Bank of America Connects New Hampshire-Area Youth to Workforce Success
Through Paid Virtual Summer Leadership Experience
Manchester, New Hampshire – Bank of America announced that the New Hampshire high school juniors selected as Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders) have started their paid summer internship experience of leadership, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building. In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions that will expose them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public private partnerships to advance social change, and a focus on building financial acumen.
The Class of 2020 New Hampshire based Bank of America Student Leaders are:
- Julia James of Nashua, New Hampshire. Junior at Academy for Science and Design; and
- Lexie Mariano of Manchester, New Hampshire. Junior at Phillips Academy Andover.
Both students were chosen for their strong leadership skills, community engagement and dedication to volunteerism.
New Hampshire Student Leaders will participate in programming that leverages Bank of America’s national partnerships and expertise and will work closely with the bank’s New Hampshire leadership and nonprofit partners. They will participate in a collaborative, mentoring-focused project working closely with the Special Olympics New Hampshire to create a comprehensive social media plan that communicates effectively with Special Olympics’ athletes, their families and volunteers.
“The Bank of America Student Leaders Program provided Special Olympics New Hampshire with two interns who were intelligent, enthusiastic and eager to move forward the mission of SONH,” said Mary Conroy, President, Special Olympics New Hampshire.
In addition, Student Leaders will engage in conversations focused on social justice, civil rights and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society and have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their personal finances through Better Money Habits®, Bank of America’s financial wellness and education platform.
Bringing students from across the country together in order to discuss the role of citizenship and how cross sector collaboration creates community impact is a core component of the Student Leaders program. This year, 300 students will gather virtually for the Young America Together at Home program, delivered by the Close Up Foundation, which will include discussion of finding one’s voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment and immigration.
“Now more than ever, as we collectively navigate the challenges we face in our communities, we remain committed to supporting youth and young adults of all backgrounds by connecting them to jobs, skills-building and leadership development,” said Kenneth R. Sheldon, Market President, Bank of America in New Hampshire. “Creating opportunities for our youth to gain skills and build a network is a powerful investment in the future of our community.”
In the wake of significant job losses nationwide, the ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of their Student Leader experience, each student will receive a $5,000 stipend to recognize them for their community achievements.
Recent estimates suggest that the number of disconnected youth – those who aren’t in school and don’t have a job – has likely tripled since last year and could be as high as 18 million. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and hindering overall economic progress. This summer, Bank of America is connecting approximately 3,000 young adults to summer jobs through partnerships with nonprofits and local mayors and its own Student Leaders® program.
About Bank of America:
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
About Special Olympics New Hampshire
Special Olympics New Hampshire (SONH) is an accredited program of Special Olympics International (SOI) and is part of an international global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. We empower people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Ericson
603-498-5186
MarkE@sonh.org