“Uncertain” doesn’t even begin to describe the times we’re living through right now. Shifting alliances and allegiances. Federal agencies here today, gone tomorrow … and then back a few days later. Tariffs implemented and then postponed and then reinstated … all in a matter of hours. Anyone could be forgiven for feeling a bit of whiplash these days. At times like these, we crave stability and consistency. We’re fortunate that, when Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan founded OIC of America 61 years ago, his formula was future-proof: 1. Work to achieve economic justice and reduce poverty. 2. Transform lives and communities through no-cost skills training. 3. Address the systemic barriers that keep people from fully participating in the modern economy. A reliable recipe for uncertain times. While OIC affiliates around the country take different approaches, every OIC strategy ultimately boils down to those three elements. By following our founder’s model, we minimize uncertainty when we future-proof the workforce. That’s true not just of the students and trainees we work with, but of our organization as a whole. Just as we equip people to safeguard their lives and families with skills that are robust and transferable, we are actively working to future-proof OIC of America to ensure we are not vulnerable to shifts in economic or political conditions. We have to — because we know that in our ever-changing country, the demand for skills that allow families to enter the middle class is constant. Everyone is looking for a workable path. It’s up to us to provide it. That much is certain.  Louis J. King II President and CEO OIC of America, Inc. |
Hundreds of South Florida Students Gather for STEMFest
Last month hundreds of students gathered on the campus of Nova Southeastern University for South Florida’s first-ever STEMFest, powered by OIC of America. In partnership with OIC of South Florida, the event brought together more than 50 partners and sponsors, and students from across the region to play with a robotic dog, fly drones, learn about plant propagation, experiment with dry ice, dissect forensic science, and so much more.
“We expose kids to STEM activities not just for the activities themselves,” said Louis J. King II, president and CEO of OIC of America. “This is an opportunity for them to meet the professionals who are in these industries, so they grow up and want to become just like them.”
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Bringing Minnesota to Philly, NC and Beyond
The Philadelphia Citizen did a deep dive on OIC of America’s work to replicate the success that Louis J. King II—former head of Summit Academy OIC, now president and CEO of OIC of America—saw in Minnesota. With the growth of the Delaware Valley Alliance and the expansion of the Sullivan Training Network, King laid out how the dramatic improvement in hiring practices in Minnesota is a playbook that OIC of America can run in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nebraska and beyond.
“We haven’t seen our last natural disaster,” he told the Citizen. “And the tragedy is that once the cameras go away, there’s still the cleanup, recovery and rebuild. We think that this is an opportunity for forgotten people in forgotten places to help folks rebuild their lives and communities.”
Read the full Philadelphia Citizen profile
How to Build a Professional Mathlete
The NBA has fewer than 600 players across the league. But for every player, there are trainers, statisticians, doctors, physical therapists, mathematicians and so many more who comprise the NBA universe.
Who are they, and more importantly, how did they get those jobs?
A bunch of Minneapolis kids are finding out right now.
Mathletes, which launched in January, is a unique model that enables students to see how math is used in fields like sports analytics, equipment design and strategy. Beyond learning hands-on skills and practical applications of math, students see real-life examples of how one can be a part of the sports world without being an athlete.
“I have dreamed of this for years,” says Louis King, president and CEO of OIC of America. “We’ve never had a program like this that teaches kids the skills they need to pursue careers in sports — careers beyond those on the court or the field.”
This month, students learned about probability and sports strategy, while previous installments have focused on place value in sports analytics and geometry in sports equipment design.
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