{"id":11822,"date":"2025-07-09T15:16:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=11822"},"modified":"2025-07-09T15:16:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T15:16:12","slug":"mileap-supports-reconnect-students-in-accessing-paid-internships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/09\/mileap-supports-reconnect-students-in-accessing-paid-internships\/","title":{"rendered":"MiLEAP\u00a0supports Reconnect students in\u00a0accessing paid internships\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

LANSING, Mich., July 1, 2025:<\/strong>\u00a0The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP),<\/em> in partnership with\u00a0Urban Alliance-Detroit<\/em><\/a>, is celebrating the placement of 50 Michigan Reconnect students into paid, career-aligned internships with leading employers across Southeast Michigan.<\/p>\n

\u201cInternships like these don\u2019t just prepare students for the workforce, they connect them directly to it,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea<\/strong><\/em>, director of MiLEAP. \u201cWe are proud to invest in this innovative partnership, which is not only helping young adults launch their careers but also strengthening Michigan\u2019s talent pipeline across critical industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selected from more than 120 applicants, these young adults \u2014 ages 21\u201324 \u2014 are gaining access through the new partnership designed to bridge classroom learning with hands-on experience and professional development. Most began their placements this week, with the remaining students scheduled to start on a rolling basis as they complete a four-week onboarding course.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Urban Alliance, we believe that pathways to economic mobility must be both accessible and responsive to the realities young adults face,\u201d said\u00a0Alphonso Amos<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em> executive director of Urban Alliance-Detroit. \u201cThe new Reconnect Internship Program represents a vital investment in reconnecting opportunity youth, particularly those who\u2019ve been underserved by traditional systems, to the training, mentorship, and paid work experiences they need to thrive. We\u2019re proud to support this initiative and look forward to aligning our efforts to ensure more young people in Michigan can move from potential to purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Funded by an\u00a0$800,000 grant awarded to Urban Alliance-Detroit by MiLEAP<\/a>, the program is part of Michigan\u2019s broader strategy to support Reconnect students with career-relevant experiences that lead to stronger employment outcomes. Internship placements span multiple sectors and include partners such as the City of Detroit, DTE Energy Foundation, Henry Ford Health, Black Tech Saturdays, and Birth Detroit. Through the program, interns receive paid training, one-on-one mentoring and wraparound supports to help them succeed both academically and professionally.<\/p>\n

“Having an internship in business through the Michigan Reconnect Program is a game-changer for my career,\u201d said\u00a0Rachel Kozminski<\/em><\/strong>, a Reconnect student placed at Birth Detroit and currently attending Washtenaw Community College. \u201cIt\u2019s giving me hands-on experience, real-world skills, and the confidence to apply what I\u2019m learning in the classroom to actual business challenges. This opportunity is a huge step forward in my professional journey.”<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m incredibly excited and grateful to be accepted into the Michigan Reconnect Program,\u201d said\u00a0Jonas Freeman<\/em><\/strong>, a Reconnect student placed at the City of Detroit, also attending Washtenaw Community College. \u201cThis opportunity means so much to me. It\u2019s the first big step toward building a better future and achieving my career goals. I can\u2019t wait to see where this journey takes me!”<\/p>\n

Employer partners are enthusiastic about the potential for long-term workforce development.<\/p>\n

\u201cDTE values the importance of workforce development, and our ongoing partnership with Urban Alliance continues to be a strong avenue for cultivating future talent,\u201d\u00a0Laurie J. Washington<\/em><\/strong>, program manager of Workforce Development at DTE Energy. \u201cCollaborating with MiLEAP further enhances this effort by providing opportunities to engage with emerging talent at both the high school and college levels. Together, these partnerships help ensure we are building a robust and diverse talent pipeline for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a leading healthcare provider, Henry Ford Health is deeply committed to cultivating a diverse and highly skilled workforce that can meet the ever-evolving demands of our industry,\u201d said\u00a0Catherine Susko<\/em><\/strong>, director of Workforce Development and Planning at Henry Ford Health. \u201cWe believe that the future of healthcare hinges not only on technological innovations but also on the dedication and expertise of individuals who serve our communities. By engaging students early in their educational journey and equipping them with essential skills and experiences, we are investing in the future of healthcare and ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality care. Henry Ford Health has a longstanding and successful partnership with Urban Alliance-Detroit, which provides paid internships to Detroit high school students \u2014 and now, to young adults in the Michigan Reconnect Program. These internships offer invaluable, hands-on experience to young people who need it most. We are excited by the expansion of their program, which includes paid professional development training, internships, and personalized one-on-one support. Such initiatives align with our commitment to workforce development and community engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

This initiative aligns with Michigan\u2019s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a postsecondary degree or skills certificate to 60% by the year 2030. To learn more about Sixty by 30 visit,\u00a0Michigan.gov\/Sixtyby30<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

About MiLEAP:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP\u2019s mission is to improve outcomes from birth to postsecondary so anyone can \u2018make it in Michigan\u2019 with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, go to\u00a0Michigan.gov\/MiLEAP<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About Michigan Reconnect<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michigan Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship program that pays for eligible participants 25 years old and older to attend an in-district community college tuition-free or offers a significantly reduced tuition rate for participants to attend an out-of-district community college. The program temporarily lowered the age to adults 21-24; the application is now closed and accepted applicants must enroll and begin taking classes no later than summer 2025. To learn more and apply to Michigan Reconnect, get started at\u202fMichigan.gov\/Reconnect.<\/a><\/p>\n

About Urban Alliance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Urban Alliance is a leading nonprofit organization that bridges the gap between education and the workforce by providing high school and college students with meaningful work opportunities. Since its inception, Urban Alliance has partnered with over 200 employers nationwide to deliver transformative experiences for young adults. Visit\u202fUrbanAlliance.org<\/a>\u202fto learn more.<\/p>\n

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LANSING, Mich., July 1, 2025:\u00a0The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), in partnership with\u00a0Urban Alliance-Detroit, is celebrating the placement of 50 Michigan Reconnect students into paid, career-aligned internships with leading employers across Southeast Michigan. \u201cInternships like these don\u2019t just prepare students for the workforce, they connect them directly to it,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Beverly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[265],"class_list":["post-11822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",700,700,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",700,700,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",700,700,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",640,640,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",700,700,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",700,700,false],"rtcl-gallery":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-700x462.jpg",700,462,true],"rtcl-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-320x240.jpg",320,240,true],"rtcl-gallery-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-150x105.jpg",150,105,true],"psacp-medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap.jpg",500,500,false],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mileap-45x45.jpg",45,45,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"LaPrensa Newspaper","author_link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/author\/laprensa\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Michigan<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"LANSING, Mich., July 1, 2025:\u00a0The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), in partnership with\u00a0Urban Alliance-Detroit, is celebrating the placement of 50 Michigan Reconnect students into paid, career-aligned internships with leading employers across Southeast Michigan. \u201cInternships like these don\u2019t just prepare students for the workforce, they connect them directly to it,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Beverly","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11822"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11823,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11822\/revisions\/11823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11822"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=11822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}