Apply To Join

JOIN OUR PROGRAM

If you’re looking to supercharge your success, meet with like-minded individuals, and start building a career network, you can’t do much better than becoming a member of our community.

Durham Success Summit admits new Scholars year-round and has no GPA or special requirements.

Our focus is on prioritizing young men who can demonstrate commitment and ambition by showing up to get the work done. This means being present, participating, and paying it forward – bringing others up and along with you.

Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis.

Click the link below to get started on the DSS Interest Form. This is a short form that helps us capture your program preferences and your contact information.

Then, you’ll hear from Xavier Nonez, a DSS alum-turned-program coordinator (who encapsulates the sort of role we look for our Scholars to play in lifting up other Black male youth). You’ll submit part 2 of the application, which will delve deeper into your work experience, goals, and needs. We ask you to submit short responses to three prompt questions. Responses are not evaluated as a writing sample, they are purely to understand more about you as a candidate.

Our Program team will review your application. If your application is accepted, the final step will be attending orientation and onboarding with your assigned Success Coach, who will serve as a mentor for you as you continue through DSS programs.

Submit Interest Form

YOU!

We are looking for young Black men (age 16-24) who are accountable, like to collaborate with others, have shown leadership, and have a sense of integrity. If you are building upon these traits, we still encourage you to apply to our programs.

After completing the initial form, young men should expect to complete a longer application with three short answer questions. We encourage young men to be thorough in their answers (e.g., each answer should be a 6-8 sentence paragraph).

We do not have any GPA or educational requirements.

Benefits of becoming Durham Success Summit member

Full access to our established success network. When you’re a scholar, you’ll be able to communicate and meet with professional mentors, as well as get access to a private online directory with exclusive job opportunities.

An assigned Success Coach, based on your experience and goals, who will be able to meet with you virtually or in-person at least twice per month for guidance and career strategizing, as well as to serve as a guide for sessions and DSS events.

Invitation to in-person events for DSS youths, held on a regular basis.

Joining our program requires you to put your best effort and passion forward.

Becoming a Durham Success Summit Scholar means joining an environment that emphasizes your personal growth as well as your accountability. This means we have expectations of our Scholars, and we hold you to them – in order to make sure you’re ready for what is also expected of you in a corporate setting.

You must:

Regularly attend events and make an active effort to engage with mentors, partners, and coaches
Agree to complete assignments, follow the Durham Success Summit Handbook, and respect our process
Be ready to be challenged. You will get better, get skilled, and get a job – but not if we go easy on you.

Those who come ready for these challenges are generally more competitive when the Summit Scholars and Summit Founders open for applicants (every September). These programs provide seed funding, work stipends, and trips / excursions throughout the United States.

Choose What Works Best For You

We aren't a once size fits all program. We have a range of membership options to get the support you need in the format that works best for your learning style, schedule, and goals.

A few things to remember:

You can apply to become a Community Member at any time.
Applications for Summit Scholars and Founders open in September and are highly competitive. A maximum of 20 Scholars and Founders are selected every year.

Community Members who have demonstrated commitment to DSS receive priority application review.
You do not have to be a Community Member in order to apply for other programs.

	Community Member	Summit Scholars	Summit Founders
Access to DSS Center & Coworking space	✔	✔	✔
Access to a Success Coach (Virtual or In-Person)	✔	✔	✔
Access to The Success Network	✔	✔	✔
Invitations to local DSS and partner events	✔	✔	✔
Alumni reunions and travel experiences	✖	✔	✔
Weekly in-person group sessions (January 2024)	✖	✔	✔
Stipends for professional development and certifications	✖	✔	✔
Seed funding for entrepreneurial ideas	✖	✖	✔
Full scholarship to Google Career Certificate	✔	✔	✔