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Bank of America has announced five Miami high school juniors and seniors were selected as Student Leaders®, an eight-week paid summer internship providing students with first-hand experience in serving their communities. As part of the program, the students will develop leadership and practical workforce skills while working for local nonprofit YMCA of South Florida, all while earning $17 per hour.
In Miami-Dade County, only 31% of residents aged 25 or older have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the latest U.S. Census. With changing economic environments and a shifting job market, young people need access to workforce experience and career skills-building opportunities. The private sector has a role to play to help better position and support young adults to be successful in today’s workforce.
“By providing the pathways and resources for young adults to gain the foundational work skills and leadership experience they need to succeed, we are investing in Miami’s long-term economic growth,” said Gene Schaefer, president, Bank of America Miami. “The teens selected for this paid summer intern program are truly extraordinary but may not have had access to opportunities like this until now. The Student Leaders program is just one example of how we connect people to meaningful employment resources that also builds a stronger pipeline of diverse talent for our local workforce.”
The class of 2023 Miami Bank of America Student Leaders are:
- Christopher Aleman is a MAST Academy student who used his passion for basketball to help others. As a coach with the Hoop Dreams Basketball program, he was able to work with kids who are underserved, teaching them the value of hard work, teamwork, courage, determination and patience. Christopher also took part in a leadership program where he heard from University of Miami coaches about what it takes to be a leader, and he strives to pass on these same values to others.
- Edgar Batista is a student at the Maritime and Science Technology Academy, where he volunteers as a chess tutor at his school’s Key Club to help elementary and middle school children develop their critical thinking skills while having fun. He also heads the VEX program at the academy’s Robotics Club and helps teams design robots that will go on to compete in local events.
- Janaysa Dorcin is an American Senior High School student who led a team in her Student Fellowship that helped advocate for change within Miami-Dade County Public Schools at an administrative level, working to help create a more student-focused school district. Through her position, she held a meeting where over 50 students shared their concerns and helped pass a measure addressing a digital divide among students.
- Manual Palomares is a student at JC Bermudez Doral Senior High School who helps lead the social media for the YG Institute, an organization that helps first-time non-violent offenders reinstated enter society after getting out of jail. His passion for his community is also shown in his efforts as president of the school’s Key Club, where he has helped organize monthly volunteering events, including one effort that shipped over 500 cards of encouragement to children in hospitals across Miami-Dade county.
- Rocio Pelaez is a student at Miami Senior High School who understands the value of hard work and empowering others after his family escaped from Cuba when he was 10 years old. Now, he serves as the vice president of his school’s Debate Club, where he manages volunteer services and has been able to coordinate visits from legal professionals who gave presentations about their careers, creating a network between professionals and students.
In mid-July, Student Leaders traveled to Washington D.C. for a week-long, all expenses paid, national leadership summit focused on the power of cross-sector collaboration and community advocacy. At the first in-person Summit since 2019, Student Leaders from across the nation discussed the importance of civic engagement and met with members of Congress.
Started in 2004, the Student Leaders program recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the U.S. annually. The Miami-based Student Leaders are participating in programming that includes a collaborative, mentor-focused project with House of Hope across each of their program areas, including working in the pantry, warehouse, nutrition center, garden and thrift store. They are also learning about human resources, board meetings, attending various case management meetings, learning about the finances of a nonprofit and shadowing the CEO for a day.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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