Over the past 10 to 15 years, our
educational institutions appear to have lost their focus. 

Schools used to provide children with tools that gave them the opportunity to dream.  There was vocational and occupational training, children were taught to read and write.  There were career counselors who helped students look at their career choices.  Now children approach adulthood with either no thought of the future or with unreasonable expectations—usually related to becoming a sports star or a rap artist.  All of the other excellent career opportunities are rarely, if ever discussed with the students in middle school or high school.

The problem is not confined to schools in low-income communities.  It is equally a problem in middle class America and seems to be common among all ethnicities and racial groups.  The Founders and Board Members of Diamond in the Raw recognize that this trend must be reversed and that it is incumbent on all of us to do our part.  We believe that through the use of the women of this organization and their contacts in Corporate America and the entertainment industry, we can make major inroads in alleviating this problem in our target area.