[0:00] (upbeat music) [0:00] - [Warsan] When we embrace diversity, [0:02] our community's strengthened. [0:03] - This is a great opportunity for you to get work experience [0:06] and expand your network. [0:08] So I graduated from St. Cate's in 2023 [0:11] and I was looking for a job out of college [0:14] and I landed on the website here at the city [0:17] and there was a Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program [0:20] and it was the goal of mine to always work at City Hall [0:23] and I was placed with [0:23] the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. [0:26] We do a lot of community facing events, [0:28] so we're out in community meeting new residents, [0:30] and we also do a lot of the policy areas here internally. [0:34] And I was able to develop a youth program [0:37] and also do a radio show about driver's license for all, [0:40] and I was able to stay full-time. [0:42] So now I'm here full-time as an office support specialist. [0:45] I've been here for about a year and a half now. [0:47] So the Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program [0:49] targets students here in Bloomington, ages 16 to 24, [0:53] who are looking to get an internship experience, [0:55] either if you're in high school, [0:56] a college student, or working. [0:58] - The Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program [1:00] is the city's way of creating a diverse [1:03] and accessible workforce. [1:04] Well, I know from personal experience [1:05] what it's like to be the first person in your family [1:07] to go to college, to explore like the workforce atmosphere. [1:12] - [Isela] My parents both immigrated from Mexico [1:14] in the 2000s and they both work in the restaurant industry, [1:18] so they actually met at the Mall of America [1:19] working at a restaurant. [1:21] This just felt great because I've lived in Bloomington [1:24] my whole life and working for the city of Bloomington [1:27] just felt like a full circle moment [1:29] and I was able to make impact in my community. [1:31] - [Warsan] So there's a lot of industries [1:33] or sectors that are involved, [1:34] both in the city and outside of the city. [1:36] - [Isela] Aside from the work experience [1:38] you get with your internship, [1:40] you also build long-lasting relationships, [1:42] either professionally with your supervisors or colleagues, [1:45] but also the cohort that you build [1:47] here with the other interns that are interning [1:49] in this program. [1:51] You just get to build those relationships [1:53] that will last a lifetime. [1:54] We can't wait to welcome you [1:55] to the Bloom in Bloomington Internship Program. [1:57] (upbeat music continues)