Written by: TFVstaff • July 15, 2020• In Our Schools

Miami Students Rewarded with $5K Stipend and National Leaders Internship

Bank of America today announced that five junior and senior students from high schools across Miami-Dade County were selected as this year’s Student Leaders® (#BofAStudentLeaders). The six-week paid summer internship program will reinforce the student’s leadership abilities, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building. In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions that will expose them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public private partnerships to advance social change, and a focus on building financial acumen.

Miami Student Leaders® will participate in programming that leverages Bank of America’s national partnerships and expertise and will work closely with the bank’s Miami leadership and nonprofit partners. They will participate in a collaborative, mentoring-focused project working closely with Flipany — a nonprofit that fosters healthy living through nutrition education, physical activities, and wellness initiatives — to serve as youth ambassadors and create a social media campaign to bring awareness to health and wellness during the pandemic. In addition, Student Leaders® will engage in conversations focused on social justice, civil rights and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society and have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their personal finances through Better Money Habits®, Bank of America’s financial wellness and education platform.

“Now more than ever, as we collectively navigate the challenges we face in our communities, we remain committed to supporting youth and young adults of all backgrounds by connecting them to jobs, skills-building and leadership development,” said Gene Schaefer, Miami market president for Bank of America. “Creating opportunities for our youth to gain skills and build a network is a powerful investment in the future of our community.”

Bringing students from across the country together in order to discuss the role of citizenship and how cross sector collaboration creates community impact is a core component of the Student Leaders® program. This year, 300 students will gather virtually for the Young America Together at Home program, delivered by the Close Up Foundation, which will include discussion of finding one’s voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment and immigration.

Now in particular, in the wake of significant job losses nationwide, the ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of their Student Leader® experience, each student will receive a $5,000 stipend to recognize them for their community achievements.

Recent estimates suggest that the number of disconnected youth – those who are not in school and don’t have a job – has likely tripled since last year and could be as high as 18 million. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment, and hindering overall economic progress. This summer, Bank of America is connecting approximately 3,000 young adults to summer jobs through partnerships with nonprofits and local mayors and its own Student Leaders® program.

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