MPN launches Part-Time Work Experience Program for Students

By Haja Barfield

Last month, MPN founder and Dillard University Alumni CJ Bland launched the Part-Time Work Experience Program (PT-WEP), hiring 3 students from his alma mater. Haja Barfield, Darrell Bailey, and Soukeyna Dale are the program’s current initiates. MPN plans to grow this number in the future, giving more Dillard students the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to work at their full potential. The program enables students to gain valuable professional work experience, while also being able to prioritize their studies and college experience. Despite the program being fully remote, the students still support MPN and drive results autonomously. There are various roles and responsibilities that the students take on, including:

1. Social Media Strategy and Growth Associate
2. Digital Marketing Campaign Associate
3. Search, Staffing and Recruiting Associate
4. Blog, Articles & Communications Associate
5. Web Content, Collateral and Marketing Associate
6. Leads Generation & Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Associate
7. Business & Partnership Development Associate
8. Search Engine Optimization & Search Engine Marketing (SEO/SEM) Associate
9. Events, Training and Consulting Solutions Associate

As young people in the ever-increasing digital age, they offer invaluable support to MPN’s mission and insight on strategies for success. Keep an eye out for more news on the PT-WEP program.

About Dillard University

Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.

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Determination, tenacity and service: C.J. Bland delivers heartfelt keynote address during Founders’ Day Convocation

Dillard University • October 17, 2022

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MPN CEO C.J. Bland delivers keynote address during Dillard University's Founders Day Convocation 

• October 16, 2022 - MPN CEO inspires audience in his hometown (New Orleans) at his alma mater, Dillard University.
• "Overcoming, Living & Giving: Let Your Situation Be Your Motivation"
• "Trials, Tragedies, Transformations & Triumphs"
• The full program and Bland's Bio can be downloaded at dillard-university-2022-founders-day-convocation-program.pdf.
• Click on the start button below to view the entire event (Bland is introduced and starts speaking near the 55-minute mark).

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Dillard alumnus to deliver keynote address during Founders’ Day Convocation

https://www.dillard.edu/communications/news/founders_day_cj_bland.php 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          

October 10, 2022
Contact: Danielle Miller

504.816.4328

NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University has announced that C.J. Bland ‘86, CEO of Minority Professional Network, Inc. (MPN), will deliver the keynote address during Founders’ Day Convocation on Sunday, October 16 at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in Lawless Memorial Chapel.

“C.J. Bland is a highly dedicated entrepreneur and is committed to the prosperity of Black and other under-represented professionals. I am confident that he will inspire the University community to continue to cultivate leaders,” said President Rochelle L. Ford. 

The New Orleans native was reared in the Fischer housing project in Algiers, along with his five siblings. Despite being abandoned by his father at age five, Bland was inspired by his mother and motivated by his surroundings to overcome poverty and further his education. He earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Science in physics from Dillard University, a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Southern University and A&M College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Since then, Bland has held director-level, management, consulting or contributor roles in engineering, IT, sales, eCommerce and professional services at AT&T, Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies, Home Depot, Johnson Controls, NASA, NCR and Verizon Wireless. 

He is now the co-founder and CEO of MPN, a proven Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) human capital consulting solutions firm. MPN’s core offerings include a leading diversity job site and executive search and staffing solutions. Under Bland’s savvy and visionary leadership, MPN has reached millions of ethnically diverse job seekers, site users, consumers, subscribers and social media contacts based in 50 plus countries.

Bland’s extensive nonprofit, public service, mentoring, volunteerism and community service awards and affiliations have included: Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) board member, where he was elected to three terms; president of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) - Atlanta chapter; he was elected as INROADS 2002 Facilitator of the Year; and he was a member of the UNCF fund development and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Adopt-a-Student advisory boards. Bland is also a former Leadership and Professional Development (LPD) adjunct professor at Clark Atlanta University School of Business.

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