Birmingham Promise’s internship program has received a Work-Based Learning Seal of Excellence Award from the Alabama Office of Apprenticeships. Birmingham Promise was one of four organizations across the state to receive the distinction this year.
“Your dedication and innovative approach to work-based learning is key to opening doors, breaking barriers, and propelling Alabamians forward,” Josh Laney, director of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship, said in the notification to Birmingham Promise. “This award recognizes the work you have put in to building the kinds of unique solutions we need to put our citizens on paths to success and to keep our economy moving forward.”
Birmingham Promise facilitates internships for seniors in Birmingham City Schools, providing a path for them to gain job experience, start building professional networks and earn $15 an hour. More than 225 Birmingham students have benefited from internships through Birmingham Promise.
“We are so excited for our program to receive this recognition,” said Samantha Williams, executive director at Birmingham Promise. “The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship’s mission is to promote high-quality work-based learning programs, and to receive its Seal of Excellence is so meaningful to us as we work to give Birmingham students a strong foundation for a successful career.”
All work-based learning programs in the state were invited to apply for the Seal of Excellence, including those programs that provide job shadowing, career fairs and expos, industry tours, employability skills training, internships and apprenticeships. The competition brings together employers, educators, and economic developers from across Alabama to learn best practices.
As part of the recognition, Birmingham Promise will be among the presenters at the Alabama Summit on Talent Retention and Work-Based Learning, which will be held at Regions Field April 8-10.
“This is an opportunity for us to share the way Birmingham’s business community and school system have worked together to give our young people a head start to succeed in the workplace,” said Mia Toole, director of program operations for Birmingham Promise’s work-based learning division. “These internships have proved to be not only beneficial for the students but also for the employers who participate. We are so proud to be able to share their success stories with the rest of the state.”
