Change a Life, Provide a Summer Internship

As a child growing up in Waterford, Jamaica with her grandmother, Trudyann Bryan never imagined that she would be the first person in her family to attend college.

But thanks in part to her summer internship experience, this has become a reality.

Trudyann, who is a senior at Delaware Valley Charter High School, worked last summer at Independence Blue Cross in the Check Writing and Accounting Department. Her job was to ensure that the checks were accurate, hand-folded and mailed on time. Like many other interns working in paid positions identified by the Chamber, she says this internship helped her develop important leadership and analytical skills and exposed her to the business world.

“It’s not just us dressing up to go downtown to work everyday,” Trudyann said. “It’s us growing and thinking about our futures.”

The experience has helped her gain the confidence she needs to attend Penn State University in the fall, and pursue her dream of becoming an accountant.

Giving other young people the opportunity to realize their potential is why the Chamber and the regional business community have taken on Mayor Michael Nutter’s challenge of finding 2,000 paid internships for Philadelphia young people this summer.

This is an ambitious goal – double the number of positions from 2007 – but we are confident that we will achieve it because there is an opportunity for every business in our region to get involved.

We urge businesses in Philadelphia or nearby suburbs to hire interns at their workplace for six-weeks this summer. Businesses that cannot host an intern because of location or logistics can make a donation of $1,600 to fund an internship at a non-profit.

Summer internships are coordinated by WorkReady Philadelphia, a broad based partnership that is dedicated to building the region’s future workforce. WorkReady is managed by the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) in collaboration with many organizations including three employer recruitment partners: Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; and United Way of Southeastern PA.

For employers to provide or fund an internship, click here or call 215-790-3732.

For students to register for an internship with WorkReady Philadelphia, click here.