By Marcia Mintz, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley | Guest Commentary
Adan is a high school junior exceeding all expectations in his job at Jiffy Lube.
Yael exudes confidence and leadership as he takes on new tasks for Bank of America.
And Estafani feels right at home in her senior-level position at Footprint Center in her native downtown Phoenix.
Adan, Yael and Estafani are all interns who are each a success in their own right, and together who are building a strong workforce in Arizona.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, we are part of a movement to build a strong workforce, too, through a dynamic career exploration program called AzYouthForce.
Through a comprehensive, 30-hour AZYouthForce Academy, teens learn hard and soft skills such as interviewing, resume development, financial literacy and critical thinking. These eager young workers can also earn certifications in retailing, IT and other areas. In each case, a mentor on site and an AZYouthforce internship manager coach them as they vie for jobs.
Once they complete the training, the academy’s graduates are placed in paid internships in partnership with well-known local and national companies, including Bank of America, Banner Health, Jiffy Lube and Footprint Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury. The jobs pay well – some up to $20 per hour – and they close the opportunity and career readiness gaps by arming teens with the skills they need to succeed while setting them on a path to success.
The idea is to create equity for teens from under-resourced communities while building a robust and diverse workforce. Importantly, these individuals make meaningful contributions to their families’ incomes, too.
The program also removes barriers as they enter the workforce. That’s good news given that national research shows work experience positively impacts high school graduation rates, continuing education and long-term earning potential.
Ultimately, the program endeavors to guide teens in developing a plan for the future so they can achieve their career dreams.
Since its inception in 2018, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley has trained, coached and placed hundreds of youth in internships and rewarding jobs. Even better is that many of our internship partners have hired our members for permanent positions at their companies.
More than ever, companies are realizing the value of interns, especially in what continues to be a tight labor market. After all, Arizona is growing by leaps and bounds. As such, filling the jobs of today and tomorrow will take ingenuity and an investment of people, including young talent with a desire and the potential to grow in their organizations. Through AZYouthforce, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley is doing just that.
Glendale has two Boys & Girls Clubs locations: Louis & Elizabeth Sands Branch, 4730 W. Grovers Ave.; and the Swift Kids Branch, 6420 W. Maryland Ave.
Visit azyouthforce.org to learn more about the program or apply for fall internships.
Editor’s note: Marcia Mintz is chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, which creates equity and opportunity for more than 16,000 K-12 youth in Greater Phoenix.
