C5 Los Angeles Students Shine in Leadership and Mentoring Program
Blank Rome, a prominent Am Law 100 firm with 16 offices and 750 attorneys and principals, hosted its annual Adopt-A-Center event on Saturday, November 9, to support local nonprofit organizations serving underserved children and families in Los Angeles.
This year, the firm partnered with C5 Los Angeles, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering high-potential teenagers from under-resourced communities. C5 Los Angeles focuses on inspiring personal success and preparing youth for leadership roles in their schools, colleges, workplaces, and communities.
The 2024 Adopt-A-Center program kicked off with a keynote address by Ajay Patel, Associate General Counsel at Amazon Studios, Movies & TV. Patel highlighted the importance of community support and the impact of collaborative efforts in fostering youth leadership.
Following the keynote, the event featured a dynamic career day designed as a mentoring boot camp. The day culminated in Shark Tank-style presentations by C5 Los Angeles students. Participants were educated on developing business ideas from inception to pitch, selecting from seven industries: healthcare, fashion, technology/STEM, hospitality, entertainment, community involvement/non-profit, and real estate.
Each student cohort received guidance from industry leaders across various sectors, including accounting, finance, human resources, law, and public relations/marketing. A total of 55 business advisors contributed their expertise to help students craft mock business plans for startups in their chosen fields.
The event concluded with presentations from seven student teams, competing for top honors. The winning teams were:
- 1st Place: Tailored Minds – A custom learning and tutoring product designed for students and schools.
- 2nd Place: Home Base – A nonprofit initiative providing tiny houses for unhoused veterans, with plans to expand to other markets.
- 3rd Place: The Cultural Kitchen – A culturally diverse culinary experience restaurant concept tailored for college communities.
Sally Forster Jones of Compass, co-listing agent for Blank Rome, praised the students’ efforts, stating, “The dedication and creativity demonstrated by the students were truly inspiring. Programs like Adopt-A-Center play a crucial role in shaping the future leaders of our community.”
For more information about Blank Rome and its community programs, visit Blank Rome’s website.
