Announcement
Cristina and Kailah joined the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Salt Lake City as Bank of America Student Leaders this summer! Through a partnership with Bank of America, the IRC in Salt Lake City facilitated an eight-week work experience for the high school students, both of whom plan to continue on to higher education this fall.
Cristina and Kailah, bank of America Student leaders
Photo: IRC
Since 2004, Bank of America’s Student Leaders programs has been part of the bank’s commitment to youth employment and economic mobility. The program helps prepare a diverse pipeline of community-minded young students to be successful in the workforce through leadership training and work experience. Annually, the students participate in an all-expenses paid National Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, to better understand how nonprofits, governments, and businesses collaborate to meet local needs. In Utah, four exceptional individuals were selected to participate in this year’s Student Leaders program, gaining employment experience and job skills while earning $17 per hour for the eight-week internship. In return, Utah gains help from local nonprofits and welcomes talented young adults into the local workforce.
-Lathum Nelson, Bank of America
Both Cristina and Kailah learned about the Student Leaders program through teachers at their high schools who encouraged them to apply. Over 1,000 students apply for the program each year! After being accepted as a 2023 Student Leader, Cristina and Kailah learned about their placement with the IRC in Salt Lake City and the projects they would support over the summer. Cristina worked on the health team, focusing on women’s health promotion. Kailah served on the community and integration team supporting efforts to further develop the IRC’s local New American Advisory Council.
Neither of the student leaders had heard of the IRC before joining the team. Cristina, who identifies as part of the LatinX community, found the experience to be eye opening, as she hopes to continue this sort of work with her community. “A lot of my work has been attending and supporting women’s health classes such as sexual reproduction and motherhood courses,” said Cristina, “Right now, my biggest project is working on a women’s wellbeing and self-care course.” Cristina is hoping to take the skills that she has learned on the health team to serve the LatinX women in her community!
Cristina has been working on the women's health team!
Photo: IRC
Kailah’s work has been centered on recruitment and budgeting for the New American Advisory Council (NAAC). NAAC is a group of people who have been resettled in the United States, and work with the IRC to provide meaningful feedback focused on resettlement and welcoming to the community. The group is built to develop deeper relationships with refugees and New Americans while integrating client voice into programming, an essential part of program learning, evaluation, and growth. Kailah was also able to support other teams during their time at the IRC, including cultural orientations and citizenship classes. “I love being in the office and getting professional experience,” said Kailah, “I feel like I have learned so much from attending the different classes and workshops that newly arrived refugees are required to take! It has been such a good experience.”
Kailah is working with the New American Advisory Council this semester on recruitment and budgeting!
Photo: IRC
The Bank of America Student Leader experience exposes high school students to the professional world, but also allows them to consider what type of profession they would be interested in! They learn more about the opportunities available to them in the workforce while contributing to the mission of a local nonprofit.
“I love the IRC–I have never experienced anything like this – I learned how the IRC
functions and how other nonprofits work. I feel like I am doing something meaningful
and important. ” - Kailah
Kailah and Cristina are both planning to attend the University of Utah this fall! Cristina expects to enroll in political science, sociology, and public relations classes in hopes of eventually going to law school! Kailah is planning to focus on political science and business administration. We are grateful for our partnership with Bank of America and for the work of these two Student Leaders in support of our work and the families we serve!
Individuals interested the Bank of America Student Leader opportunity can learn more here »
The IRC offers a breadth of internship and service opportunities for students. Fall internships are currently posted with an anticipated start date coming up in September. Learn more at Rescue.org/InternSLC »