Henrico County named a top-100 Virginia employer for interns

Since Henrico County’s internship program launched in 2013, 801 students have been placed in 29 different agencies and 109 interns have been hired for full-time positions with the county or the public school system, Internship Program Coordinator Debbie Lumpkin told the county’s board of supervisors during a July 25 work session.

This month, the county was named one of Virginia’s top 100 employers for interns by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, becoming one of just six county or city governments honored by the program, which is administered by the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia.

“What is so unique is the valuable mentorship and experience that we provide to our students that is also directly tied to their learning goals,” Lumpkin said.

This summer, 77 students participated in internships with Henrico County, 21 of whom were high school students, 45 of whom were college students and 11 of whom were returning students from last year.

“Before my internship with the county many people were not willing to put their trust in an 18-year-old with big hopes and no experience,” said Sincere Slade-Reading, a rising political science and sociology major with a concentration in public policy and administration at VCU.

Slade-Reading interned this summer in the county manager’s office, witnessing public policy and administration “in action.” She learned about county efforts to combat substance abuse and helped with violence reduction efforts and other county programs.

“Through their dedication to exposing me to all Henrico has to offer, I was able to discover aspects of local government that I never even realized were so necessary,” Slade-Reading said.

In addition to internships, the county offers other initiatives and learning opportunities. For instance, the 11th Sheriff’s Office Basic Summer Academy offers students the opportunity to obtain a basic jailer certification while also earning academic credit.  Created as a collaboration between VCU and human resources, the program has expanded to Virginia Union University, Virginia State University, Hampden-Sydney College, Ferrum College Brightpoint and Reynolds Community Colleges. Two-hundred fifty students have participated in the summer academy, which then made them eligible to work part-time for the county.

“This internship has been extra meaningful to me, because as a 19-year-old wanting to go into investigations and or law enforcement, it can be troubling at times to see what I like and where I fit in,” program participant Katherine Hale told the board. “The program has allowed me to gain perspective on not only every aspect in the correctional facilities, but working in the law enforcement field in general.”

A junior at VCU, Hale learned about CPR, defensive tactics, firearms training and criminal and civil liabilities throughout her time in the summer academy.

This year, 28 teens participated in the MHDS Teen Job Training Program (or TJPP), a fall and winter program that offers 14- to 16-year-olds the opportunity to learn pre-employment and workplace readiness skills. Participants who successfully complete the program will work in retail jobs, childcare, libraries, after-school programs and community centers during the summer months of July and August.

“In the TJPP program I have learned to be more outspoken, such as helping with kids, learning right from wrong, leading instructions for activities and leading games with the kids,” 14-year-old Varina High School Student Jahkya Robinson said. “I am currently working on being more open with children and adults. I want to show that it is okay to have a voice and stand up for what is right.”