Category: Opinion

Birmingham Promise Welcomes 45 New Interns This Fall

Posted on September 22, 2025

This September, Birmingham Promise proudly welcomed 45 new interns, all seniors from Birmingham City Schools, into placements across the city. From courtrooms to nonprofits to tech companies, these students are gaining real-world exposure while sharpening skills that will carry them well beyond high school.

Each intern also participates in more than nine hours of professional development, equipping them with the tools to thrive in any environment. Our ultimate goal is to build long-term economic vitality by ensuring students graduate not just with a diploma, but with the confidence and transferable skills needed to succeed.

Our internship team works tirelessly to make each placement a memorable, life-shaping experience. This marks our second year offering internships during both the fall and spring terms, made possible by the continued support of our dedicated employer partners.

Applications for the Class of 2027 open on October 1, 2025, and will be sent directly to students through their school Outlook email accounts for students to apply around that time.

The Birmingham Promise is committed to the success of the whole student

Posted on July 20, 2021

Jasmine Conner, Birmingham Promise Success Coach

The success of the Birmingham Promise is rooted in providing opportunities for Birmingham City School students to excel in life, in part through last-dollar scholarships that provide tuition assistance for students to attend any in-state public institution of higher learning.

But the commitment to students’ success goes beyond providing scholarship opportunities.

“The measure of success has to take into account every facet of how a student is performing, which includes mentally, physically and emotionally,” said Jasmine Conner, a Birmingham Promise success coach.

Birmingham Promise success coaches are a lesser-known component of the program, but the success coaches are highly instrumental to the overall achievement of students.

Success coaches serve as mentors, help students navigate their academic journey, and do whatever it takes to ensure students stay on track to succeed in college.

“At the end of the day, we want to make sure that whatever barrier may be present in a student’s life is eliminated so they can thrive as a person and achieve academically,” Conner said. “We realize that a student’s success is only as strong as the support system they have in place, which requires us to become experts relating to on-campus activities and community resources available to serve the total student.”

At any time during their journey, students can connect with success coaches to communicate regarding issues ranging from mental health issues to career opportunities. Success coaches are generally aware of most student services that exist to remove barriers that may be hurting a student’s academic progress.

“Without a healthy mind, we can’t expect students to function and persist through academic life,” Conner said. “We want scholars to understand that they are valuable beyond measure, worthy of all success that comes their way, and that the Birmingham Promise team is here for them.”

Birmingham Promise Success Coaches are willing and available to assist students in becoming the best version of themselves and are available to all Birmingham Promise students.