Celebrities and Industry Leaders Join McDonald’s USA for the Launch of Black & Positively Golden Mentors Program

The New Virtual Content Series Gives Young Pioneers Exclusive Access to Renowned Industry Experts

(Chicago, Ill.) Nov. 18, 2020 – McDonald’s USA is proud to announce the launch of the Black & Positively Golden Mentors Program. This initiative pairs industry leaders in coveted sectors, including technology, entertainment, business and more, with up-and-coming changemakers in the same fields. Award-winning rapper, singer and songwriter Big Sean, popular gospel music vocalist and entrepreneur Kierra Sheard, journalist and activist Jamilah Lemieux, and technology activist Ian Michael Brock are among the stars who are serving as “golden mentors” for the online series that kicks off today.

Fans looking for golden gems to elevate their game can tune in to @wearegolden on IGTV to watch the mentors share wisdom, industry insights and connect with their mentees during exclusive, 1:1 masterclasses. According to a study conducted by MENTOR, 66% of Black adults strongly agree that mentoring is important, and young adults with a mentor are 130% more likely to hold leadership positions. Understanding that mentorship is essential to leadership, McDonalds is providing opportunities to help the next generation of leaders take steps today to own tomorrow.

“Our Golden Mentors series allows us to continue feeding and fostering the communities we serve by elevating future leaders in pursuit of their passions,” said Elizabeth Campbell, Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, McDonald’s USA. “We know our customers are seeking valuable information to help take their dreams to the next level, which is why we are honored to offer resources and give them access to industry leaders, right at their fingertips.”

The first episode features 16-year-old technology activist, Dream Hustle Code founder and Chicago-native Ian Michael Brock, who mentored up-and-coming computer science star Erin Chapman. This underscores Brock’s passion for supporting Black and brown youth, as demonstrated through his non-profit organization that seeks to level the technology playing field for multicultural students interested in computer science. Chapman is a 16-year-old double-honors high school student from Chicago who aspires to become an orthotic doctor who uses technology to create prosthetics. As part of the Black & Positively Golden Mentors program, Brock and McDonald’s are gifting Chapman a computer with professional coding software to help elevate her coding skills and output.

“We all deserve to be set up for success on the path we want to pursue. That's why it's so important to advocate for youth from underrepresented and underestimated areas," said Brock. "McDonald’s recently sponsored my New Nerd Virtual Summer Camp and I am honored to once again work with the company to inspire excellence through the Black & Positively Golden Mentors program.”

In the coming months, into 2021, viewers can catch content featuring additional mentors and mentees on @wearegolden, as part of McDonald’s continued commitment to elevating Black excellence and achievement. McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Mentors program is an extension of the company’s commitment to serving up bright futures through educational opportunities in the communities it serves, like its recent $500,000 Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Fund, which awarded 34 HBCU students with tuition assistance for the 2020-2021 school year. This is one of many investments McDonald’s is making in the next generation of leaders through scholarships, leadership training and dream building.

Visit www.blackandpositivelygolden.com to learn more. Follow @wearegolden on Instagram for program updates and join the conversation using #blackandpositivelygolden.

About Black & Positively Golden

Launched in 2019, McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden movement is designed to uplift communities and shine a brilliant light on Black excellence through empowerment, education and entrepreneurship. It highlights all things positive and focuses on stories of truth, power and pride. The campaign movement is a natural extension of the brand’s longstanding commitment to the African American consumer.

About McDonald’s USA

McDonald's serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, http://www.mcdonalds.com/, or follow us on Instagram at @WeAreGolden and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mcdonalds. To learn more about the Black & Positively Golden initiative, visit www.mcdonalds.com.