Kitchen crew Interns Bright Futures for Youth
Communication, organization, patience, teamwork – and even a friendly attitude.
They’re critical for success in the workplace. Just ask the almost 50 interns who learned those skills – and many more – at Bright Futures for Youth during the past two years.
Bright Futures for Youth and dozens of local young adults have benefited from the Nevada County Social Services’ Youth Job Corps program, which provides nonprofits and government agencies with paid interns looking to develop job skills through real-world training.
“Internships help so many people, in so many ways,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth. “Our organization gets energetic and hardworking interns, and they’re able to learn so many skills while on the job. Internships pay off today and in the future.”
‘I can make a change in someone’s life’
From connecting with campers at summer camp to making several hundred meals per month in a commercial kitchen, Bright Futures for Youth has helped dozens of young people learn skills needed in the workforce.
“I needed to get some sort of work experience on my resume, and I wanted to work with children,” said Laney, a graduate of Bright Futures for Youths’ Friendship Club who returned as an intern for the program during the past summer. “I loved the job, and I learned how to be a mentor and the person that other people look up to. I can make a change in someone’s life.”
Now, Laney says she is better prepared for college, adulthood and a “real job,” thanks to the monthslong internship. The internship program benefits Bright Futures for Youth, the young adult – and the community.
Bright Futures for Youth’s internship program introduced Hannah to numerous career opportunities, from grant writing to marketing. She also learned the importance of being flexible and how to work with people.
“It was an awesome decision, and helped me develop lifelong relationship skills,” said the former administrative intern with Bright Futures for Youth. “I’ve always wanted to work with youth, but I might not have thought about a job in the nonprofit field.”
Interns help with after-school programs to serving healthy meals
The internship program has helped young people become more aware of other career opportunities while also meeting the needs of the community. Every month, several hundred young people participate in Bright Futures for Youth’s three core programs – The Friendship Club, NEO Youth Center and the SAFE program for young people experiencing housing instability.
Bright Futures for Youth’s efforts have a far-reaching effect in the community, from after-school programs and a youth center complete with a café, gaming area, and art and music rooms to ensuring access to basic services such as food, clothing, housing, health care and counseling.
“I gained a lot of experience of what it would be like to work in a commercial kitchen,” said Emmy, a kitchen intern who helped prepare more than 150 meals every week at Bright Futures for Youth. “I feel a lot more confident about working in a restaurant, from the flow of things to the importance of timing and communication, and those are skills applicable for any job.”
That’s the goal behind the Youth Job Corps program.
“It’s a win-win that supports our local economy, our young adults entering the workforce, and our nonprofits that provide essential community services,” said Rachel Pena, Nevada County Social Services Director.
The internships are as long as one year. The interns get greatly needed job experience and a paycheck, while nonprofits can expand services with the help of interns and allow staff to focus on other efforts.
“The internship program has been invaluable to the fund development team,” said Cassie Robertson, Community Outreach Manager for Bright Futures for Youth. “We are a small team and with our intern, we can pass on administrative tasks and focus on raising funds for Bright Futures for Youth. Our interns develop an array of soft and hard skills … such as data entry, systems management, and communicating our mission to prospective donors at public and private events.”
‘Found a heart for mentoring and investing in others’
Interns help meet a wide range of needs, from administrative tasks to making hundreds of meals, while developing lifelong skills.
“Without the extra hands provided by our internship program, we would not be able to operate our kitchen and nutrition program,” said Mielle Rose, Kitchen and Nutrition Program Manager. “We rely on their help for everything from preparing meals and salad bars to serving Friendship Club youth and operating the NEO cafe, cleaning up, and providing catering for internal requests throughout the year.”
Interns have been critical to the success of the new NEO Youth Center, which opened in October 2023. Several hundred youth come to the youth center every month. Bright Futures for Youth interns have helped the NEO Youth Center develop and host new events and the interns often share creative ideas that attract more youth, said Halli Ellis-Edwards, NEO Program Director.
Many interns “come out of their shell, feel more confident communicating with large and small groups of people, taking charge when needed, and sharing ideas,” Ellis-Edwards said. “I think their passion, whether that be art, music, or simply the community, has come alive and they feel encouraged to continue helping others as a career path. Some of them didn’t even consider themselves a positive role model when they first arrived, but now they’ve found a heart for mentoring and investing in others. They realize they have a lot to offer, even if it’s simply providing a listening ear and showing they care.”
‘Something bigger, something important’
Just ask Johnny Johnson, a former intern-turned-music coordinator for Bright Futures for Youth, who agrees and adds the internship opened his eyes to more career opportunities.
“I want to feel like I’m making a difference,” said Johnson, now a full-time NEO team member. “I had to be part of something bigger, something important.”
It’s a lesson that has a ripple effect throughout the community and will help shape the future of the interns.
“My hope is that our young interns come to see the value and reward working for the community’s benefit,” Robertson said. “The inherent value of our organization thrives on staff teamwork and our deep connection to our community. Their experience here will benefit them for the rest of their professional lives.”
Johnny Johnson
Learn how Johnny Johnson turned an internship into a full-time gig with Bright Futures for Youth. The 19-year-old musician shares his feelings of helping young people by being a mentor – and through his music.
Adiella Amaya
Aspiring teacher Adiella Amaya has embraced her internship at the NEO Youth Center, connecting with children and young adults and their parents. She has also learned numerous skills, from designing with Canva to working with Salesforce software.
Thuy Vy Tran
Thuy Vy says her internship allowed her to become more comfortable working with others and learning a wide range of skills, from clerical duties to marketing and social media. She says “adaptability and collaboration” are just a few of the skills she learned during the internship.
