BALTIMORE, MD (CelebrityAccess) – Oak View Group (OVG), a global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services, proudly announces the launch of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) program, Ascend, dedicated to enhancing career readiness for underrepresented talent. The Ascend program aims to bridge opportunity gaps in the sports, live entertainment, and hospitality sectors, offering participants exposure, training, and networking through targeted recruitment and experiential learning.
Ascend offers specialized tracks, including Ascend HBCU, dedicated to career readiness for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Ascend HSI, which recruits and provides career resources to students from Hispanic Serving Institutions; Ascend Women, focusing on women pursuing careers in sports and entertainment; Ascend Hospitality, for students from underrepresented groups in hospitality; and Ascend Backstage, for those interested in venue management. Each program variation is tailored to build valuable career skills amongst underrepresented groups.
To launch this initiative, OVG will host an Ascend Backstage and HBCU Night experience on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, respectively. This event will provide 85 HBCU students from the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia regions exclusive access to a behind-the-scenes look at venue operations, including expert insights, industry panel discussions, and a networking mixer. The day will conclude with “Nick Cannon Presents: MTV Wild’ N Out Live” in the arena, fostering engagement and professional connections in a unique entertainment setting.
At HBCU Night, over 70 students will hear from OVG leaders, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Dr. Clara Ross Stamps – Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Dr. Tammira Lucas – CEO/Founder of The Cube, Cowork, Venture Growth Advisor for the Urban Business Innovation Initiative at TEDCO, and Professor at Coppin State University, Chanelle Reynolds – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Lead at the Washington Commanders and Success Playbook Podcast Host with Revolt TV, and Nate Harris – General Manager of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, who will share insights on navigating a career in sports and entertainment and the unique value HBCU students bring to the workforce. Following the panel, a networking mixer will connect students with industry leaders before free admission to the show “Nick Cannon Presents: MTV Wild’ N Out Live.” Additionally, Ascend Backstage will welcome up to 20 students for a day of shadowing CFG Bank Arena staff, providing hands-on experience.
In partnership with Fearless, Baltimore’s largest minority-owned digital services integrator, the CFG Bank Arena experience will provide students invaluable insights into live event operations while building skills essential for future success. OVG will continue to expand Ascend initiatives across the U.S. to extend similar career opportunities to early talent from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
Applications for the Ascend HBCU Internship Program open on Monday, January 6, and close on Monday, March 17, 2025. Selected students will secure paid internships across OVG’s corporate offices and venues in marketing, partnerships/sales, finance, HR, communications, and hospitality. Interns will begin in late May and work through early August, engaging in:
• Career Readiness Webinars: Workshops on essential workforce skills.
• Mentorship Program: Each intern will be paired with an OVG leader for career guidance.
• Capstone Project: Interns will collaborate on a project addressing real-world challenges in sports and entertainment, honing problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
“This program has the potential to revolutionize our talent pipelines and provide incredible opportunities for students seeking to enter the live entertainment industry,” said Dr. Debonair Oates-Primus, VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at OVG. “We’re particularly excited to launch Ascend at HBCU Night at CFG Bank Arena, where promising students will have the unique opportunity to work the show, experience the excitement firsthand, network with industry leaders, and gain invaluable insights into how to succeed in our dynamic field. This is what real access looks like. Our goal is toopen doors for these students and build ladders that lead to their success and advancement. Through experiential learning opportunities, mentorship, coaching, and internships, we’re committed to providing the support and resources they need to thrive in their careers.”
“My philosophy has always been that a building’s employees should mirror the diversity of its community,” said Frank Remesch, SVP and General Manager of CFG Bank Arena. “Baltimore is a diverse city, and most of our employees are Baltimore City residents, with 60% of upper management coming from diverse backgrounds. CFG Bank Arena is proud of our commitment to diversity, especially our minority and women-owned enterprise programs. The natural next step is cultivating and incorporating the incredible talents of students attending and graduating from HBCUs””
Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, stated, “Events like this are one of the motivating drivers for establishing the Fearless Club. We want to leverage the space and our partnership with Oak View Group to provide students, entrepreneurs, and creatives with an inclusive community of mentors, advisors, and supporters as part of the larger ecosystem in Baltimore.””
Ascend is dedicated to empowering talent by providing transformative internships and early career opportunities in the dynamic sports, entertainment, hospitality, and venue management industries. Through workshops, mentorship, networking opportunities, and practical experiences, participants will gain valuable insights and resources to navigate their career paths effectively. Ascend activities to include:
• Campus Takeovers: Career development programming through resume workshops, mock interviews, speaker series, career fairs, and more.
• Networking Events: Speed networking with OVG leaders and partners.
• Internship/Job Placements: Work with OVG departments to ensure talent pools are diverse and inclusive of people from varied backgrounds with distinct perspectives.
• Mentorship Programs: Utilize OVG Employee Resource Groups to connect employees from every part of the business with students.
These initiatives will strengthen the readiness of underrepresented students for entry into these dynamic fields. For more information, please visit OakViewGroup.com.
