Bank of America Program Opens Doors for Local Teens

January 25, 2021 - by BDA Team

Bank of America Program Opens Doors for Local Teens

For civic-minded teens in the Puget Sound area, Bank of America’s prestigious Student Leaders program – which provides paid summer internships in partnership with local nonprofits – is a win-win. Not only do they get hands-on, paid professional experience, they develop these skills while supporting local organizations doing good, including several right here in the heart of Bellevue.

This program is part of the bank’s investment in education and workforce development for young adults to obtain job and leadership experience, while making a difference in the communities they serve nationwide. In addition to their projects supporting a local nonprofit, students in the program are engaged in conversations focused on social justice, civil rights and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society. They also gain a better understanding of their personal finances through Better Money Habits, Bank of America’s financial wellness and education platform.

While it’s a national program, there’s a local impact here in Bellevue. Each year, Bank of America selects 300 high school juniors and seniors from across the country to participate, including students from the Puget Sound area. Jiawei (Jared) Hu, of Interlake High School in Bellevue, was one of five local students to participate in the program in 2020. Students in the Puget Sound, including Hu, supported the fantastic work of Special Olympics Washington.

Created in 2004, the Student Leaders program has continued to grow and develop. Last summer, the program was converted to a virtual format to accommodate social distancing, with students working with local nonprofits on special projects and learning first-hand how to work with local organizations in the fight against COVID-19.

“Now more than ever, we must invest in the future of our community by helping a diverse pipeline of young people gain valuable hard and soft job skills and build a network they can rely on down the road,” said Kerri Schroeder, Market President, Bank of America in Seattle. “We remain committed to supporting youth by connecting them to jobs, skills-building and leadership development.”

Know a teen who’s a perfect fit? Is that person you? Get applied ASAP – the 2021 program is accepting applications through this Friday, January 29!

This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.