FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kathleen Hurley | [email protected] | (734) 210-1816
Katie Hoffman | [email protected] |(734) 476-0950
SUMMERWORKS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
BUILDS LIFE-LONG NETWORKS & CAREERS
Youth employment & mentorship program pairs area youth & employers
for ten-week, on-the-job training June 13-Aug. 19
Washtenaw County, MI., February 2, 2022 - The ten-week summer employment and mentorship program, SummerWorks, has paired more than 85 local businesses with more than 380 young adult interns in our community (ages 16-24) since its inception in 2016. SummerWorks strives to provide on-the-job training that sets the stage for life-long careers, exposes and connects today’s talent with tomorrow’s new industries, and provides mentorship critical to building professional networks.
“SummerWorks has adapted during the pandemic to accommodate both in-person and remote internships, as well as create and expand a summer mentorship program,” said Misty Shulters, Deputy Director at Michigan Works! Southeast. “We’re proud to have been able to support young adults connecting to work experiences and to provide talent to businesses looking for fresh eyes and energy to move projects forward over the summer.”
“We look forward to even more employers joining us in 2022 so we can achieve our goal of providing more than 100 internships to young adults this summer,” Shulters said.
The program, now in its seventh year, was designed to provide young adults with tools, work experience, and exposure to different career paths.
Applications are now open for young adults and businesses at SummerWorks.info.
FOR BUSINESSES
“In this program, we are building the pipeline of talent that we want to hire from,” said Megan Torrance, Chief Energy Officer of Torrance Learning. “[And the talent] is diverse, young, and creative, and it is right here - close by. We’re giving them the skills that are going to help them be great employees someday.”
Businesses interested in participating in SummerWorks are invited to RSVP for an upcoming virtual info sessions at https://bit.ly/SW-Info-Sessions
- Friday, Feb 11 at 9am
- Wednesday, Feb 23 at 5pm
- Friday, March 4 at 9am
- Wednesday, March 1 at 4pm
Sessions provide a concise overview of the program, and the benefits for businesses to bring on young adults to provide fresh eyes and perspective to a problem, and assist the business or non-profit with projects over the summer.
SummerWorks staff will be present to talk about ways the team supports interns and employers through the rewarding experiences and connections gained by previous employers and young adult participants. The Zoom link for the sessions is https://bit.ly/SW-Info
To learn more about SummerWorks, visit www.summerworks.info/employers or reach out to the contacts below:
- Washtenaw County employers: for more information, contact Kathleen Hurley at [email protected] or 734.210.1816
- University of Michigan employers: for more information, contact Zoë Erb at [email protected] or 248.491.3353
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
“As an introverted person, working at the library and connecting with other people has pushed me to ‘come out of my shell’ a little bit,” said Alayna Good, 2021 SummerWorks Participant and University of Michigan Hatcher Library Intern. “The program helps you improve and grow as a person.”
SummerWorks offers participants a unique opportunity to gain real-life experience, to learn how to navigate the job search and application process, as well as gain the confidence to interview and successfully complete a 10-week summer internship.
Last year, almost 70 young adults finished the program and 45 different employers hosted interns. Young adults with internships will be paid for 20 hours per week of work minimum. SummerWorks also includes weekly professional development sessions throughout the summer and the opportunity to build a professional portfolio including a resume and career exploration activities.
The pay rate is $10/hour or $12/hour, based on completion of a high school degree or equivalent. All SummerWorks young adults will also be paired with an adult mentor who they will meet with weekly over the summer starting in June. If you are unable to commit to a 20-hour a week internship, you can still participate in virtual sessions designed to develop skills such as resume building, professional communication, and receive a $500 stipend to do so.
Any young adults ages 16-24 residing or attending school in Washtenaw County are encouraged to invest in their future by applying to SummerWorks. All program information and the application can be found at summerworks.info and key dates are listed below:
- Application Opens | February 1
- Application Due Date | March 13
- Program Acceptance Timeframe | March 28 - April 8
- Youth Orientation | April 11 or April 13
- Professional Development (Virtual) Begins | April 19 or 21
- Internship Period and Mentorship Begins | June 13
- Professional Development Shifts to In-Person | June 17
- Program Ends | August 20
SummerWorks is a partnership between the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, Michigan Works! Southeast, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and the University of Michigan. Learn more at SummerWorks.info .
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