Social Services Manager/Internship Program Coordinator Donna Casados
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
This summer, young people are going to help keep Los Alamos County running.
Starting June 28, the County is opening its doors and job positions to local and regional high school students in its first ever paid summer internship program for teenagers.
Twenty students, whose ages range from 16 to 18, will be involved in the six-week program. They will work across several County departments including the libraries, administrative office, human resources, information management, records, economic development, Community Services Department, recreation, Municipal Court, Consolidated Dispatch, Public Works and Department of Public Utilities.
Social Services Manager and coordinator for the internship program Donna Casados said each student will have a mentor.
The high schoolers will be given real on-the-job experiences. Casados said the students will work 20 hours a week and will be paid $10.50 an hour.
In fact, to apply for an internship students needed to follow the same application process as any other job seeker, she said. They applied for the internships, were interviewed and will go through the County’s new hire orientation as well as an employability skills training course.
The internships were competitive; Casados said 33 students applied for the job and while all the applicants were “exceptional”, only 20 could be hired.
She explained the program was made possible through a collaboration between the New Mexico Public Education Department, New Mexico Workforce Department and local municipalities. Plus, she said the Public Education Department provided a $36,000 grant for summer internships.
Although the state is involved in the program, Casados said discussions between the County and young people about job opportunities for teens have occurred during meetings for the downtown master plans and the health services gap analysis.
“When we met with the youth, the main topics were opportunities for internships separate from LANL,” Casados said. “They really wanted opportunities that are available outside of fast food and LANL.”
Offering the summer internships are beneficial to both parties.
Casados pointed out that students earn real job experience and develop work skills.
It will give them “an opportunity to learn about County government and also learn hands-on real life work skills and employable skills,” she said.
Additionally, by exposing young people to the wide range of government services offered in the County, Casados said it “opens them to so many options for their future.”
On the flip side, Casados said the County has the chance to inspire and encourage young people to go into public service.
“I think it allows for us to really reach students that we may not have otherwise reached to give them an opportunity that may strike a level of interest and have a really good experience,” she said.
It may also encourage young people to stay in Los Alamos and seek fulltime employment in County government, Casados said.
Marketing Specialist Kelly Stewart said she is looking forward to mentoring her incoming intern.
“I’m so glad the County is participating in this summer intern program,” she said. “I regularly participate in the Community Internship Collaboration program through UNM-LA and really enjoy working with our local college students during the regular school year.”
Stewart discussed what her intern will work on.
“I’m really looking forward to having an intern in the summer for a six-week, 20 hour/week, intensive session,” she said. “It’s the right amount of time and effort to complete a project that’s been sitting on the back burner due to other priorities. The project for this intern is to research and develop an information resource for Los Alamos County’s pet-friendly businesses, products and services, especially for visitors … my goal will be to provide my intern with the same level of professional, real-working world experience—while explaining the “why” behind everything we do and, hopefully, fostering an environment where the intern feels comfortable asking questions and making this project their own!”
Stewart added that she feels she could benefit from a Gen-Z’s knowledge.
“As marketing specialist for the County’s Economic Development Division, I manage marketing and communications in support of our tourism, economic development and film production efforts,” Stewart said. “Most of that is outward facing to the general public, so I really appreciate the Gen-Z perspective on messaging and media!”
