"Pathways to the Future" 

In December 2005, The Food Industry Leadership Center (FILC) at Portland State University received a generous contribution from the PepsiCo Foundation to create a diversity component to our Center operations. The diversity initiative produced from this funding is called "Pathways to the Future". The following goals guide the development of the Pathways to the Future program:

 

• Increase awareness of education and career opportunities in the food retail industry for students of diverse ethnic/racial backgrounds and low socio-economic households
• Collaborate with established organizations that serve a diverse youth population, such as Upward Bound, Reaching and Empowering All People (REAP) and Project Plus
• Increase the diversity of the student population in PSU’s food management certificate program by:                     
  • Creating and maintaining relationships with regional high school and community college students through new and existing programs                     
  • Build partnerships with diverse student organizations affiliated with the university

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• Set-up a structure in the FILC that supports diverse students’ changing needs
• Seek funding sources for scholarships based on diversity
• Work with faculty to recognize the challenges of workforce issues and challenges faced by minority students
• Work with industry partners to place minority graduates in corporate positions
• Increase awareness among PSU students and faculty of diversity issues within the industry:
  • Build knowledge of demographic trends, industry challenges and opportunities
  • Build understanding of how the industry responds to diversity issues

  • FILC Diversity Calender of Events 2008-09
    Annual Summer Business Institute	June 16-19, 2008
    Bridges Conference	TBD
    REAP Conference	TBD
    MLK, Jr. Event	TBD

    

      Rahel Yared, Manager of Student Programs & Diversity

 

Bio: Rahel Yared has been the driving force behind the FILC efforts toward diversifying our student enrollment. In her capacity as Manager of Student Programs and Diversity, Rahel assists with recruitment, retention, advising, scholarships, outreach to potential employers for internships and employment opportunities, preparation of the Pathways to the Future quarterly reports, and cultivating partnerships between our office and the local community colleges, high schools and the Portland Metro communities.  Rahel graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Information Systems and Marketing and the Food Industry Leadership Certificate in June of 2005.

Program activities will include:

• Building awareness by working with partner organizations which will ensure that our efforts will have a leveraged impact and build a credible level of awareness with students. Partner organizations will include minority student organizations, off campus community, social and church organizations and business oriented leadership development groups.
• A summer food industry educational program (Summer Business Institute) that gives students an overview of the industry, industry leaders and includes participatory "learning by doing" exercises and field trips.
• Incorporation of high school counselors/club advisors into such FILC industry events as our Fall Executive Forum and Student~Industry Connections Luncheon.
• Business-specific career fairs that offer students a career-related introduction to leaders within the industry and give them viable networking for leads to post-college positions.
• Produce a video with PepsiCo that highlights career opportunities in the industry and focuses on industry executives with diverse backgrounds.  This video will demonstrate PepsiCo's ongoing commitment to provide opportunities for all.
• Mentorship will be an important aspect of the Pathways program. FILC student participants will partner with an executive who will coach them in the industry's intricacies and enhance their involvement in conferences and industry events.  Extra effort will be made to pair minority students with diverse executives at more senior levels of their organizations.
• PSU students mentored by industry professionals will be asked to mentor a high school student.  Their role will be to introduce their charges to the University community and involve them in activities and educational programs. 
• Career service offerings of the Pathways program will expand those already offered by the FILC.  Offerings will include discussions on how to interact with executives and a discussion by executives of how they developed their leadership skills. 
• We will also develop a food industry leadership course which will incorporate diversity issues and enlist the collaboration of diverse industry leaders.
• We will seek to leverage existing minority scholarships for students participating in the Pathways program.  We will assist students in applying for a variety of university, industry and organizational scholarships.  For example, we have helped our students win two of the three scholarships awarded nationally by the Network of Executive Women (NEW) Scholarship Fund and we have helped connect food students to the INROADS program. 
• We will work with our corporate partners and industry to develop specialized scholarships and educational enhancement resources for diverse students.  For example, in addition to traditional scholarships which typically only pay for tuition, books, etc., sponsorship funds can also be used to attend industry conferences and trade events.  These "out-of-the-classroom" experiences are often a critical part of a student's development and serve to expose students to the industry and its leaders.

Industry Partners in Diversity Link

USDA Multicultural Scholarship Application Link

Diversity Partner Companies:

Costco

Fred Meyer

Outward Bound

Pepsi

Reaching and Empowering All People (REAP)

Safeway

USDA

Western Association of Food Chains

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