The Evanston iKit Summer Internship Program featuring twelve-week paid internships has kicked off with sixteen interns going into local employer locations starting in mid-June. Three more are in the process of being assigned, for a total of nineteen interns that qualified for the internships. This year saw growth in both opportunities and applications. Employers offered 39 opportunities, which is double the total from last year. Funding is available for 22 opportunities through Youth Job Center, the City of Evanston Youth and Young Adult Division, and two employers. The number of applications also doubled from last year but not all of them persisted through the program prerequisites. The iKit program is very popular with employers and MEAC hopes to grow funding sources to cover more opportunities for next year.
In 2024, the Illinois Education and Career Success Network supported Leadership Communities, launched innovative data tools, and advanced equitable education and career pathways for Illinois...