A grant totaling $1.8 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies has been awarded to Birmingham Promise for the expansion of its apprenticeship and internship program for seniors in Birmingham City Schools.
The grant, which will be spread out over a three-year period, will be utilized toward providing work opportunities for high school students to develop skills that are in high demand and expand network growth in key industries.
Rachel Harmon, executive director of Birmingham Promise, expressed gratitude to Bloomberg Philanthropies for the grant which she asserted would prove beneficial to Birmingham City Schools students as they enter the workforce upon graduation.
“We are so grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for investing in our program and more importantly for investing in our Birmingham students,” said Harmon. “Working as apprentices and interns helps our students earn money, get career experience, and start building professional networks. These are benefits that last a lifetime.”
Paid work experience for students is offered through Birmingham Promise in four core industries. The industries include finance and insurance, health care and life sciences, energy and engineering, and digital technology.
The program’s mission is to provide upward economic mobility by assisting students obtain quality jobs. Over the course of its existence, Birmingham Promise has partnered with 80 area employers to provide opportunities for local students.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, whose administration oversaw the establishment of Birmingham Promise, outlined the program’s commitment to enhancing workforce opportunities for students in the city school system.
“The investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies is simply game changing for our community,” stated Woodfin. “I have prioritized investing in young people from the very beginning. It is the ultimate validation of those efforts to have our local investments matched by a national organization such as Bloomberg Philanthropies. We look forward to leveraging this investment to enhance, expand and deepen our efforts to support our city’s next generation of talent.”
https://twitter.com/BhamCitySchools/status/1458112783468449794?s=20
The $1.8 million grant is part of a $25 million overall investment Bloomberg Philanthropies announced which aims to help young people in career preparation by overcoming burdens levied upon them by way of COVID-19.
Dr. Mark Sullivan, superintendent of Birmingham City Schools, indicated that the investment would provide long-term benefit for local students in their search for rewarding careers.
“This support from Bloomberg will give students in Birmingham City Schools an opportunity to learn and grow through internships in various professions,” advised Sullivan. “There is no substitute for this kind experience. It will impact the students’ lives and help shape their future success. We are grateful to Bloomberg and to the Birmingham Promise for the investment they are making in our scholars.”
Bloomberg Philanthropies currently holds a presence in 170 countries around the globe and focuses on five key areas consisting of arts, education, environment, government innovation and public health.
Michael Bloomberg, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies founder, detailed what he saw as the need to bolster workforce opportunities for students coming off the heels of the pandemic.
“High school students have had their educations turned upside down by the pandemic,” said Bloomberg. “To put them on a path to success, we need to ensure they have access to the opportunities they need to reach their full potential – and that includes creating new avenues for them to get there.”
He added, “Apprentice-style and school-based career programs allow students to get the skills and high-quality, on-the-job experience they need – and employers are looking for. These programs will help more young people begin successful careers and build a stronger future for our country.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
