Internships

Building a lasting impact in the lives of youth experiencing barriers through career exploration, job training, life skills development, and mentorship.

The Flourish internships strive to build a lasting impact in the lives of youth experiencing barriers in Boone County, through career exploration, job training, life skills development, and mentorship.

In partnership with Boone County Children’s Service Funds, City of Columbia ARPA, Veterans United Home Loans, Veterans United Foundation, and Missouri Job Center Columbia, Flourish offers paid internships that focus on professional development and workplace exposure, helping students prepare for employment once they’ve completed the program.

Thank you to our worksites:

Thank you to our partners:

About Our Internships

Internship Options

Expand each area below to learn more about our summer internship programs.

Prep I Internship

Prep I Internship – summer after Junior year of high school

 

Overview

  • In the Prep I summer internship, rising seniors (students between their junior and senior year of high school) are paid $13.75 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 youth-led social impact project. Those who successfully complete the program will also receive a $2,500 scholarship, sponsored by Veterans United Home Loans.

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 (completed Junior year/going into Senior year)
  • Marginalized youth experiencing socioeconomic barriers (racial/ethnic minority, low income, LGBTQ+, experience in the foster care/adoption system, first generation, etc.)
  • Referred by a counselor/staff from a school or non-profit agency in Boone County, MO
  • Able to commit to 18 hours/week during the summer internship
  • Upload a resume
Preferred
  • Proficient in English

Prep II Internship

Prep II Internship – summer after Senior year of high school

 

Overview

  • In the Prep II summer internship, recent high school graduates work full-time to gain direct workplace experience at a Columbia-based employer. Our Summer 2025 worksites are Veterans United Home Loans, MU Health Care, Habitat for Humanity, Central Bank, QuesTec Mechanical, and Mid-MO Legal Services. One day 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:
    • Learning and applying skills from training to internship work role
    • Job shadowing
  • To help youth prepare for independent living by completing budget plans, connecting to community resources, and refining self-advocacy practices.

Job Description

  • Work in a department at a Columbia-based employer (applicants will rank their worksite placements in their application)
  • Produce quality work and meet deadlines
  • Actively participate in activities and teambuilding
  • Support the work of the department team
  • Complete all internship programming tasks and assignments

Eligibility

Required
  • Recent graduate of a Boone County, MO high school (summer after senior year/graduation) or completed HiSET (Dec 2024 or later)
  • Marginalized youth experiencing socioeconomic barriers (racial/ethnic minority, low income, LGBTQ+, experience in the foster care/adoption system, first generation, etc.)
  • Referred by a counselor/staff from a school or non-profit agency in Boone County, MO
  • Able to commit to 35-40 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 multi-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

Applications for Summer 2025 will open early Feb 2025!

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

Clifford KingFormer Prep Intern

Contact Us

Contact the Flourish team for more information about our internships.

Contact us