Bloomington expands internship program offering government exposure
The Bloomington City Council heard updates Thursday on the Growth Through Opportunity internship program, which partners with a nonprofit to give people hands-on experience in city government and public safety roles they might not otherwise access.
The program, run in partnership with Empowerment Through Inclusion, aims to break down barriers to government careers by bringing interns into police and fire departments and other city agencies. Council members learned that the initiative has already succeeded in other metro area cities and is now expanding in Bloomington.
Paola Wiechmann, a job coach who supports the interns, described her role as providing day-to-day assistance to participants. "I just hang out with the cadets all the time. Just make sure they're okay," Wiechmann said. She has worked with the program for three years, starting in Chaska, and emphasized its value: "I love this program too much 'cause I know how good it's for the people that we support."
One participant, Jonathan Jensen, shared what he's gained from the experience. "My favorite part of timing is everything, such as the police station, fireman station," Jensen said, describing visits to facilities and practical safety skills he's learned. "I've never been to the police car before," he added, highlighting how the program provides exposure many people lack.
A city official explained the reasoning behind bringing the program to Bloomington: "Empower Inclusion gave a presentation on this program and how they've done it at different departments throughout the Metro, and I thought for sure that some of that here in Bloomington, we wanna join in and be a part of." The council's discussion was informational only, with no formal vote required. The program underscores the city's commitment to expanding access to government careers and community engagement.
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Growth Through Opportunity Internship Program Update and Testimonials
Speakers detailed the 'Growth Through Opportunity' internship program, a collaboration with 'Empowerment Through Inclusion', highlighting its mission to offer government and public safety exposure to individuals who might not typically receive it. The program's expansion into various Bloomington city departments was discussed, along with testimonials from a Job Coach, Paola Wiechmann, who underscored the program's positive impact and longevity. A participant, Jonathan Jensen, shared his experiences, emphasizing the practical skills and exposure gained within the police and fire departments.
The internship program here is Growth Through Opportunity. We partner with Empowerment Through Inclusion for the program here. That we get to bring people into the police department who might not normally have that opportunity is really important because, you know, a lot of times government is something that a lot of people don't get exposed to, and to have that experience I think for a lot of people can be invaluable.
Empower Inclusion gave a presentation on this program and how they've done it at different departments throughout the Metro, and I thought for sure that some of that here in Bloomington, we wanna join in and be a part of.
My name is Paola Wiechmann. So I'm the Job Coach. I just hang out with the cadets all the time. Just make sure they're okay. If they need any support or assistance in any of the job tasks, I've been here for them. This is actually my third year doing it. I started with Chaska, so I just love this program too much 'cause I know how good it's for the people that we support.
My favorite part of timing is everything, such as the police station, fireman station, waterproof I've been learning. Show me around for the first time ever and I've never been to the police car before. I've been learning some skills about everything, including the fireman, to make sure to stay away, make sure in case there's a fire emergency.
Source document
[0:00] - The internship program here
is Growth Through Opportunity.
[0:03] We partner with Empowerment
Through Inclusion
[0:05] for the program here.
[0:07] That we get to bring people
into the police department
[0:09] who might not normally
have that opportunity
[0:11] is really important because, you know,
[0:13] a lot of times government
[0:14] is something that a lot of
people don't get exposed to,
[0:17] and to have that experience
I think for a lot
[0:20] of people can be invaluable.
[0:21] - Empower Inclusion gave a
presentation on this program
[0:25] and how they've done it
at different departments
[0:28] throughout the Metro, and I
thought for sure that some
[0:31] of that here in Bloomington,
[0:32] we wanna join in and be a part of.
[0:35] A lot of different departments
around the city signed on
[0:39] to be a part of this and
all of 'em were excited
[0:41] to help out with the internship.
[0:43] - My name is Paola Wiechmann.
[0:45] So I'm the Job Coach.
[0:47] I just hang out with
the cadets all the time.
[0:50] Just make sure they're okay.
[0:52] If they need any support or assistance
[0:54] in any of the job tasks,
I've been here for them.
[0:58] This is actually my third year doing it.
[1:01] I started with Chaska, so I
just love this program too much
[1:05] 'cause I know how good it's
for the people that we support.
[1:09] - [Desmond] To get different
people through the city,
[1:11] through the police department,
giving people opportunities
[1:16] that they probably
wouldn't have otherwise.
[1:19] - Hello, my name is Jonathan Jensen.
[1:21] My favorite part of timing is everything,
[1:23] such as the police station,
fireman station, waterproof
[1:26] I've been learning.
[1:27] Show me around for the first time ever
[1:29] and I've never been to
the police car before.
[1:33] I've been learning some
skills about everything,
[1:34] including the fireman, to
make sure to stay away,
[1:37] make sure in case
there's a fire emergency.
[1:39] - I signed up for the Growth
Through Opportunity just
[1:44] 'cause I think it would be
fun to learn how to do jobs.
[1:49] - [Booker] I enjoy coming to
work and when they're here.
[1:52] - [Paola] I just love it,
[1:53] so that's why I'm doing it
this year with Bloomington.
[1:56] And yeah, I just like the program.
[1:58] - [Gabe] We will just
miss working with Paola
[2:02] and working with Officer Daniels.
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