Success Story: Youth EXPLO Summer Interns Take on Big Goals
Shared by Sandra Darling, Program Manager Coconino County, Eckerd Connects
L and A joined the Coconino County ARIZONA@WORK program powered by Eckerd Connects Youth EXPLO as out-of-school youth looking for their next step this summer in Flagstaff. Whether career exploration or training, they weren’t quite sure yet — but they knew they wanted to work. We found great opportunities for them with one of our favorite community partners: Coconino County!
L was referred by her mother, who is working with our program to earn her CDL. A recent high school graduate, L has her sights set on becoming a police officer. Working with the local Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) has been the perfect fit, giving her a chance to learn about the justice system from all angles. Her Youth EXPLO employer says she’s made a strong impact as a CJCC intern — managing the booth at the recent Page Justice Bus event, engaging attendees, and raising awareness. She also took the lead on creating the application, flyers, and pre/post surveys for the upcoming CJCC Citizen’s Academy, showing impressive initiative and organizational skills. Her work is helping ensure the academy’s success and strengthening community involvement. Just this week, her employer shared that L is out on a ride-along with the Sheriff’s Office — what an incredible hands-on experience to broaden her knowledge of her future career!
A learned about our program through community outreach and reached out on her own. She has big dreams of becoming a cardiologist — which wasn’t a direct fit for our summer placements — but we were thrilled to connect her with an opportunity just down the hall from L in the County’s Communications Department. Her supervisor reports that she’s doing an outstanding job. A has already drafted a communications plan that includes social media posts, graphics, and newsletter articles for potential Girls on the Run cheer stop sponsorships, and she’s learned how to post events to both internal and external calendars. This week, she’s gathering information about each member of the Board of Supervisors to include in a welcome packet for new employees and for webpage updates. Later this week, she’ll help develop a communications plan with CJCC’s intern to promote internship opportunities through ARIZONA@WORK. That experience in communications and collaboration is bound to help shape a thoughtful bedside manner for this future doctor!
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