Rochester and Monroe County Seek Employers for Summer Internship Partnerships

(Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025) – The City of Rochester Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP) and the Monroe County Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), in partnership with RochesterWorks, are seeking community partners to offer internship opportunities for local youth this summer.

“Every young person who wants a job should be able to get a job, and the community partners in our Summer of Opportunity and Summer Youth Employment Programs are the ones who make that possible,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “Employers who participate in these programs give our youth an invaluable gift of an early start on learning how to work in a professional environment and developing the principles of a successful career.”

“Monroe County’s Summer Youth Employment Program and the City of Rochester’s Summer of Opportunity Program are invaluable opportunities to help our young people gain hands-on experience, develop new skills, and receive mentorship from industry professionals and leaders,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “Local employers who participate in these programs will get the benefit of some extra help during the summer while developing our local workforce for the future.”

“SYEP and SOOP provide Rochester’s youth with the opportunity to get a head start learning about available career pathways while also making a good wage over the summer,” said Dave Seeley, Executive Director of RochesterWorks. “Equally as important to the success of the programs is the participation of our wonderful area employers who hire the youth and provide them with invaluable skills and experiences that contribute to their growth and development as members of Rochester’s skilled workforce.”

For six weeks each summer, SOOP and SYEP partner with RochesterWorks to provide hundreds of young people with real-world experience as paid interns in workplaces from all sectors of the local economy, including government agencies, non-profit organizations and private businesses. Participating employers have represented such career disciplines as: advanced manufacturing; culinary arts; health care; hospitality; and multimedia production.

Interns work for 20 hours each week and receive weekly stipends from the City and County. Employers provide meaningful and structured work experiences to give young people early exposure to relevant career paths and the basic skills for career success.

There is still time for young people to apply for this summer’s program. The SOOP and SYEP application period opened Feb. 1 and will remain open until all slots are filled. Young people are encouraged to apply early.

To apply, youth must be enrolled in school or actively seeking a high school equivalency, such as a GED, and have a New York State work permit.

For more information, youth and employers can visit www.ROCSummerYouth.com; or  www.CityofRochester.Gov/SOOP or call the Summer Youth Hotline at (585) 428-6366.