Urban Scholars

Urban Scholars is a leadership and professional development internship program providing students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds with distinctive professional experience. Focused on essential leadership skills and creating resume-building career pathways, Urban Scholars is training the next generation of leaders. Urban Scholars is a twelve week paid internship and includes formal leadership and professional development training. Scholars spend four days a week working on meaningful projects and work assignments alongside organizational leaders at one of our various host sites. One day a week, Scholars come together as a cohort to learn and practice skills in leadership, professional development, small groups, and public speaking. Projects, work assignments, and partner organizations change year to year, so selection into Urban Scholars is based first and foremost on if an applicant embodies our core competencies. An applicant is then placed in one of our partner organizations based on organizational need and the applicant’s preference. Our goal is to ensure a meaningful work experience, so an applicant may be a great fit for the program, but if there is not a project that will benefit the applicant; a placement will not be made. Urban Scholars also provides mentors/networking advisors and additional panels, tours, and overviews. Partner Organizations include: APi Group Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota City of Minneapolis Fourth Judicial District Courts Hennepin County Metropolitan Airports Commission Metropolitan Council Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board Minneapolis Public Housing Authority Minneapolis Public Schools Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, Right Track State of Minnesota