Ask the average kid what they want to be when they grow up, and they’ll answer “I don’t know.” Ask the average black boy and his answer will verify. I will be a rapper, football player, basketball player, producer, or a hustler in no particular order. This is alarming because of an ignorance of the choices. Adults, and particularly black entrepreneurs and professionals, must take responsibility for exposing our young people to career options. Children are not likely to prepare for a career they don’t know exist or that are attainable.

Many in the African American community are underexposed to career options. Outside the Box is a program aimed to expose African Americans, gang impacted youth, and formerly incarcerated African American to careers and the option of being business owners. We do this by:

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• Arranging tours of nearby businesses

• Try to place a student for internship at these businesses

• Have young people shadow through the work day

• Learn the college path to the careers

• Learn the agencies within each business.

• Collaborations with Unions creating Mentoring/apprenticeship Programs

• Research shows if children are exposed to career options we can help them reach their potential as full participants in the American economy.