Shares the story of a pioneering program that offers low-income young adults training, mentorship, internships, and jobs with leading companies, tracing the progress from admissions through graduation to illuminate student challenges, failures, and successes.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 343-346) and index.

Prologue: honk for opportunity -- "Yo, God. what are you doing?" -- Brother from another zip code -- Why is he doing this? -- Ping me... please? -- "You don't have a chance in hell" -- Don't lose it now! -- Oh, pioneers! -- "Reach and strive for 2005!" -- Guilty by association -- "I am having an intern moment" -- Abdul, in a state of grace -- The soul of a new machine -- "We are one year up" -- I think that woman saved my life -- Epilogue: wheels up for opportunity.