Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Announce $1 Million Gift from Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and other community leaders kicked off the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) yesterday at Miami Dade College Padron Campus, where they announced that Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin has donated $1 million to help fund the program this summer.

“This is really an exciting day and we’re about to kick off the largest Summer Youth Internship Program that we’ve ever had, and all because of the incredible commitment of some amazing partners,” said Superintendent Dotres. “These partners are embracing our students and opening their doors for them to have the experience they need to be successful as we enter a bright future here in our own city.

M-DCPS is partnering with The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, CareerSource South Florida, EdFed and the Foundation for New Education Initiatives to offer the five-week internships, which will be available to 10^th- to 12^th-grade students who complete the application process by May 26. With the new donation, funding for this summer’s program has grown to more than $6 million, enabling it to reach more students than ever before.

“This generous donation will allow more students to develop skills and gain on-the-job experience making them future ready for the jobs in the new economy,” said Mayor Levine Cava. “Miami-Dade County has supported the Summer Youth Internship Program since its launch and I am excited to sustain our commitment and continue investing in our young people.”

The $1 million investment is in addition to the $5 million which the long-standing partners have donated to make SYIP possible for eight years.

Superintendent Dotres also noted that M-DCPS is not only implementing the program but is also a proud investor so that every student who wants to participate in the internship program has the opportunity to do so.

SYIP plans to pair the 700 employers signed up so far with as many as 3,000 high school students this summer. Students on average work 30 hours a week, five days a week, and will be paid and receive one high school credit. Students may also receive dual enrollment credit if they meet criteria established by Miami Dade College or Florida International University. 

“We can give you stats, we can give you data, we can give you all the numbers. We hire interns too, and to see that five-week process of how they walk in the door and develop the employee-building skills and confidence is awe inspiring. We look forward to doing it again this summer,” said Children’s Trust President and CEO James Haj, who noted that the ultimate goal, with additional future partners’ investment, is to double the number of interns placed annually to 6,000 within the next few years.

Students participating in the SYIP work in a variety of fields ranging from law offices and engineering firms to Miami-Dade County offices and daycare centers, all paid for by the program, not the participating employers.

“I worked at Chai Tees this past summer and I learned effective communication and networking skills, just to name a few,” said 10th-grader Nigel Williams, who interned last summer and now hopes to be placed this summer in a hotel to learn more about the hospitality industry. “I learned how to conduct myself professionally, collaborated with co-workers for five weeks, and now I call them friends.”

Last year, 2,729 students from 65 schools participated in internships with 695 employers. M-DCPS and its partners invested $4.7 million in the program.

For additional information on SYIP, please call 305-693-3005 or visit miamiinterns.org

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