Goodwill is one of several organizations helping the Nashville Mayor’s Office provide young people in Davidson County with access to jobs under a new program.

Mayor Megan Barry’s Opportunity NOW initiative was created to help bridge the gap of youth employment by connecting young people to meaningful paid internships and jobs while also providing them with job skills and training. Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s mission is changing lives through education, training and employment.

Goodwill was selected to oversee two of the four Opportunity Now programs in northwest Davidson County — one of five designated zones. Goodwill reached out to young people in nearby high schools about Opportunity NOW and recruited employers who are willing to hire and host young people in internships and jobs. Goodwill assisted youth ages 14-24 in applying for theses positions that will result in paid summer employment opportunities to prepare them for college and careers after high school. Both programs have employment coaches assigned to the students to mentor, teach and support the students during the summer.

HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS ABD SUMMER PLUS PROGRAM:

High School Internships are offered to 16- and 17-year olds. Students who are selected spend 24 hours a week on a worksite in the community. There are a wide variety of opportunities, such as shadowing doctors in a hospital, working in a pet shop, performing administrative duties in an office and teaching children in summer camps. Students in this program will also attend a four-hour cohort each week with their peers for additional trainings in job skills.

The Summer Plus program is for seniors graduating in May who will be attending college in the fall. They are connected to part-time jobs with employers who assist students with work schedules flexible around their college courses.

Over 150 students in Goodwill’s zone applied for the initial round of 90 summer positions available with 17 companies. The application period for the High School Internships and Summer Plus programs is closed now; however, students can still apply with Opportunity NOW for other jobs and internships available year-round.  

More information on the High School Internships and Summer Plus programs in northwest Davidson County can be obtained by calling (615)-346-1686.