Internships

Creating a community of care through advocacy and mentorship.

The Flourish Internships strive to build a lasting community of care through advocacy and mentorship for youth experiencing barriers in Boone County, MO.

In partnership with Boone County Children’s Service Funds and Veterans United Home Loans (VU), Flourish offers paid internships at VU that focus on professional development and workplace exposure, helping students prepare for employment once they’ve completed the program.

intern partners

About Our Internships

Internship Options

Expand each area below to learn more about our Prep I & II and Spring Internship options.

Prep I Internship

Prep I Internship

Overview

  • In the Prep I summer internship, rising seniors (students between their junior and senior year of high school) are paid $12 per hour to attend life skills trainings. Through personal and professional development programming, interns will explore post-graduation options while gaining foundations of employment, benefitting from holistic mentorship and participating in a social impact project. Those who successfully complete the program will also receive a $2,500 scholarship.

Goals

  • To help students feel prepared for their senior year and to envision what life looks like after high school by developing personal and professional skills and building lasting confidence in their individual interests and abilities.

Job Description

  • Take assessments
  • Actively participate in trainings
  • Produce quality work and meet deadlines
  • Define and develop plans, based on programming

Eligibility

Required
  • Enrolled in a Boone County, MO high school
  • Referred by a counselor/staff from a school or non-profit agency in Boone County, MO
  • Identify as a youth experiencing employment or career barriers
  • Able to commit to 18 hours/week during the summer internship
  • Upload a resume
Preferred
  • At least 17 years old by April 15, 2022
  • Proficient in English
  • Can provide own transportation

Spring Internship

Spring Internship

Overview

  • In the Spring internship, current high school seniors are paid $13 per hour to attend life skills trainings. Trainings will focus on personal and professional development programming, career exploration, and job coaching. Those who successfully complete the program will also receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Goals

  • To help high school seniors feel equipped to find employment or to determine to post-secondary opportunities.

Job Description

  • Consistent attendance and communication
  • Participate in group trainings and discussions
  • Submit all assignments by due date

Eligibility

  • Referred by a counselor/staff from Columbia Public School/Boone County school or non-profit agency
  • Enrolled/in their senior year, in a Boone County high school
  • 17yrs old or older by January 18, 2023
  • Identify as a youth experiencing employment or career barriers (Racial/ethnic minority, economic barriers/low income, LGBTQ+, experience in the foster care/adoption system, mental health barriers, etc.)
  • Proficient in English
  • Upload resume
  • This internship involves a commitment of 4 hours/week

Prep II Internship

Prep II Internship

Overview

  • In the Prep II summer internship, recent high school graduates work full-time to gain direct workplace experience within a department at Veterans United Home Loans. Eight hours of each work week includes personal and professional development programming, where interns receive post-secondary planning support, personal finance education, and foundational life skill trainings. Prep II interns will be paid $15 an hour, and those who successfully complete the program will also earn a $2,500 scholarship.

Goals

  • To help recent high school graduates to feel equipped to find employment or to connect to post-secondary opportunities by researching job opportunities, job shadowing, and participating in networking events.
  • The program also supports intern’s preparation for independent living by completing budget plans, connecting to community resources, and refining self-advocacy practices.

Job Description

  • Work in a department at Veterans United Home Loans
  • Produce quality work and meet deadlines
  • Actively participate in activities and teambuilding
  • Support the work of the cohort as well as of the assigned team

Eligibility

Required
  • Recent graduate of a Boone County, MO high school or completed HiSET (Dec 2021 or later)
  • Referred by a counselor/staff from a school or non-profit agency in Boone County, MO
  • Identify as a youth (up to age 20) experiencing employment or career barriers
  • Able to commit to 40 hours/week during the summer internship
  • Upload a resume
Preferred
  • Consistent typing skills – ideally 25-35+ words per minute
  • Comfortable with computers and technology; able to do standard tasks without assistance
  • Notable time management skills – able to muli-task, self-correct, and reprioritize in and adaptable work environment
  • Able to clearly communicate issues and ask questions to team members
  • Reliable/consistent transportation
  • Proficient in English
  • Can provide own transportation

”"They helped me acknowledge my personal values as well as work values, and knowing my strengths is helpful for career interest."

Clifford Kingformer Prep II Intern

Want to Learn More?

Contact the Flourish team to learn about specific needs and how you can get involved.

Contact usClick here to be added to the waitlist for this year's application!