Paid summer internships connect Martin County teens to career building opportunities
Jasmine Nunez
Jasmine Juan-Felipe
Bank of America announced two Treasure Coast high school juniors and seniors were selected as Student Leaders®, an eight-week paid summer internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving their communities. As part of the program, the students will develop leadership and practical workforce skills while working for local nonprofit House of Hope, all while earning $17 per hour.
In Martin County, only 34% of residents aged 25 or older have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the latest U.S. Census. With changing economic environments and a shifting job market, young people need access to workforce experience and career skills-building opportunities. The private sector has a role to play to help better position and support young adults to be successful in today’s workforce.
“By providing the pathways and resources for young adults to gain the foundational work skills and leadership experience they need to succeed, we are investing in Martin County’s long-term economic growth,” said Susan Rabinowitz, president, Bank of America Treasure Coast. “The teens selected for this paid summer intern program are truly extraordinary but may not have had access to opportunities like this until now. The Student Leaders program is just one example of how we connect people to meaningful employment resources that also builds a stronger pipeline of diverse talent for our local workforce.”
The class of 2023 Treasure Coast Bank of America Student Leaders are:
- Jasmine Juan-Felipe of Palm City is a Martin County High School student who after growing up in group homes and foster care, is now committed to helping others with similar backgrounds by working with the Police Athletic League of Martin County to mentor and guide struggling youth. She is also involved with the 10th Street Community Center of Stuart, Project Lift, and Nathan’s Farm Camp.
- Jasmine Nunez of Palm City is a student at Clark Advanced Learning Center who dedicates her time to serving the often-overlooked elderly community of Martin County. During the holiday season, she travels to local nursing homes to play songs on her piano and bring cheer to the residents. Jasmine also tutors students at Indian River State College, as she loves the challenge of making a difficult subject easier to understand for her tutees.
In mid-July, Student Leaders will travel to Washington D.C. for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit focused on the power of cross-sector collaboration and community advocacy. At the first in-person Summit since 2019, Student Leaders from across the nation will discuss the importance of civic engagement and meet with members of Congress.
Started in 2004, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. The Treasure Coast-based Student Leaders are participating in programming that includes a collaborative, mentor-focused project with House of Hope to engage in each of their program areas; working in the pantry and the warehouse/nutrition center/garden and the thrift store. They also will be exposed to each of the departments learning about human resources, board meetings, attending various case management meetings, learning about the finances of a nonprofit and shadowing the CEO for a day.
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