#PelhamTogetherStories: Summer Internship Program
Our summer intern, matched with the Village of Pelham, saw all sides of Village government—even food scraps!
Pelham Together’s Summer Internship Program has been matching local teens with locally-owned and locally-connected establishments for four years. After an application and an interview, students (incoming 9th - 12th graders are eligible to apply) are hired and placed with a mentor for three weeks of part time, paid work. The program starts with a leadership seminar, during which students identify their work styles, practice real-world skills such as conversations with an employer and workplace etiquette, and work together to accomplish tasks as a group and present to their peers. They also discuss community needs and ways they can contribute to making a difference. Our Youth Advocate remains a source of support throughout the internships, where interns can turn with questions and concerns and always receive guidance. Sometimes, internships even turn into ongoing jobs for the school year! In all cases, the goal is to expose young people to work experiences in an introductory, supportive way, while also creating relationships with caring adults.
A list of our participating mentor organizations is below. What we think is so successful about our program is that expectations are high, but there is support from a number of directions along the way. We know this is likely a teenager’s first real job; we know they may not know how to fully express themselves, or that it’s really important to be on time—but that’s where we believe we come in. By creating connections with caring adults, we think this is a perfect first opportunity, where young people can learn these lessons in a safe space before they move out into the “real world.” The adults who agree to mentor an intern are doing so because they want to make a difference while also filling a needed role for the summer! We are deeply grateful for their participation.
Elevating kids, showing them all the ways they can be successful, and all the ways they can contribute to their community are the reasons we do what we do. We are thrilled with how popular this program has become, because it means, with enough financial support, more and more young people in Pelham get access to this opportunity. If you have an incoming high school student, please check our website for the Internship Application for summer 2022 released in February.
Your support will help us continue to make this opportunity available to more youth. Please consider making a donation today to Pelham Together.
2021 Participating Mentor Organizations:
BallChain Manufacturing
Senator Biaggi’s Office
Cantina Lobos
Chamber of Commerce
Chestnut Baked Goods
DaniLee’s Helping Hands
Flour Power
Friends of Pelham Public Library
HealthyNowNY
Hewitt Hancock
Hometown Sports
Holly Mellstrom
Junior League of Pelham
Mercy College
Pelham Education Foundation
Pelham School District
Pelham Together/Pelicones
Pencil Projects Architecture Studio
Red Wagon Design
Symmetry Physical Therapy
The Picture House Regional Film Center
Village of Pelham - Office of the Mayor
Vital Signs Entertainment
YoungLife