Youth Leaders

The Impact Fund Youth Leaders Summer Internship offers a unique and valuable experience to students who have excelled during the school year. The program is a summer internship providing six weeks of workforce development and career exploration. The program is 3 days per week: one day at iF offices learning job skills such as networking, office dress, and elevator pitches; one day at the downtown library for reading and reflections; and one day at a career site in a field of the student’s interest.

IMPACT

Studies have acknowledged that low income students are most at risk for the “summer slide," or missed opportunities for learning and enrichment during out-of-school months. This leads to reduced academic achievement and future employment difficulties. The iF Youth Leaders Program provides comprehensive summer programming to offer year-long engagement its selected participants.

SUCCESS

Students reported mastering concepts such as networking, communication and responsibility. Students in the program were able to name and explain the 5 keys for social and emotional development. Students were able to identify key concepts that they took away from their summer reading project, How Long Must I Cry. Student job shadowing sites have included Chicago Cut Steakhouse, United Center, Chicago Sky, EFT Performance, Blu1647 Tech Innovation, and Glenbrook Hospital.