Internship Program—Linking School to Careers in Local Government

Fifteen PUSD students representing four high schools have been selected for an eight week paid summer internship program through an educational collaboration between the City, PUSD and PCC which was developed through the City/Schools partnership program. The summer program is supported by the Pasadena City College/Glendale Community College Career Technical Education (CTE) Collaborative grant, the City and PUSD as part of the Career Pathways initiative. Professional city staff from Water and Power, Public Works and the Human Services and Recreation Departments are mentoring students working in their departments to gain hands-on training and experience in a real-world work environment while learning about a range of city services and potential careers. The PCC CTE Collaborative will also be working with PUSD and City staff to develop related academic programs and coursework to help students connect their studies with future career pathways through high school and college programs. Through the application process, students were required to write an essay describing why they wanted to be part of the Internship Program.  Students will spend four weeks in each department and will share their experience with classmates through presentations this fall. The fall sessions will allow students to work 10 hours per week and still maintain full student status in either high school or college.  As part of the Community College Collaborative grant, students will be encouraged to continue their studies through related college and career and technical education courses and dual enrollment programs to develop professional careers in related areas. This innovative program to connect academics with real world work experience through a collaboration between Pasadena City professional staff and local schools and colleges will create a new model for career pathways programs in California.