Bank Engages Community-Minded Teens in Paid Nonprofit Internships and Leadership Development
HARTFORD, CT -- Bank of America today announced that it is funding paid summer internships at the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford to four Hartford area students through its Student Leaders program. Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders) is a significant component of Bank of America’s commitment to strengthening the economic and social health of local communities. At its core, Student Leaders is designed to build youth pathways to success and help create the next generation of community leaders.
This program invests in the growth of high school teens by providing students with a paid, eight-week summer internship at a nonprofit and participation in a week-long Summit in Washington, DC, with 300 of their peers from across the country, hosted in partnership with the Close Up Foundation. The Student Leaders program provides young people with tangible work experience and leadership skills at a critical time when youth unemployment hovers at very high rates. Students will participate in a service learning project, meet with Connecticut's Congressional Delegation, learn about ways to tackle poverty, and discuss pathways to leadership. The Student Leaders Summit teaches students how the nonprofit, government, and business sectors can work together to create positive change in local communities.
Now in its fifteenth year, the bank has recognized nearly 3,500 Student Leaders from across the country. Since its inception in Hartford, 60 area youths have participated in the program. The four 2019 Hartford Student Leaders are:
Devonne Lue, a Broad Brook resident and a rising senior at Classical Magnet School in Hartford. Devonne participated in Classical Magnet's Turkey Drive and volunteered at the Coram Deo Recovery Center's Holiday Store.
Petrina Robinson, a Hartford resident who is graduating from Classical Magnet School in Hartford and will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall. Petrina is a Project Ready Ambassador for the Urabn League of Greater Hartford.
Rafael Franco, a Hartford resident who is graduating from Classical Magnet High School in Hartford and will attend Manchester Community College in the fall. Rafael volunteered at the Hispanic Health Council and St. George's Annual Greek Festival.
Zenae Lewis, a Hartford resident who is graduating from Berlin High School and will attend Southern Connecticut State University in the fall. While in high school, Zenae was president of the Unity Club, which positively impacts the community while giving back.
“We recognize that building workforce skills early can help prepare a young person for long-term success,” said Joe Gianni, Hartford market president, Bank of America. “Investing in youth and young adults is part of our broader commitment to connect individuals to the training and jobs needed for success, ultimately strengthening our community and we are thrilled to bring the Student Leader opportunity to the Hartford community.” This summer, Bank of America is investing more than $4 million in funding to support nearly 3,000 summer jobs for teens across the country through various initiatives, including Studetn Leaders, with a particular focus on young people from low-income families.
Bank of America also provides information and tools to help young adults learn about careers and personal finance through Better Money Habits®, its financial wellness and education platform.
Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact.
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Contact:
Tara Burke
Bank of America
203-292-6590
tara.a.burke@bankofamerica.com
Website: www.bankofamerica.com