Accelerate Your Career and Build Your Network
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our rigorous, in-person 6-month cohort-based accelerator is designed to help you achieve your career goals.
Through independent coursework, assignments, and career tours and site visits across the country with our partners, you'll gain invaluable industry-specific knowledge and skills. Our facilitators ("Success Coaches") will lead career-specific discussions, providing you with the guidance and support you need to succeed.
By the end of the program, you'll have an actionable plan to pursue your first-choice career, an expanded network of industry-relevant professional contacts and references, and a firm grasp of fundamental business communication skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your career to the next level with Summit Scholars!
THE REAL TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Summit Scholars is not your average career development program. As a Scholar, you'll have access to a range of exciting opportunities that will help you grow both personally and professionally. Highlights of the program include:
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
As a Summit Scholar, you will be expected to complete all coursework with a minimum attendance rate of 90%, meet regularly with Success Coaches and mentors, actively participate on the Success Network, and complete a creative reflection to demonstrate program takeaways. You will also be asked to complete surveys to provide feedback and support for at least two years following the program, and to support your fellow Scholars through feedback, presence, and constructive ideas.
In return, you will gain valuable transferable skills that help you secure employment and succeed in your chosen career. You will be able to clearly articulate your strengths and growth areas in a range of formats, navigate the job market and understand the skills needed to be successful in local emerging industries, and feel more confident in your abilities with a stronger sense of self-worth. You will also have an expanded network of mentors and industry-relevant professional contacts, and an actionable plan to pursue your first-choice career.
Community Building
Connect with like-minded individuals and learn from successful professionals in your field of interest. Our Community Building module includes a program overview and introductions, exploration of your future self and personal mission, and a Scholars & Founders Retreat.
Career Planning & Goal Setting
Plan for your future career with our Career Planning & Goal Setting module. Learn how to identify your personal strengths and weaknesses, identify your career interests and goals, and develop a career plan and set achievable goals.
Job Search Skills
Take the first steps towards your dream job with our Job Search module. Learn the basics of resume writing and cover letter creation, building a professional online presence, and developing interview skills.
Professionalism & Workplace Etiquette
Learn how to act professionally and respectfully in any workplace. Topics include business communication, attire and grooming, time management, and workplace ethics and etiquette.
Financial Literacy
Money matters, and our Financial Literacy module will help you set yourself up for long-term financial success. Learn how to create a personal budget and save effectively, understand credit and debt, and get an introduction to entrepreneurship and negotiation tips and tricks.
Real World Exposure
Get real-world exposure to different industries and workplaces with our Real World module. Go on site visits to local offices, work on your own final project, and reflect on everything you've learned throughout the program. Celebrate your accomplishments with a graduation ceremony and alumni opportunities.
The Summit Scholars Program is a rigorous four-month career development program designed to help young Black men between 16 and 24 years old gain valuable transferable skills to secure employment and succeed in their chosen careers.
The Summit Scholars Program is offered at no cost to selected Scholars.
The benefits of being a Durham Success Summit Scholar are nothing short of extraordinary. You will participate in tailored workshops designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in areas that align with your goals and interests, invitations to all-expense paid leadership retreats and professional development experiences across the country, and access to our established network. Moreover, you will have the unique chance to connect with companies that actively recruit and hire individuals like you, opening doors to incredible career opportunities.
As a Summit Scholar, you also gain access to a network of alumni who continue their journey of success. Our alumni benefits include internal hiring opportunities within our network of supporters, scholarships to support your educational pursuits, and reunions where you can reconnect with fellow Scholars and share your progress.
By the end of the program, Scholars will be able to articulate their strengths and growth areas, navigate the job market, feel more confident in their abilities, have an expanded network of mentors and industry contacts, and possess an actionable plan for their first-choice careers. Many of our alumni have gone on to work in high trajectory roles for leading companies such as Fidelity, Duke Health, Ally Bank, Mastercard, the NBA, to name just a few.
No! We believe that your potential is not defined by numbers on a report card or test. At DSS, we are committed to providing equal opportunities to all young Black men in our community.
To apply for our program, you must be between the ages of 16 and 24 at the start of the program, reside in or around Durham, and be able to commit yourself to the program. We don’t even ask about grades and standardized metrics because we understand that your true potential lies in your passion, resilience, and commitment to personal growth.
If selected, Scholars commit to attending four months of programming from January 22 through April 13, 2024. Scholars are expected to attend weekly group sessions, which take place in person on Monday evenings, as well as participate in bi-weekly social activities every other Friday and monthly community service events.
Completely in-person. The program consists of in-person sessions, allowing for face-to-face interaction and engagement with Success Coaches and fellow Scholars.
The program is open to young, Black men (16-24) from both the Durham area and surrounding areas. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.
While we do not provide transportation for Scholars to and from program activities, we have witnessed our Scholars come up with innovative solutions to overcome transportation challenges. Many of our Scholars carpool or seek support from their accountability partners or guardians. We strongly recommend having reliable transportation to make the most of the program. However, we understand that circumstances may vary, and our team is always available to discuss alternative solutions and provide guidance.
APPLY HERE by Monday, 11/5 at 12PM EST. The application includes us collecting some basic information and four short answer essay questions that we ask you to complete in order to learn more about you.
You will also need a current version of your resume and a recent photo when you submit the application.
We want to ensure that we select Scholars who are committed, motivated, and ready to make the most of this life-changing opportunity. Our team carefully and thoroughly reviews every application we receive. We take the time to understand where you currently are in your journey, the steps you have already taken, and the effort you have invested in preparing your application materials, particularly the short answer responses.
While it's not always possible for us to meet everyone in person, we do find value in connecting with our applicants at our community events whenever possible. We understand that not everyone may have had the opportunity to attend these events, and we do take this into consideration when evaluating applications.
We believe that authenticity is key to standing out in the application process. Be your true self, and focus on sharing your personal journey and career aspirations. We’re not looking for perfect writers or selecting the most well-written response. We’re looking for honesty, clarity, and humility about what you need. We love to see that you’ve tried a few things (whether they were “successful” to you or not). Additionally, we encourage you to do some research on our organization and show that you understand our mission and vision.
The program is focused on career readiness and skill development, so academic credit may not be awarded. This varies based on your academic institution. However, Scholars will gain valuable knowledge and skills that can enhance their future educational pursuits as well as professional careers.
If you don’t have a resume or would like support in making updates to your resume before submitting an application, we encourage you to come by our Open Office Hours every Tuesday between 1:00pm - 6:00pm at our office (727 N. Mangum Street).
All applicants will be notified by Monday, November 13, 2023 via the email address used at the time of application.
We recognize that the selection process is competitive, and not all applicants may be accepted into the program. However, we have a range of opportunities that could still benefit you, including Community Memberships that provide access to our coworking space and networking opportunities with similar young men in the local area. Additionally, we have professional development opportunities and scholarships to Google Career Certificate programs available to ALL applicants.
888-588-4390
outreach@dssnc.org
727 N. Mangum Street, Suite 200
Durham, NC 27701