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“Opportunities like this really weren’t available when I was growing up”Post this
- Nissan hosted 62 African American high school students from around the country for the annual Nissan Ready program Feb. 18-20
- In partnership with 100 Black Men of America, Nissan Ready educates and inspires through interactive career-building workshops, dynamic presentations and camaraderie
- Nissan has partnered with 100 Black Men of America, the nation’s top African American-led mentoring organization, since 2014
It’s 8 o’clock on a Monday morning, and the Nissan Training Center in Smyrna, Tennessee, is buzzing.
The whir of the latest automotive technology hums in the background, but on this February morning, the most palpable electricity reverberates from the auditorium, where a group of eager high school students anticipates a potentially life-changing day.
Among a list of prominent speakers for the day is Victor Taylor, vice president of Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi, Vehicle Assembly Plant, and the newest member of the 100 Black Men Jackson (Miss.) chapter. For Taylor, this day is personal.
“I grew up in a single parent household without male role models,” said Taylor. “I didn’t have much to strive for, and in business, there was a clear disproportion in African American leaders.”
Held in partnership with 100 Black Men of America – America’s top African American-led mentoring organization – Nissan Ready brings together young African American men for three days of career readiness experiences in Nashville, home of Nissan’s North American headquarters.
Nissan and INFINITI executives lead the program, conducting interactive presentations, career-building and networking workshops, and tours of Nissan facilities, while building genuine relationships with participating students.
“Opportunities like this really weren’t available when I was growing up,” said Taylor, who delivered a dynamic, interactive presentation about the future of electrification and Nissan Ambition 2030. “Nissan Ready allows us to engage with today’s youth and understand, ‘How can we give back?’
“We still have a long way to go, but we’re taking steps to get there.”
Representing 100 Black Men chapters from Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Jackson (Miss.), Washington, D.C., and Middle Tennessee, the 62 high school students demonstrated a commitment to their studies and a desire to excel to earn their spot at the event.
Nissan arranged travel and a two-night stay in Music City, with stops at the Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant, Nissan Training Center, the National Museum of African American Music, and Nashville’s historic Woolworth’s on 5th – the location of the first lunch counter sit-ins challenging segregation in the 1960s.
“Every detail of this experience was intentional,” said Chandra Vasser, vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer, Nissan Americas. “From a historic site recognizing our past to a Nissan facility focused on career development to a cultural gem celebrating black music and music makers, every stop was designed to educate and inspire these students.”
The event theme was “Electrify Your Future,” a nod to Nissan Ambition 2030 and to the future generation of leaders. To kick off the festivities, Eddie George – Heisman Trophy winner, former Tennessee Titan and current Tennessee State University football coach – shared how he navigated an earlier-than-anticipated exit from the NFL.
“I was forced to reinvent myself,” George said. “I learned that consistency and dedication to your purpose is how you succeed.”
Emceed by Emmy Award-winning WTVF journalist Levi Ismail, day two of Nissan Ready featured remarks from African American executives across the company, including Craig Keeys, group vice president, INFINITI Americas.
“It takes a lifetime to build a personal brand, but it can take an instant to destroy it,” Keeys told attendees. “Branding is a strategic investment, and it’s opportunities like this where you can really amplify your circle and your brand.”
The final day focused on the future. Representatives from Tennessee State University, a historically Black college, discussed the college application process, and Nissan representatives shared information on the company’s internship and co-op programs.
“Nissan is an inclusive company that truly values all voices. We want those voices to be heard and respected, and we know that those voices are critical for our future,” explained Vasser. “It’s our hope that these young men are moved by this experience to apply for an internship or co-op with us down the road.”
It’s a message that resonated with two-time Nissan Ready participant Tajuan Hudson, 17, of the 100 Black Men Detroit chapter.
“I want to explore many fields in engineering, and Nissan seems like a great start,” he said.
And while participants like Tre Walker, 18, of the 100 Black Men Middle Tennessee chapter, have other career aspirations – he’ll be attending Western Kentucky University to pursue degrees in physical therapy and entrepreneurship – the lasting impression remains the same.
“My experience with 100 Black Men and Nissan Ready has been life-changing,” Walker said. “We are the future.”
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