Youth of Color PAID Internship Programs
Arte Libre VA has established two Youth of Color Paid Internship programs to navigate and overcome inequity in access to internships: a Youth of Color Summer Internship for high-school age youth, and a Youth of Color Internship that will be a year-round opportunity for young adults out of high school.
Studies have shown that internship opportunities lead to more career opportunities for young adults, as well as higher paying opportunities, and employers consistently use internship experience as a deciding factor between two equally qualified candidates. Young people need high-quality, early work experiences to learn critical skills and begin a career journey. But too often, those experiences come in the form of unpaid internships, creating financial barriers for young workers who can’t afford to offer free labor in exchange for training and professional connections. As a result, too many young people — particularly people of color and those from low-income communities — are left out and left behind.
Arte Libre VA Interns are provided with a variety of experiential opportunities in the areas of leadership, research, community outreach, marketing, social media, education, arts advocacy, and visual arts. Interns are also encouraged to join one of Arte Libre VA's standing committees during their internship. At ALVA we believe that it is imperative to have the BIPOC Youth we serve inform what programs and workshops we offer. We want to ensure that all voices and perspectives are heard and considered.
Applications for our YoC Summer Internship will be open from May 1st through May 31st, and anyone who is in high school and who identifies as a Youth of Color is eligible to apply.
Applications for our year-round YoC Internship will be open from November 1st through December 1st, and anyone who is finished with high school and identifies as a Youth or Person of Color is eligible to apply.
