Press Release 2023
Higher Up Launches New Non-Profit to Benefit EWRSD Hightstown High School Students
Higher Up will be hosting a Kick-Off Breakfast on Wednesday October 4th, 2023 from 8am to 9am at the Americana Kitchen and Bar in East Windsor to launch its new, local non-profit. Expected speakers include David Roe, Director of Student Services, East Windsor Regional School District; Mayor Janice S. Mironov, East Windsor Township; Ben Thornton, Assistant Director of Community Partnerships, Pace Center for Civic Engagement, Princeton University; and Higher Up Co-Founders Wendy McDade and Rosa Prada-Rodriguez.
Higher Up will serve current and graduated students of Hightstown High School, including those who are underrepresented and underprivileged, by curating and coordinating meaningful summer jobs and career-essential internships. An on-point readiness program incorporating resume building, interview coaching, and business etiquette will complement paid placement opportunities provided by local business and skilled trade groups. Participants will also engage with motivational speakers, affinity groups, and mentors.
“We believe that Higher Up students will feel confident in their honed skills, experientially on-par with their peers, and excited about reaching towards their future achievements,” comments Co-Founder Wendy McDade. “In turn, our hometown businesses and skilled tradespeople will feel proud and socially responsible as they commit to the growth and development of local students — and come to share in their success.”
Higher Up will also work to remove barriers to summer job placements and internships such as transportation and attire. The organization looks to offset transportation expenses via stipends for gas, taxi service or local buses, and will work to ensure that each student is able to report to their placement opportunity with slacks and jackets or boots and work gloves: whatever is needed to enable students to professionally and personally thrive.
Higher Up is currently looking for business partners, volunteers, donors and sponsors who are ready to engage with and inspire local students to fly higher. Co-Founder Rosa Prada-Rodriguez states: “When you invest in Higher Up, you’re enabling local students to dream bigger and work to acquire the skills and experiences necessary to achieve their career and life goals. We believe that as your human investment grows, so will your sense of community, connectedness and pride.”
Additional information can be found at higherupnj.org. Interest in supporting a local student can be emailed to info@higherupnj.org. Businesses and skilled trade groups wishing to attend the Kick-Off Breakfast should contact Wendy McDade at 609 469 4942.
Contact:
Wendy McDade
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Higher Up
125 South Street
Hightstown, NJ 08520
609 469 4942