Ready for the future

Ayanna is hoping to go to law school after college, so her legal internships have been invaluable.

Thanks to the Learn and Earn corporate internship program sponsored through Phase 4 Learning Center and Partner 4 Work, she has been able to spend the past two summers as a legal intern at ATI in Pittsburgh.

“I have gained so much valuable insight into the legal field,” Ayanna said. “The paralegals and legal counsels were immensely welcoming, helpful and offered me terrific career advice moving forward.”

She’s also grateful to the caring staff at Phase 4 for help with her resume. “Ms. Rocco, Ms. Gina and Mr. Josh offered me resume assistance that I knew I needed badly,” she said. “They gave me the necessary feedback that is essential for a strong resume.”

Now a senior at PennWest Clarion, Ayanna is about to apply to law schools. She feels confident that she is ready for this next step.



“These internships have increased my interest in pursuing a career in the legal profession,” she said. “The advice I would provide to my fellow interns is to take every single opportunity that is given to you. Everyone is here to help you succeed to your highest potential.” 

General Learn and Earn

Youth participate in the general program for up to 25 hours a week for six weeks. Phase 4 Learn and Earn director Josh Stewart said "they learn online about entrepreneurship, applied arts, film production, podcasting, careers and higher education, and workforce development."

Participants also worked at 12 sites in the Pittsburgh area:

Best Buy Teen Tech Center- Shadyside

Community Empowerment Association- McKeesport

Greater Valley Community Services- Braddock

H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow, Inc.- Sheraden

Learning & Educational Daycare- Homestead

The Lighthouse church- Mt. Oliver

Ozanam, Inc.- Hill District

Pine Run United Methodist Church- Clairton

PitCare, Inc.- Pitcairn

Sankofa Village Community Farm- Homewood

Street Ministry International- Penn Hills

Voices Against Violence- Mt. Oliver

Corporate Learn and Earn

Each summer, eligible applicants ages 18-24 have the opportunity to compete for Learn and Earn’s Corporate Internship Program. From June to August 2022, young adults participated at 17 locations:

Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Allegheny County Department of Human Services

A. Philip Randolph Institute

ATI

Buhl Foundation

City of Pittsburgh- Dept. of City Planning, Ethics Hearing Board, Dept of Finance, Dept of Permits, Licenses & Inspections

Common Cause Consultants

Dollar Bank

National Tooling & Machining Foundation- Pgh Chapter/BotsIQ

Pittsburgh Drone Services

PNC

UPMC Insurance Services Division

Urban Strategies, Inc.

Youth Support Partner Unit

 Registration is underway. Click here For more information. Contact Josh Stewart at joshuas@phase4learningcenter.org