The latest team of young summer interns is ready to start working in various city departments

City Hall was full of young faces as the latest team of student interns prepared for their summer jobs.

The Summer Youth Initiative, now in its third year, was designed by Mayor Eddie Moran to provide employment opportunities for city residents of high school age.

The intention, the mayor said, is to expose young people to higher education, career paths and the many different professions needed to run a city.

“Over the next few years or decades, hundreds of people currently employed by the city will retire,” Moran said during the program’s rollout. “We need to start preparing the next generation who can fill these positions, whether they are police officers, firefighters, engineers or public works and community relations staff. There are so many different areas within city government that they could fit into.

More than 50 applicants from Reading and Berks Catholic high schools and virtual and homeschooling programs were selected. They all live in town.

Students began with a two-day orientation before receiving assignments based on their interests and skills.

Some of the city's more than 50 young summer interns take a break from their orientation session Tuesday. The young people will work in various city departments and with two non-profit organizations in the region. (Courtesy of the Town of Reading.) — Some of the city’s more than 50 young summer interns take a break from their orientation session Tuesday. The young people will work in different city departments and with two non-profit organizations in the region. (Courtesy of the Town of Reading.)

They were then assigned to various city departments and nonprofit organizations, including Reading Library Branches, Public Works Division, Community Development, Human Resources Commission, Reading Area Water Authority, Summer Black Top Basketball Program, the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation and the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center. .

Interns will begin working this week at 20 hours per week at $15 per hour for eight weeks.

The program’s mission is multifaceted and aims to create a safe and consistent environment where students can work during the summer; create a financial stimulus for students; and expose them to post-secondary education and the many careers needed to keep the city running smoothly, Moran said.

While Moran came up with the basic idea for the program, Ken Miller, municipal training and recruitment coordinator, took the concept to a new level by integrating four areas of personal and professional development: leadership, financial literacy, academic exposure and professional networking.

Scheduled excursions include tours of the city’s university and colleges, the Reading police and fire academies, RAWA facilities and the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Visits to businesses in the region with the opportunity to meet local employers will also be offered.

New this year, a guest list will discuss career choices and paths with interns. These include State Senator Judy Schwank; state Reps. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and Manny Guzman; urban entrepreneurs and business owners; and military service recruiters.