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>>WELCOME BACK TO "NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES."
THIS INTERVIEW I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, THE INTERNS
ARE COMING BACK TO CITY HALL, RIGHT JENNIFER CAULDWELL?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> BOB: NORFOLK EMERGING
LEADERS PROGRAM. NELP.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. FIRST COMPONENT IS FOR HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS, AGES 16-19, EMERGING LEADERS.
IF YOU ARE ENROLLED IN A NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOL, YOU CAN APPLY, WE
HAVE ABOUT 200 POSITIONS. WE PLACE THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. THE PROGRAM RUNS JUNE
30TH-AUGUST 15TH. SECOND COMPONENT IS THE
EXECUTIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THAT IS ABOUT 20 COLLEGE
STUDENTS, YOU CAN BE ENROLLED IN ANY ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY
NATIONWIDE. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NORFOLK
UNIVERSITY OR STATE OF VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.
YOU CAN BE A GRADUATE OR UNDERGRADUATE RUNNING JUNE 9-TO
AUGUST. THE QUALITY OF INTERNS WAS
AMAZING. >> BOB: FOR THE VIEWER THAT
THINKS THE INTERN, THEY GET THEIR PERCEPTION FROM PARKS AND
REC OR COMMUNITY OR WHATEVER, IT IS NOT THAT WAY IS IT ALANA
SMITH? >> NO.
YOU ARE NOT SERVING COFFEE. >> BOB: YOU WERE THE MIDDLE
LEVEL, RIGHT? COLLEGE LEVEL?
>> I DID THE PROGRAM THREE YEARS IN 2011.
I WAS AN EMERGING LEADER. 2012 I WAS EXECUTIVE LEADER FOR
PLANNING. 2013, I WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF RECREATIONS AND OPEN SPACE AND BUREAU PLANNING
ADMINISTRATION. >> BOB: IN BETWEEN THOSE, WHERE
DID YOU HANG YOUR HAT? >> UVA GRADUATED IN MAY, DOUBLE
MAJOR, HISTORY AND SOCIOLOGY. >> BOB: WHAT WERE YOU HOPING
BEFORE THE INTERN PROGRAM? >> I WAS HARD CORE, WANTED TO GO
TO LAW SCHOOL. 2012, I DID A CAREER SWITCH.
I WAS THERE A WEEK AND THOUGHT I COULD REALLY SEE MYSELF DOING IT
AS A CAREER. >> BOB: HAD YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
PLANNING BEFORE THAT? >> NEVER.
>> BOB: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING AN INTERN?
>> WORKING WITH THE OTHER INTERNS, ANYWHERE FROM 20-22 OF
US. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET OTHER STUDENTS YOUR AGE GOING INTO MASTER'S PROGRAMS OR
LAW SCHOOL OR GETTING JOBS. IT IS GREAT TO TALK WITH
STUDENTS ON THE SAME TRACK. >> BOB: COOL TO WATCH BECAUSE
THERE IS A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT WORK.
AND A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT. A LOT OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN JOBS
WHICH IS WHAT I AM HOPING FOR. >> BOB: ONE OF THE PERMANENT
POSITIONS WITH BENEFITS? IF I MENTION RAIN GARDEN, WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN? >> RAIN GARDEN WAS A CIVIC
PROJECT 2013, WE BUILT OUR MASSIVE LANDSCAPING PROJECT.
>> BOB: IT WAS A SIMPLE IDEA. WHO CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA?
>> ONE OF THE INTERNS, JOHN SMALL WHO WAS A FELLOW IN THE
CMO'S OFFICE. HE PUT THE IDEA OUT THERE, RAIN
GARDEN. WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT IT AND
DISCUSSED IT AND ALL DECIDED TO JUMP ON BOARD.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE SIMPLE AND REALIZED IT WAS A LOT
MORE COMPLICATED. >> BOB: IT ENGAGED THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE KIDS. SINCE THEN, IT HASN'T STOPPED
RAINING IN JOHNSON-TORONTO. >> THAT IS WHAT SETS THE PROGRAM
APART. FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE
EXPOSE THEM TO HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATES AND THE
VARIOUS TYPES OF CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT.
OUR EXECUTIVE INTERNS, THEY ARE NOT ONLY WORKING AND HOPEFULLY
THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE EMPLOYED IN IN THE
FUTURE, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PORTION OF THE
PROGRAM. THEY ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
DOING GREAT PROJECTS. THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, LAST YEAR
THE RAIN GARDEN PROJECT. YEAR BEFORE LAST STUDENTS
CREATED AN ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM WHICH WENT ON TO WIN AN
INTERNATIONAL AWARD. DEFINITELY MORE THAN A SUMMER
PROJECT. ALL THE PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN A
MENTORING PROJECT. IT GOES BEYOND JUST THAT
STANDARD SUMMER JOB. WE REALLY WANT TO SET OUR
STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS AND KEEP THEM COMING BACK LIKE ALANA
SMITH. >> BOB: IT IS GOOD INVESTMENT
FOR GOOD EMPLOYEES. >> DEFINITELY.
THIS IS A WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY.
WE ARE HOPING THESE STUDENTS COME IN AND HAVE A FANTASTIC
EXPERIENCE AND AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE,
THEY APPLY. >> BOB: I HAVE THE CLOSE SIGN,
I HAVE TO SAY IF YOU KNOW AN UNCLE, COMPETITIVE JOB, YOU HAVE
TO GO ONLINE TO APPLY. >> ABSOLUTELY, VERY COMPETITIVE
PROCESS, NORFOLK.GOV/JOBS, CLOSE ON MARCH 15TH.
BEEF UP THE RESUME. >> BOB: YOU CAN CREATE THE
PROJECT IT MIGHT BE SIMPLE, WHO KNOWS, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.
WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVENVENUES AND
ALL THE DIFFERENT SHOWS YOU CAN GO TO BECAUSE MA'RIE HODGES IS
GOING TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT. STAY TUNED.