Through the GardHouse internship program, students are invited to join a community that is designed to uplift them throughout their professional journey. From mentoring to development workshops, students are brought into our home to explore what success looks like for them. GardHouse works with community leaders who wish to give back to students that deserve the same resources and opportunities as the next scholar. From volunteering to donating, each member of our extended family plays an integral part in the success of our students. Our why: As Charlotte confronts the upward social mobility crisis, a gap remains for college students of color seeking employment. Pell Institute found that 21 percent of college students in poverty-stricken families obtain a bachelor’s degree by age 24. In Mecklenburg County, 1 in 5 kids live under the poverty level. 35.7 percent are Hispanic and 30.7 percent are African-American. Over the last 50 years, students of color were found twice as likely to be unemployed upon graduating. Researchers cite a lack of experience in landing the first job out of college. While 65 percent of employers find it necessary to have experience, students of color in Charlotte lack the social capital to gain it. With various diversity programs throughout the city, there are only six programs in Charlotte that primarily focus on work-based learning. None of the six programs target college students of color. The first of its kind, GardHouse bridges the gap between minority-owned businesses and students of color that will be seeking employment upon graduation through work-based programming.