About

STL Youth Jobs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to bridge the divide between our region’s youth and the growing skills gap in our workforce. STL Youth Jobs was created in 2013 as a mechanism to change the landscape of employment opportunities for youth living in underserved areas so they are connected to opportunities through which they can gain experience and develop skills required to meet employment demands. From exploration to acceleration, STL Youth Jobs aims to be responsive to a variety of ages and skill levels by meeting youth where they are within their career journey.

STL Youth Jobs is an employment system that connects job seekers, ages 14-24, with meaningful paid work experiences. Since 2013, STL Youth Jobs has connected individuals to more than 5,000 job opportunities and experiences through a proven service model that includes a paid work experience, job readiness and financial literacy training, and career and mentoring services.    

1. Foundation Level Practicum (Micro & Macro) - CLOSED

TYPICALLY AVAILABLE AT THE beginning OF the spring semester (January) with the opportunity to continue into the summer semester. tHIS IS for BSW STUDENTS, MSW STUDENTS, or other areas of study. 

STL Youth Jobs connects youth with local employers for work experience. This position is responsible for assisting with youth recruitment and outreach, data collection & clean up which includes streamlining the case management system experience. The role will walk alongside the Partnership & Impact department while it oversees and manages summer, fall and spring programming. This practicum is an ideal opportunity for students interested in program and partnership management. Student’s duties can range from, but are not limited to:

Partnerships & Impact

• Work with STL Youth Jobs’ network of program providers to ensure quality service delivery including youth onboarding, training, job placement and data collection throughout the work experience

• Create a monitoring system to evaluate program providers

• Assist with the development of STL Youth Jobs’ case management system including functionality that would streamline youth and program provider experience

• Data Entry

• All other duties as assigned

Youth Activities and Support

• Assist with developing a network of resources and relationships in order to effectively provide wraparound support to youth including; mental health, education, employment, housing, food, etc.

• Identify potential youth recruitment opportunities to reach STL Youth Jobs’ targeted youth population

• Conduct community outreach activities to share information about STL Youth Jobs and how to participate. Note these opportunities happen during the week and weekends.

• Provide guidance and assistance to the youth application process including follow-ups, next steps and assistance with application completion

• Assist with youth intake and training

Employer Relations and Recruitment

• Contact employers to finalize applications

• Identify and reach out to prospective employers to share information about STL Youth Jobs

• Assist with fielding employer application questions and general inquiries

Required Skills

• Strong relationship, interpersonal, and communication skills

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities

• Detail-oriented

• Ability to work in an independent environment

• Traditional work hour availability with occasional evening and weekend availability

Application Instructions

• Interested students must send a cover letter, and electronic version of their resume to Ms. Jerica Robinson. Subject Line: Practicum Student.

 2. Concentration Level Practicum (MACRO) - CLOSED

TYPICALLY available year-round to MSW students and other areas of study.

Students interested in further developing skills in marketing, development, organization partner relationships, and/or evaluation are encouraged to apply. This practicum is an ideal opportunity for students interested in nonprofit management. The STL Youth Jobs staff is a small team of seven individuals. Students have the opportunity to work in all departments with all staff members. Duties will be customized and can range from, but are not limited to: 

Marketing and Communications

• Storytelling of the organization, partnership and youth experiences

• Manage assigned responsibilities of the organization’s internal and external communications plan including assisting with the creation of press releases, social media strategy development, branding and marketing strategy, database management, etc.

• Create marketing collateral and messaging to reach audiences of youth participants, donors, and employer partners

• Develop talking points, presentation design, handouts, and infographics

 Development

• Assist the Director of Development with research and cultivation strategy for prospective donors

• Assistance with organizing and managing the donor relations database

• Assist in designing and creating the annual report

Employer Relations

• Assist Director of Employer Relations with employer recruitment, outreach, and communication

• Research regional labor trends and sectors, as well as local companies with skilled high-demand job opportunities

• Research educational and career pathways available to youth in St. Louis

Program Evaluation Planning

• Customized evaluation project around assessment of job coach performance, revenue income, increased engagement from employer partners, or more

• Conduct follow-up surveys and focus groups with past participants to monitor and assess their progress in the off season

• Develop a set of recommendations for engagement with past participants, including incentives, resources and referrals, and case management

• Will meet the evaluation requirement for required courses

 Other duties as assigned

Required Skills

Practicum students must work independently with strong skills in:

• Organization

• Task management: track tasks and progress, presenting weekly updates

• Time management

• Strong writing and grammar

• Communication: must be good at following-up via email and phone

• Being a self-starter and taking the lead on projects

• Being A digger! Someone that does research and deep-dives when needed

• Flexibility and being a team player

Desired Skills

• Graphic design or familiarity with Canva (this is entry-level but willingness to be creative in designing social media and marketing materials)

• Experience with Squarespace and web design

Application Instructions

• Submit a resume and cover letter to Ms. Hillary Frey. Subject Line: Practicum Student.