The City of Raleigh has ushered in a new cohort of interns, Cohort V, comprising 23 bright-eyed individuals ready to bring their fresh perspectives to various departments within the local government. The Community Climate Internship Program offers a concrete stepping stone for undergraduates and graduate students from the Triangle area, providing a space to contribute to different sectors including Raleigh Water. In a statement obtained by the official City of Raleigh website, an emphasis was placed on the value of these interns, who will be sharing and nurturing their knowledge over a 10-week program, and engage in projects that will visibly impact the community.
From an educational perspective, internships like those offered by Raleigh offer a dualistic advantage. They're not just a critical experience for the students to learn and apply their theoretical knowledge but also an avenue for the City to absorb new ideas and stay connected to developing trends. Despite the common conception that internships are predominately a learning experience for students, the reality is that institutions like the City of Raleigh are learning too, with a workforce that's being constantly revitalized with new blood and fresh perspectives. Nina Barrett, a City of Raleigh employee, captures this sentiment well., "Interns often bring fresh ideas, new approaches to projects, and a pulse on emerging trends. It’s always a two-way street, and we welcome the opportunity to learn from them just as much as we hope to teach them," she told the City of Raleigh website.
It's not just skills and knowledge being exchanged; success in both personal and professional development is clear in the statistics from the 2024-2025 internship program. Notably, 98% of interns walked away with a Partnership Raleigh Professional Development or Bank of America Workforce Development Academy credential. Moreover, inclusivity seems to be a key component with 52% of interns hired and completed the program coming from underrepresented backgrounds. According to the City of Raleigh website, 100% completed their educational programs, and a significant 92% of fellows and interns secured post-program employment, either remaining within the walls of City of Raleigh or spreading their wings to Partnership Raleigh's nonprofit or business partners.
And for those curious about who might be bringing this vivacity to Raleigh's water-related areas, a special shoutout is given to interns like Sydney Best, Luke Bernsten, and others who will be working around the Raleigh Water Lab and participating in Capital Improvement Projects. For those Raleigh residents, if you spot any interns from Cohort V, feel free to extend a warm hello. As their summer experience unfolds, Barrett expects that the intern's experiences will "serve them whether they continue in public service, the nonprofit sector, or private industry," according to the City of Raleigh website.
