OIC of South Florida (OIC-SFL) is a beacon of hope through its ability to serve as a community-based workforce, job development, and training organization.
Recognizing that job opportunities for African Americans were extremely limited, Dr. Leon H. Sullivan appeals to Philadelphia’s largest businesses to interview young African Americans for jobs.
Working out of an abandoned jailhouse in north Philadelphia, Dr. Sullivan founds the first OIC training center to provide employment training and retraining in impoverished communities.
OIC receives national recognition and begins to expand, establishing centers in eight additional cities.
Progress Plaza, a $2 million construction project, becomes the first shopping center in the country developed, owned and operated by African Americans.
Dr. Sullivan publishes Build Brother Build, his seminal work that details the philosophy, birth and development of the OIC model.
OIC of America, Inc. (OICA) is established to serve as the national headquarters to OIC Affiliates and provide technical assistance to communities replicating the OICA model.
OICA develops the Quantum Opportunity Program (QOP), a multi-year, intensive case management and mentoring program for high school youth. The program was rigorously evaluated and eventually adapted by the Eisenhower Foundation for widespread dissemination.
OICA records that it has trained more than 3 million people, and placed more than 2.5 million in jobs, with its alumni collectively earning $80 billion a year.
OIC of South Florida (OIC-SFL) is reestablished, serving as a beacon of hope for the South Florida community.
OICA launches national re-entry initiative known as SOAR to provide returning citizens vocational training, work readiness and education to help reduce recidivism, funded by 2 grants from the Dept. of Labor totaling $9 million.
OIC of South Florida is granted a provisional license by the Commission for Independent Education, the credentialing body for the Florida Department of Education, to expand its workforce development and career advancement training offerings.
OIC of South Florida opens its Miami-Dade office for greater community impact, having placed over 15,000 community residents into high-demand occupations and serving over 8,500 youth and families annually.
