A new program will enable black college students in Pittsburgh to explore various careers… A new program will enable black college students in Pittsburgh to explore various careers within the Allegheny County government.

The Negro Educational Emergency Drive is a program offering financial aid, internships and counseling for black students preparing to complete higher education, which has become increasingly more difficult as college tuition has escalated at a rate that is three times the rate of inflation, according to the NEED Web site.

Virginia Montaneze, the director of marketing and communications for NEED, said the mentoring partnership is a new development and is currently unique to Allegheny County.

“This type of mentoring is in pilot phase,” Montaneze said.

Kevin Evanto, director of communications for Allegheny County, said 20 NEED recipients will be selected three times each year to meet with Onorato and speak with him about their interests in various careers within the county administration. The students then will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the offices related to their respective major.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to interact with people at the county level,” Evanto said. “It’s an effort to match students with their interests,” he added.

Evanto said NEED allows students to explore a wide range of careers such as engineering, healthcare, human services, law enforcement, finance and policymaking.

Students are able to meet with representatives from such offices as Public Defender, Medical Examiner, Public Works ‘ Minority, and Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

“Participants will see how rewarding public service can be,” Onorato said, according to a press release, “and we hope many of these young men and women will choose to use their skills and education to join Allegheny County government and other local businesses.”

According to Arlene Tyler, student services coordinator for NEED, the program was founded by Marion Jordon and Florence Reizenstein, members of the Urban League of Pittsburgh Education Committee. The program financially assisted 76 black high school students who could not afford to attend college in 1963.

“We’ve helped over 16,000 students with grant dollars,” Tyler said. “From my perspective, working at NEED and seeing what they do, I believe they are extremely successful.”

Tyler said that students are eligible to apply for NEED if they have a high school diploma, a GED, or if they are planning to enroll in college.

“We share information with them about employment and internship opportunities that we receive,” Tyler said.

Montaneze said NEED has provided more than $18 million to students in grants since its foundation 43 years ago.