April 29, 2025

Youth who didn’t grow up watching adults install electrical wiring might scurry from the sound of circuit breakers blowing, or the furnace beginning to sound like a jet taking off from the roof.

Similarly, youth who didn’t grow up around adults who told them about attending college classes, studying long hours and being inspired by a professor who took an interest in them: These youth might not see themselves doing such a thing, even though the experience might broaden their life experience and raise their lifetime earnings.

The first portion of today’s Forum featured two young people involved in demystifying the post-high-school experience. The programs they are associated with provide young people with mentoring, direction, contacts, with help finding scholarships and, perhaps most importantly, pursuing the education, training or experiences that will allow them t0  become all that they dream they could be.

Presenting were Kayla Brown, who works for Ernst & Young and is associated with the firm’s College Map Program; and Aaron Randolph, co-founder & executive director of Carolina Youth Coalition.

Kayla Brown may be reached by e-mail or by cell phone 704-615-5321. EY wrote about its College Map Program in 2019 here.

Aaron Randolph, executive director of Carolina Youth Coalition, may be reached via e-mail or the CYC office phone, 980-215-0414

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