In 2014 Lee Skaalrud met Garlicia Montgomery and became her mentor. Garlicia was a homeless teenager in Minneapolis that was timing out of services at YouthLink, a support organization for homeless teens. Garlicia is now working for Target Corporation in their finance department and will have her diploma this fall or 2025. Garlicia and I are starting this accelerator to repeat the success we have shared. More detail on the nonprofit will be available soon.
Why?
What is it?
For those candidates who do not qualify for The Preview, we want to offer an avenue for growth so that some day, they may be ready. The accelerator will be offered to educational institutions, as an extension to their career center, and provide an advanced business readiness transition for their students with a ready pipeline of employers from the biofuels industry. The accelerator will also focus on underserved populations and have connections to relocation support, expatriate like training for urban to rural orientation and access to other employer pipelines.
The Model
The Preview Accelerator is modeled after TechStars and CleanTech Open start-up accelerators. Candidates will apply for participation in the program via assessment, video interview and resume/LinkedIn profile. Those accepted will be provided a mentor that works with them through the program and beyond. The Preview Accelerator is a 10 week, in-person/remote blended program that focuses on individual and group business readiness. Once the candidate graduates from the accelerator, they are then eligible for The Preview or other employer pipelines.
Garlicia Montgomery and Lee Skaalrud, 2016.