SkillsRI Internship Program

Brown University partners with Skills for Rhode Island's Future. This non-profit organization provides paid summer internships for current high school juniors attending Rhode Island public schools at multiple local businesses and Brown is proud to be one of their partner sites. Motivated and prepared students are vetted by Skills RI to match the skills employers need and students go through a week-long 40-hour work-readiness “boot camp” to prepare for internships. 

About Skills for Rhode Island’s Future

Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI) is a nonprofit organization that breaks down barriers to economic opportunity by connecting unemployed and underemployed Rhode Islanders to jobs with socially responsible, civic-minded employers.
A statewide, demand-driven workforce intermediary, SkillsRI works to close the workforce skills gap in RI, drive business growth, and move unemployed/underemployed Rhode Islanders into open positions. SkillsRI is a key driver of economic empowerment, contributing to the state’s economic vitality through the provision of workforce services that meet the demands of local employers, fostering talent development while helping Rhode Islanders achieve upward mobility. This is accomplished through our vision of “transforming lives through meaningful employment and economic mobility.”

About PrepareRI

PrepareRI is an initiative to prepare all Rhode Island youth with the skills they need for jobs that pay. It represents a strategic partnership between the Rhode Island government, private industry leaders, the public education system, universities, and non-profits across the state. PrepareRI launched in 2016, after Rhode Island was awarded a New Skills for Youth grant from JPMorgan Chase and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

Key points about the program:

• SkillsRI serves as the Employer of Record
• Interns are paid up to $4,200 for their Internship ($15/hr.)
• Internship starts July 8th, 2024, through August 16th, 2024
• Interns go through a rigorous application and screening process.
• Interns are entering their Senior Year of high school and are at least 16 years old.
• Interns represent all school districts with at least 50% coming from priority communities.

Commitment by the department:

• Students must be supervised at all times; if the supervisor is on vacation, a back-up supervisor must be available
• Departments must craft a brief job description which will be reviewed by Skills RI and submit the intake form
• Job Descriptions and intake forms are due to skills RI by 3/4; BioMed HR will need job descriptions for review by 2/20
• Supervisors must commit to evaluate the students' performance
• Departments will have an opportunity to interview students to ensure they are a good fit for the position; these interviews occur 3/4-5/24

Feedback from CARE SkillsRI Intern Experience 2023

SkillsRI provides high school students with real experience in the working world, acquiring skills that are vital as they move through their education to a career of choice. The departments gain extra assistance with daily responsibilities and a way to grow awareness towards job fields that were not previously considered, truly guiding the next generation of passionate individuals. CARE in particular looks forward to the students coming on and joining us. They change into totally different people, confident and professional. The help we get from these driven high schoolers is indispensable. They are welcomed members of our team 

Get involved with skills Rhode Island they have a wonderful program!

- Mario Turco, Animal Care Facilities Supervisor

BioMed Human Resources is coordinating this program with Skills RI. Please let us know by Wednesday, January 31st, if you are interested in hosting an intern in your department this summer through this program.