05/28/2026
On Wednesday, over 250 students walked into Red Ventures and committed to their future at Road to Hire's 5th Annual Commitment Day, a milestone in a journey that is only just beginning.
From eight different Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, each student declared their next step: college, university, or military service. That's not a small thing. That's years of partnership, hard work, and belief made visible in a single room.
We heard from student speakers Brian Maradiaga, Nate Dodson, Princess Borma, Kirklin Bingley, and Lucero Garcia Turrubiartez, who stopped the room with their honesty, resilience, and vision. We watched peers recognize one another not for grades but for the values they carry. We heard the Phillip O. Berry Marching Cardinals fill an arena with energy, setting the tone for everything that followed.
None of this happens without a village.
Thank you to our chaperones, teachers, and school staff who show up every single day. To our corporate partners, donors, city and county officials, and community members: your belief in young adults fuels this work. To the Equitable Foundation, your partnership has been instrumental in expanding access and developing the next generation of leaders. And to Ric Elias, founder of Road to Hire and CEO of Red Ventures, for taking the stage and pouring into our participants directly.
A special thank you to our CEO, Dr. Monique Perry-Graves, for leading this organization with the conviction that every hard-working young adult deserves an opportunity.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. The road ahead is yours, and Road to Hire will be with you every step of the way.
