services, TIAA-CREF Global Real Estate
Healthcare – Connie Roseborough of Novant Healthcare
Legal – Spencer Merriweather, Assistant District Attorney at State of North Carolina – Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office
Technology – Patrick Hill, CEO, A Cultivated Mindset and 2015 Pride Award Winner
Special thanks to this year’s contributing sponsor
