10.1: Create jobs and internships within County government for youth

Issue Statement and Context

County government can be a home for young people looking to learn about their community and become more engaged in its success. It is also an institution in which youth can pick up key career-building skills through applied learning.

There are existing examples of this, including two programs run by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) that introduce young adults to careers in emergency medical service (EMS) and firefighting. Those programs are: the 14-week Junior Cadet Program for 14–18-year-olds to learn about firefighting at the County, and the EMT Academy, which provides EMT certificates to high school graduates who complete the training.

Both are designed to build interest in these career paths. Every County department should consider the benefits of adapting this sort of program to encourage young people to embed and learn alongside staff.

The Mayor’s Peace and Prosperity Plan, approved in June 2021, includes funding to hire hundreds of young people through the Fit2Lead Fellowship Program (Fit2Lead) each year for the next two years.

Fit2Lead will provide paid positions for youth to acquire and practice skills through recreation activities and workshops that promote social, emotional, and mental health, and foster long-term academic and behavior improvement. Placements will be primarily in government, hospitality, and construction.

Detailed Action Summary

Create paid work opportunities for youth to learn about County services and facilitate career pathways in County government.

- Reinstate a government-wide internship program geared to young residents to embed within County departments and learn about the workings of local government in an applied way. This will create a pipeline of young, engaged local talent that can grow and lead within County government
- Reimagine the Summer Jobs program to include work readiness professional development opportunities connected to the County’s investments in parks, green/blue infrastructure, community health initiatives, civic engagement, and neighborhood improvement efforts that promote community safety.
- Include a minimum wage guarantee
- Work with County departments to identify job placements for interns, building on the Fit2lead model
- Identify paid work opportunities for young people to participate in public engagement roles. Identify opportunities to expand public safety programming and simultaneously create new job opportunities for young people. Increase and promote skills training certificate programs that allow students to earn while they learn, as well as certificate programs that can help reskill people from one career path to another
- Prioritize growing opportunities and access to young residents in emerging industries such as green energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability

10.1: Create jobs and internships within County government for youth

Issue Statement and Context

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Detailed Action Summary

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