As we reach the midpoint of summer, we're excited to share that Elevate+ interns are not just participating—they’re thriving. From nonprofit offices in New Jersey to global tech firms in Texas, our students are building real-world skills, growing in confidence, and forging meaningful professional connections.

Investing in Growth: Professional Development at the Core

This summer, we’ve expanded our professional development programming with engaging, targeted offerings designed to meet interns where they are—and help them grow into where they’re going. Every student began their journey with Candidate Strategies for Success and Job Readiness training, giving them the tools to make strong first impressions and contribute with confidence from day one.

Since then, we’ve hosted a virtual intern meet-and-greet, masterclasses on Personal Branding and Dynamic Communication, and welcomed our first Role Model speaker: performing arts educator and entrepreneur Shirel Jones. These sessions have been more than informative—they’ve been energizing. As one intern put it, Elevate+ taught them to “embrace discomfort,” adding, “it’s where the most growth happens.”

We also launched our first in-person networking event of the season with a headshot session and dinner in New London, CT, where interns, mentors, and supporters came together for connection and celebration. Next up: Ohio and New Jersey events later this month!

What Interns Are Saying

Feedback from our early summer check-in survey speaks volumes:

• 100% of respondents said the job readiness training was helpful.
• 100% report feeling supported and appropriately instructed by their host organization.
• 100% say their workload is appropriately challenging.

Mentorship is central to the Elevate+ experience. All interns are paired with dedicated mentors, and many are also benefiting from informal guidance and support from other colleagues—relationships that have become key to their growth and success.

What Hosts Are Seeing

Across the board, hosts are impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm Elevate+ interns bring to their roles. They’re described as:

• Proactive and inquisitive – eager to learn and unafraid to ask thoughtful questions.
• Reliable and independent – trusted to work autonomously and deliver results.
• Thoughtful and well-prepared – consistently demonstrating maturity and professionalism.

At New London Landmarks, Stephanie is recognized for her initiative. At Homeless Solutions, Inc., George has become a go-to team member. Jessica, working at MEND in New Jersey, brings what her supervisor calls “kind, smart, and thoughtful energy” to every shift.

Meanwhile, at Equus Software in Texas, Ethan and Cami have quickly become valued contributors. Ethan shared:

“Elevate+ helped me navigate uncertainty and gain confidence in my role. I’ve built real-world skills—from coding to client communication—and I’m hoping to return in the future.”

Looking Ahead

As the summer unfolds, we’ll continue to deliver more professional development sessions, host additional networking events, and support our host partners every step of the way. With two more Role Model conversations still to come, and interns continuing to grow and shine, we know the best is yet to come.

To every intern, mentor, host, and supporter—thank you. This summer has already been a success, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.