Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Road to Hire Partner to Strengthen the Path from High School to Career
New partnership connects two of Charlotte's leading youth-serving organizations to build a stronger, more continuous path from the classroom to lasting careers
CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 24, 2026 — Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) and Road to Hire announced a new partnership to give young adults across Charlotte-Mecklenburg a more connected path forward after graduation, linking two organizations already trusted by thousands of local students and families each year.
Graduation is a milestone, not a finish line. A diploma represents years of hard work, growth and possibility. But it doesn't answer the question that matters most: what becomes possible for a young person next?
CIS-Charlotte and Road to Hire are coming together around that question. Young people deserve more than preparation for a single milestone. They deserve the relationships, resources, experiences and access that allow them to turn potential into possibility, and possibility into a future they choose.
For over 40 years, CIS-Charlotte has surrounded students with support from kindergarten through graduation and beyond. With staff embedded in more than 40 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), most of them Title I, the organization has connected more than 100,000 students to the academic, social and wellness support that helps them stay in school, graduate and succeed in life.
Since 2014, Road to Hire has supported Charlotte-area young adults as they prepare for meaningful careers. Over time, that support has expanded to reach students beginning in high school and continuing through college and into the workforce, providing academic support, scholarships, mentorship, career preparation and opportunities to build emerging skills, including AI. These experiences help students build the skills, confidence and connections needed for lasting career success.
The partnership brings together two organizations serving many of the same students, schools and communities at different stages of a young person’s journey. By building on the trusted relationships CIS-Charlotte has established with students and families, the partnership can connect more young adults to Road to Hire’s continued support through college and into the workforce. Together, the organizations can help ensure that graduation leads to a next step — not a gap in support.
“We share a belief in what becomes possible when young people are surrounded by the right support and connected to opportunity at every stage,” the organizations said. “CIS-Charlotte begins that work early and continues alongside students through high school, while Road to Hire builds on that foundation as students prepare for what comes next. This partnership creates greater intention and continuity between our programs while allowing each organization to remain focused on what it does best. Together, we can extend our reach and help more CMS students translate hard work and opportunity into postsecondary success, high-wage careers and meaningful contributions to Charlotte’s economy and workforce.”
For CIS-Charlotte and Road to Hire, success is not simply reaching graduation. It is ensuring young adults have the relationships, resources and choices to determine what comes next and people in their corner as they pursue it.
About Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte) is an affiliate of the national Communities In Schools network. For over 40 years, CIS-Charlotte has surrounded students with a community of support, placing staff inside more than 40 CMS schools to connect students and families to the resources they need to stay in school and succeed in life. Learn more at cischarlotte.org.
About Road to Hire
Road to Hire invests in Charlotte’s next generation of leaders by breaking down barriers to career success. Since 2014, Road to Hire has helped young adults build the skills, confidence and connections needed to succeed in college, careers and beyond. To date, the organization has served more than 3,300 young adults, awarded over $25 million in college scholarships and helped more than 1,000 alumni launch high-earning careers. Learn more at roadtohire.org.