July 11, 2021
Bank of America Announces 2021 Detroit Student Leaders
Paid Summer Internships Connect Detroit Youth to Career Building Opportunities
DETROIT – Today, Bank of America announced that its five Detroit-area high school students selected as Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders) have started their summer job experience of leadership, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building with Detroit nonprofit Focus: Hope. The program has been adapted this year to be mostly virtual. The opportunity to earn a paycheck is essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. This year, Student Leaders will be paid $17 per hour for 35 hours per week for 8 weeks.
Without the availability of career skills-building programs like Student Leaders, young people may be left behind from a fast-changing job market. As part of its commitment to workforce development for youth, as a pathway to economic mobility, Bank of America continues to also invest in summer jobs for young people. The Bank’s decade plus long partnership with Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT) will directly support 225 young adults this summer with a paid job experience and will connect 5,000 youth to a dynamic, virtual series of tours, helping this year’s cohort of GDYT participants to see and experience Detroit’s history, change, renaissance and opportunity.
“The past year has proven especially challenging for young adults, but they have shown resilience, resourcefulness and like our Student Leaders, many have remained committed to serving their communities,” said Matt Elliott, President, Bank of America Michigan. “It is our privilege — and commitment — to support programs like Student Leaders by providing paid opportunities for students to gain job experience while developing a diverse pipeline of talent as they enter the local workforce.”
The Class of 2021 Detroit area-based Bank of America Student Leaders are:
- Nayeli Amoles, a Detroit resident and graduate of Cesar Chavez Academy High School
- Guadalupe Avalos, a Detroit resident and graduate of Cass Technical High School
- Tiera Barnett, a Detroit resident and graduate of Cass Technical High School.
- Luke Graham, a Detroit resident and senior at Renaissance High School
- Lamont Satchel Jr., a Detroit resident and graduate of Cass Technical High School
The Student Leaders program, which started in 2004, recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. The Detroit Student Leaders will engage in an eight-week paid internship and participate in programming that includes a collaborative, mentor-focused project working closely with Focus: HOPE to experience the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public – private partnerships to advance social change, and the work of building a more diverse and inclusive society.
“Focus: HOPE once again welcomes Bank of America’s Student Leaders. This program will allow us to share our organization’s vision for Detroit’s future and demonstrate how to assist in making that vision a reality,” said Portia Roberson, CEO, Focus: HOPE. “These exceptional young people are chosen for their commitment to their communities and we look forward to working with our future leaders.”
As part of this summer’s program, Student Leaders will also take part in a virtual Summit in partnership with the Close Up Foundation to participate in Stanford University’s Young Democracy at Home program, which encourages conversation about current issues facing young people today.
Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
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Reporters May Contact:
Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 1.312.992.2370
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