Building a network through work can be one of the best ways to start a career path and increase self-confidence. That’s why Bank of America has a long history of investing in youth employment, including our Financial Center Apprenticeship program, our Student Leaders® program, and partnerships with local nonprofits, mayors and sports teams.
Investing in youth employment
Early employment can set a young person on a trajectory for success, providing them with both a paycheck and a stepping-stone for improving academic performance.
Since 2010, Bank of America has funded 20,000 jobs for youth, helping them gain valuable workforce skills and stay focused on their futures. And we've invested $160 million since 2018 to connect youth and young adults to jobs and mentoring, including funding jobs with nonprofit partners and supporting skills-building and alternative pathways.
Connecting community-minded youth to internships
Every year, we help connect more than 300 high school juniors and seniors—also known as Student Leaders®—to service opportunities and skills training. They participate in an eight-week paid internship with local nonprofits like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.
They also get to see how nonprofits, governments and businesses collaborate to meet local needs by participating in the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Workforce development & education programs - Bank of America
Through workforce development and education, we’re empowering youth, low- and moderate-income communities, and individuals that deserve a second chance.
Local Sacramento student honored as Bank of America Student Leader®
When Shreya Balaji found out that Sacramento is one of the sex-trafficking capitals of the United States, she was eager to do something to fight the problem.
A new path to high-paying careers in tech
In a city addressing unequal access to good jobs, the nonprofit Road to Hire provides a pathway to success for Charlotte’s young people.
An early jump on a healthy career
A partnership between Bakersfield College and the Kern County School District is connecting students with emerging opportunities in public health. High school students take courses at the community college for free and are connected to career pathways in public health through volunteering and internships. The program drastically reduces student debt for participants, many of whom are from low-income households, helping to alleviate some of the financial burden of traditional four-year degree.
Across the country, we’re helping youth and young adults gain valuable workforce experience, including internships and early employment, by partnering with organizations and local employers in local communities.
Preparing students for the new workforce
In southern Arizona, Pima Community College enables Hispanic/Latino and Black students to prepare for promising careers.
Essential education for in-demand jobs
This Southern Nevada college helps young adults overcome obstacles to a rewarding career.
Voyage gives young people a strong start in the workforce
This Wilmington summer program trains, mentors and places local students to set them on the path to success.
From internships to careers
Our Financial Center Apprenticeship program focuses on building technology expertise while also offering an opportunity to further develop business acumen and skills through mentoring by Bank of America teammates. Students like Dan Querrius in Dallas, TX, have served as Digital Ambassadors in financial centers across the country, bringing their own passion and know-how to the workplace. In addition to bringing home a paycheck, our apprenticeship participants gain a better understanding of personal finances through Better Money Habits®, our financial wellness and education platform.
Pivoting summer youth employment programs in response to the coronavirus
2020 presented new challenges for connecting youth with job experience. So after more than a decade of partnering with mayors’ offices across the country to facilitate youth employment, we pivoted to making those connections virtually. In the process, we helped provide summer employment to approximately 4,000 at-risk youth from low- and moderate-income communities.
For example, in Charlotte, North Carolina, employer commitments to provide traditional onsite youth internship experiences were down 78%. This led to our partnership with the City of Charlotte Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP) to help create a virtual summer internship program. Working with local organizations and businesses, the MYEP’s program ensured students had everything they needed to succeed virtually, from access to Chromebooks to frequent check-ins and follow-up help.