Maverick Magazine Fall 2021: Breaking Down Barriers for Young Designers of Color with Mercy's Connect 4 Program

Headshots of students from Connect 4 program

When Mercy College launched a revolutionary mentoring program for students of color, the stage was set for a more diverse representation in the field of design. Named “Connect 4: Networking for Equality in Design,” the goal of the program was to not only help young talents find employment as designers after graduation but give them a shot at becoming leaders who will shape the future of design. Connect 4: Networking for Equality in Design is a collaborative project among the Mercy College Design + Animation Program, the global design firm Pentagram and a cohort of design leaders. Piloted in the fall of 2019, the program has netted impressive results. Mercy design students have secured internships and employment at esteemed institutions, including the Whitney Museum, Penguin Random House, CUNY Law, Lettershop, Pentagram, Michelle Cassuto Design and more. 

To read the more of this article in the fall 2021 issue of Maverick Magazine, please click here. 

To read the latest issue of Maverick Magazine, please click here.