BUILD Boston recently welcomed fifteen high school students into the office to kick off their six-week long journey as MLK Summer Scholars. The MLK Scholar Program, established by John Hancock Financial, provides Boston youth with summer internships to foster career readiness and to strengthen the surrounding community. BUILD has been hosting MLK Summer Scholars since 2012. By partnering with John Hancock during the summer, BUILD can continue engaging students even when the BUILD program is out of session.
“I believe the most positive aspect of this program is the mentorship it creates,” said Steven Mea, BUILD’s Academic Success Associate, who oversees BUILD’s MLK Scholars program.
“These internship opportunities allow young people to develop a relationship with a mentor in the professional world and to thrive from this experience.”
BUILD’s Summer Scholars are rising upper-classmen enrolled in the four-year BUILD Youth Entrepreneurship program who have been selected due to their strong potential for growth. MLK Scholars begin their summer experience with workplace training in the BUILD office before embarking on three-week internships in fields of their choice. Some of the organizations providing internships are MentorWorks, Event Gospel, Awakening Excellence Adult Day Health Center, and the Kim Janey campaign.
Scholars also partake in skill building activities like mock interviews and resume workshops, and receive financial literacy training provided by Capital One. To further their growth over the summer, MLK scholars attend weekly trainings at Boston University and field trips to local businesses.
What are some things that you would like to learn during your MLK Scholarship?
What do you want to achieve as an MLK Scholar?
What challenges have you faced in your MLK Scholarship?
What is fun about being an MLK Scholar?
Join John Hancock in its mission to get Boston teens ready for the workforce by hosting an MLK Summer Scholar intern next year! Email us at GreaterBoston@build.org to get involved!
The BUILD a Better You Challenge is a fun opportunity to foster community and healthy competition, boost your team’s physical and mental well-being, and share your company’s commitment to advancing racial equity & diversity. All proceeds from the challenge will go to support BUILD’s youth entrepreneurship program for teens!
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