SummerWorks is inviting members of the University of Michigan community to make a real-world difference in the lives of young adults in Washtenaw County by providing quality internships or mentorships this summer.
U-M departments can hire SummerWorks interns, who are ages 16-24 and attend school or live in Washtenaw County. The internships are 10-week positions that pay $15 or $17 per hour, depending on whether the intern has completed a high school diploma or equivalent.
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U-M staff also can serve as mentors for SummerWorks youth. Mentors commit as little as one hour per week and receive ongoing mentorship guidance and support from SummerWorks staff.
Potential employers and mentors who want to learn more about the program can register for upcoming informational sessions, which include virtual and in-person options between Feb. 7 and March 12. The deadline to apply to host a SummerWorks intern or be a mentor is March 16.
“SummerWorks is a great example of a meaningful university-community partnership and an important opportunity to welcome local young adults to campus,” said Morgan Cox, SummerWorks coordinator.
In 2024, SummerWorks placed 143 youths in internships with 59 employers, including 29 U-M departments. The young adults reported the greatest gains in understanding how to write cover letters, how to prepare for a job interview, and how to write a resume by the end of the program.
“SummerWorks helped me to get a job in an area that I plan on going into for a career, as well as providing instruction on all kinds of things that are useful for young people to know. I also formed very useful connections in addition to getting a mentor who I will be continuing contact with outside the program,” said a 2024 SummerWorks intern.
The Summer Youth Employment Program was created in 2016 by the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development and operated by MichiganWorks! Southeast to create equity in access to quality employment opportunities and improve job trajectories for local youth.
Since 2017, the program has worked in close partnership with U-M’s Poverty Solutions to provide professional development, paid internships and professional networking opportunities for youth. The program also partners with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to ensure enhanced accessibility to those who need it.
“Each year I learn from a specific mentee perspective, which really helps me better consider how I support the students I work with in my everyday job,” said a 2024 SummerWorks mentor.
