Belmont City Hall to begin summer internship program

“With information and tech and bio and all those gaining headlines and big money, it’s nice to see people interested in community service and local government and recognize how important that is as well. So I’m excited,” Braunstein said.

Councilman Charles Stone said he was contacted last year by Carlmont student Alan Yan, who initiated the internship program, and is excited city staff has agreed to take on five summer interns. The six-week summer program will offer students an opportunity to work directly with city staff in the City Clerk’s Office as well as in the Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Information Technology and Human Resources departments, Stone said.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand how much local government actually touches their lives and I think the opportunity for students who are so impressionable to get an up close look to see what it takes to run the city. … I think that’s a fantastic opportunity for them and helps frame their view of how they world works going forward,” Stone said.

Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA can apply and will be interviewed by Carlmont teachers and eventually selected by city staff running the program, Stone said.

Braunstein said the City Council has been extremely supportive in giving students opportunities to get involved in their community through government including having a Parks and Recreation Youth Commission and recently hosting a workshop where about 30 students gathered to provide input last month on the city’s General Plan Update.

Braunstein said the City Hall internship will help bolster student’s education by providing them opportunities one can’t find in a classroom setting.

“You can try to bring in ideas and debates and stories and history, statistics all sort of things, you can bring into the classroom. But every environment is different and bringing a student into city government at the local level gives them a unique perspective that they could never get in the classroom,” Braunstein said.

Kris Govani, a business teacher and work experience coordinator at Carlmont, said interested sophomores and juniors can apply and must attend at least two of three upcoming breakfast meetings starting at 8 a.m. this Wednesday.

Unfortunately, Carlmont student Yan, who inspired the program with Stone and was very active in politics, will be graduating this year and can’t apply, Govani said.

Govani said they’re hoping to attract a diverse group and the school’s Parent Teacher Association has even agreed to contribute funds for students who may need assistance purchasing a professional wardrobe or bus passes to travel to City Hall.

Govani agreed with Stone and Braunstein that the new high school internship program could benefit the students and community.

“I think city government is often overlooked as a viable option; especially in this kind of unaffordable Bay Area,” Govani said. “But there’s really a lot of good opportunities there to serve and I think that’s overlooked. And this puts this front and center.”

Stone added he hopes the Carlmont program will be a model for other schools and cities to partner to offer educational leadership opportunities to students.

“I’m just incredibly excited for the opportunities these kids are going to have. I think it’s going to be great for City Hall and for the kids to learn about what it takes to run a city from the ground floor,” Stone said. “I hope it’s a success and we continue it for many years going forward.”

The City Council will discuss the internship program at its meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at City Hall, 1 Twin Pines Lane.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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