Ford Motor Company and the Detroit Branch NAACP have partnered on the Career Day program since 2000. Now in its eighth year, the program conceived by the Ford African-Ancestry Network (FAAN) and the Detroit Branch NAACP has reached more than 5,000 students from Detroit area high schools, colleges, youth organizations and churches.

Parents, teachers and mentors are also encouraged to attend this free event.
Underwritten solely by Ford Motor Company, Career Day creates a forum directed to help prepare area youth for their future. The one-day program includes a rotation of several interactive workshops informing students on such topics as:

Financial Management – including debt, credit and savings Professional Presentation – teaching participants about job interview etiquette Entrepreneurship – how to start and maintain a successful business Advocacy and Leadership - Teaching Participants that ‘the best way to predict the future is to create it’ and are encouraged to take charge of their futures through involvement, commitment and self-awareness. Career & College Fair - provides students and parents the opportunity to meet representatives from: Colleges and Universities Various components of Ford Motor Company, such as: manufacturing, human resources, design and finance Youth organizations from Metropolitan Detroit that promote after school programs and other safe and productive alternatives for youth.

In addition to the workshops, Ford Motor Company conducts an essay competition as part of the Career Day experience. Since the year 2000, $140,000 in scholarships have been awarded to the essay participants who show exemplary writing and presentation skills and original thought on the provided topic.
Ford and the Detroit Branch NAACP work together to provide influential keynote speakers at each event. Past speakers include:

• Tavis Smiley, Political Correspondent & Host of Tavis Smiley on PBS
• Michael Jai White, Actor
• Laila Ali, Multi-World Champion Boxer as a Super-Middleweight for the IBA, WIBA, IWBF
• Robert Porcher, Former Detroit Lion, Pro Bowl Defensive End
• Darrin DeWitt Henson, Actor
• Jeff Johnson, BET’s “Cousin Jeff Chronicles”
• Rhonda Walker, Local 4 News Morning Anchor, Detroit

Prepare For The Future

The primary focus of the Ford and NAACP Career Day & Youth Summit is to prepare students for their future.  Whether applying for college or a job, the following links are excellent resources.  Even students who cannot attend Career Day can take advantage of these resources! 

The following content is featured:

• Scholarship Finders
• College/University Finders
• What to expect in the first year at college
• When to apply
• Tips on managing money and financial aid
• SAT Prep
• College admission tips
• Information for Parents
• Helpful hints to find the right internship
• Much More!

Take the time to research your future, today!

www.collegedata.com

www.fastweb.com

www.collegeboard.com

2008 Ford Motor Company / Detroit Branch NAACP Career Day
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. If I arrive at Career Day and registration is closed, will I still be allowed to participate?

A.  No, once registration is closed, no additional attendees will be admitted to participate in the program.  Because space is limited, it’s best to pre-register online.


Q. If I am a parent and I want to register my child and his/her friends, may I register them all under the same name?

A. No. All Career Day participants must be individually registered with his or her own name, age, address, phone number, etc.  Registering a group of students under the same name will prevent the students from being placed in the proper age group and as a result each student will have to complete a new registration form onsite. 


Q. If I don’t complete all of the fields on the registration web site page, can I come back to it later and complete it?

A. No. All information on the Career Day web site must be filled in at the time of registration. If any information is omitted, your registration will not be considered complete, and you will not be registered for Career Day.


Q. If I attend Career Day with my friends and they have a different colored wristband than I do, can I still attend the workshops they do?

A. No, you must follow each workshop rotation based on your colored wristband.  The content of each workshop is customized to each age group, therefore to get the best information stay with your assigned color group.


Q. If I am a youth organization mentor, and attend Career Day with my students, do I need to go through each rotation with them?

A. Yes, while we do have volunteers on hand, we ask that you: 1) have enough mentors/chaperones to accommodate the size of your group, and 2) our primary focus is to educate everyone from students and mentors to parents, therefore you are strongly encourage to participate in all of the days activities.
 

Q. Is there a dress code for Career Day?

A. While we do not require you to wear a suit and tie or a skirt and blouse, we do expect you to present yourself in a professional manner i.e.:

• NO hats allowed in the building.
• NO midriff tops
• NO tank tops
• NO extra short shorts
• All cell phones must be turned off or placed on silent.

Q. If I win a prize during the morning or afternoon raffle, do I need to be present to win?

A. Yes. If you are not present you forfeit your prize and another entry will be drawn.

Q. If I win a raffle prize, when do I get it?

A:  All prizes will be given onsite at Career Day and the winner is responsible to take the prize home the same day.  No prizes will be shipped to the winner on a later date.

Q. Do I have to write an essay to attend Career Day?

A.  No, students are not required to participate in the essay competition in order to attend.

Q. If I submit an essay, how do I know if I won?

A. After each essay has been read and reviewed by the judges, the finalists who are selected to advance to the verbal presentation portion will be contacted.  The winners will be announced live at the 2008 Career Day.