STEP-UP places Minneapolis students ages 14-21 with barriers to employment in paid summer jobs at top Minneapolis businesses and local non-profits.  All STEP-UP interns complete a rigorous work readiness training curriculum and upon successful completion of training are eligible to be placed in summer jobs.  All training classes this year will be on Saturdays at MCTC.  

At STEP-UP, we believe that the youth of Minneapolis are the powerful leaders of tomorrow for our city.  This belief drives everything we do.  We have high expectations for our youth, and we have seen youth exceed those expectations year after year.

STEP-UP will empower you to discover your strengths and train you to own your power so you can be successful at work. We will match your specific strengths with paid internship opportunities you would not have access to on your own. These opportunities have the potential to change the course of your future.

STEP-UP interns:

• Gain valuable job experience
• Build professional skills
• Expand their network of support
• Explore career interests
• Earn a paycheck

Why STEP-UP?

• We don’t just provide jobs – we help kickstart your career! Power your future with career-oriented jobs only available to STEP-UP interns! This is real experience, experience you can put on your resume, as well as an opportunity to connect with adult professionals who can open doors for you along the way.

• At STEP-UP, we think of it as your program, your way. Just want a summer job to make some money? Totally cool, we have something for you. Looking to try out a career path you are interested in? Awesome! We have jobs in all of the different fields including the arts, healthcare, business, finance, etc.  Did you do STEP-UP last year or in the past and didn’t like your job or decide that wasn’t the path for you? You’re in luck – we have hundreds of other jobs for you to try out! Maybe you really liked your job in the past and you want to go back or stay in that same industry to build on your experience? We will do our absolute best to make it happen AND offer you extra events and opportunities related to your career of choice! The point is: YOU decide how you want to get involved. YOU tell us what you are interested in and we provide you the best possible match we can.

• Make GOOD Money - all STEP-UP jobs are paid ($9.50 to over $12.00 per hour), most participants will earn at least $1,200 from their summer job. This year, ALL STEP-UP Achieve interns (16+ interns) will make a minimum of $10.00 per hour!

How to apply

• Complete an online application http://stepupmpls.org/.
• There are applications sessions in the Career and College Center.
• You’ll receive a letter and email (check your email on a weekly basis) letting you know whether you’ve been accepted into STEP-UP and if so when your training begins – check your email weekly!
• Make sure we can reach you- if you haven’t heard from us by mid-March, check your application status in the Career and College Center.

Contact Erin Martin, Step Up Program Associate, with questions:  emartin@achievempls.org