Insider: EXP Internship Program Needs A Hero...

EXP Insider Newsletter: March-April 2022

An Opportunity that Changes Lives

“An internship is important for me because it unlocks new opportunities for me to further my education,” said Tiffany Rodriguez, now a Phineas Banning High School graduate class of 2021. “It also provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will not come across again in my high school career. An internship helps me stand out in my future job applications as well as my college applications!”

In September, hundreds of 11th-grade students from EXP-supported high schools began their year-long, career-readiness journey with the EXP Internship Program: Powered by Prologis. This essential work-based learning program brings together employers, educators, and parents to prepare these students for tomorrow's workplace.

160 of them from 9 schools are entering the final phase of the program which includes a mock interview day (more below) and an employer interview to place them at a paid summer internship. 

These 160 students need your help to fully complete the internship program.

We are looking for employers to host our interns for 4 weeks this summer from Monday, June 27, through Friday, July 22. Employers can select the internship platform that best fits their needs: virtual, in-person, or hybrid, and if the interns would be part-time (20-25 hours per week) or full-time (30-40 hours per week). Learn more about the details here and download the FAQs here.

"Employers should take advantage of these new, young brains, to mold them into what they want to see in 5 years," said Gabriela Yates, who hosted interns as district office director for Long Beach Council Member Suzie Price in 2019. Hear more from other employers and from our interns here.

Be the hero to these internship candidates this summer by becoming a host, supporting an internship scholarship, or telling others about our program!

Volunteer for Mock Interviews: Tuesday, April 12 at the Carson Center

We see it every year. A student entered the mock interview day uncertain and shy, then they got more and more confident after each session. All because of your feedback and encouragement!

Be that confidence boost for EXP’s internship candidates for this year’s Mock Interviews! Sign up today for one 2-hour time block to help 11th-grade students prepare for their employer interviews through firsthand experiences. A volunteer information session will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, April 5, at 2 p.m.

Select your time block--9:00 - 11:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., or 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.--and sign up to be an interviewer today! (And tell your friends all about it too! Here’s a flyer.)

Partner Spotlight: Prologis

The global leader in logistics real estate, Prologis is setting a new standard by transforming the labor market for the entire industry through internship programs and other online learning platforms. EXP is proud to be their inaugural partner in the company’s Community Workforce Initiative (CWI).

In 2018, Prologis partnered with EXP on our internship program to launch CWI. The initiative is structured to enhance local economies and help create career pathways in the surrounding communities while addressing their customers’ labor needs and expanding their talent pipelines.

“We heard tremendous feedback from our customers who volunteered their companies to be a part of the internship program,” said Kim Snyder, West Region President, Prologis. “Exposure to younger people in their offices revitalizes their energy.” 

“The internship program added great value in terms of our team,” said Jay Patel, President, Westcoast Warehousing, a Prologis customer and an EXP internship host. “After the interns were finished...our team took on the training of our own employees. It reinforced them to get trained.”

In September 2021, Prologis announced the expansion of the CWI training program in six major markets in the U.S., including the City of Long Beach, creating more educational opportunities for people seeking careers in logistics. EXP incorporated Prologis’ same digital training platform into our internship program and our young adult boot camp last summer.

We are proud to have been there at the very beginning and grateful for Prologis' continued support to grow regional talent and strengthen our community together!

The Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award Honoree: Ron Roberts, Jr.

We are proud to present this year’s Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award to EXP Board Member Ron Roberts, Jr. The Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award was established in 2009 to honor industry volunteers who go above and beyond to support the academic and career success of EXP students.  

Ron has been our committed partner since 2014. His personal and professional commitment to helping young people navigate their careers is not bounded to a particular company or industry. His passion for youth career development is reflected in his commitment to our students as a hands-on volunteer to his leadership on the Board of Directors.

When asked about his motivation to help youth develop their careers, Ron said “I want to plant seeds early in their lives that will give them a greater chance to fulfill their aspirations and to significantly impact the people in their spheres of influence.

“Our young people are precious and they are truly essential to bettering our world in the future (if not now). I am honored to have a calling that compels me to create opportunities that will better our youth and ultimately our society.”

Please join EXP, industry and community friends, and scholarship recipients in saluting Ron’s dedication at the 22nd annual Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration on Thursday, May 12, in the sculpture garden at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach.

Shamrock ‘N Stroll: A San Pedro Pub Crawl: Saturday, March 19

Back by popular demand after the successful Reindeer Ramble holiday event in Long Beach! Please invite your friends and join EXP Board of Directors for Shamrock ‘N Stroll, a post- St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl through historic Downtown San Pedro on Saturday, March 19, starting at 2 p.m.

$60 per person and $25 for designated driver includes beverages, appetizers, and a light-up taster glass! Our three destinations are still in the works, but we will have prizes for the best St. Paddy’s Day outfit and winner of the trivia challenge. Look for an update from us next week!

Please RSVP by Thursday, March 17, via email to Charlie Trujillo at charlie@expfuture.org with the subject line “Pub Crawl.”

This event is supported by West Coast Realty Counselors.