Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how internships allow you to find your strengths and weaknesses, giving you a perspective on the career choices you have made or will make in the future.
Four high school students recently wrapped up a summer internship program with the City of Salinas. This opportunity came from a partnership with the city and International City/County Management Association, an organization that represents local government management workers.
The goal of ICMA’s Bob Turner Scholars Internship Program is to provide opportunities for future leaders interested in local government and provide networking and mentorship opportunities for them.
Salinas had four interns—Daisy Guerrero, Natalie Vasquez, Juan Camacho and Fatima Castaneda—which was a large number compared to other cities that had one or two interns instead.
The interns worked on different projects, including Salinas Now, a podcast for Salinas where people can find information about city programs, updates and more, the city’s Urban Greening Master Plan, specifically for the area near Closter Park, and recommendations for the creation of a youth police academy.
“This experience has helped me understand and get close to my community,” said Vasquez, a Rancho San Juan High School senior. “That has helped me to further my resolve in becoming a human rights attorney in my future.”
But it didn’t just help the interns—it helped the city too.
“It allowed us to see what an ongoing internship program might look like in the benefit of the city or community, but more importantly, to our youth and the opportunities that it will provide [them],” City spokesperson Sophia Rome said during a City Council meeting on Aug. 20. Rome also noted these types of internships help to build better relationships with school districts.
The group recommended the council create a youth council. Soledad and Gonzales both have active youth councils that have provided recommendations and solutions which have had a positive impact in their communities.
This internship was a stepping stone to give young people more opportunities to be involved in city government and their community. City staff will work to develop an ongoing summer internship program and create a youth council in Salinas.
I can’t wait to see what that will look like and how the perspectives of young people will better their city. Youth councils across the county have demonstrated you don’t need to be of voting age to create social change and advocate for projects you believe in.
(1) comment
City of Gonzales had three interns over the summer. Need provide the opportunity for our future employees
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.