High School Partnership

In partnership with Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Public Schools, and local employers, the PIC connects high school students with jobs and internship opportunities, offering career exploration activities. For over 40 years, Boston has led the nation in providing private-sector employment for teens. The PIC matches BPS students with paid, employer-supervised positions in fields such as healthcare, finance, technology, life sciences, and more. Many summer interns continue working during the school year as part-time employees or interns.

The workplace allows young people to develop vital skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, which complement their academic learning. Under the leadership of Superintendent Mary Skipper, the PIC aims to strengthen these skill-building opportunities and deepen connections between classrooms and workplaces.

Each summer, the City of Boston and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) partner to place Boston Public School (BPS) students in paid internships at nearly 200 local businesses as part of the futureBOS Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Employers, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, help train and prepare the future workforce.

Participation Benefits for Your Company and Community:

• Added Values: Internships provide extra capacity and help meet real business needs. Supervisors report increased engagement after working with students.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Align internships with your diversity goals, offering employees the chance to make a meaningful impact and bring new perspectives to your company.
• Talent Pipeline: Summer jobs offer career exploration and early work experience, ensuring that young people are prepared for future careers.
• Future Successes: High school internships are linked to higher employment rates and greater earning potential later in life.

Check out the following resources:

Boston-area companies can engage with local high school students in exciting ways beyond hosting summer interns. Employers can participate in school-year career exploration activities, helping students discover career interests and learn about various industries. These activities can be one-time commitments or recurring events, tailored to fit your company’s volunteer availability.

Why Participate in Career Exploration Activities?

• Community Engagement: Offer your employees meaningful volunteer opportunities in diverse communities.
• Inspire Youth: Excite students about your industry and future career possibilities.
• Career Readiness: Help students understand the connection between academic success and career opportunities.
• Talent Recruitment: Identify potential applicants for future internships.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Support the local community while advancing your company’s mission.

To get your company involved, Contact Josh Bruno, Employer Engagement Director at Boston PIC.

Boston-area companies can connect with high school students through exciting career exploration activities beyond hosting interns. Volunteers help students identify career interests and gain insights into local industries from professionals in the field.

The Boston PIC offers flexible volunteer opportunities and will work with you to create a plan that suits your company’s needs.

One-Time Volunteer Opportunities:

• Host a workplace tour with hands-on activities.
• Conduct a skill-building workshop.
• Evaluate students’ capstone projects.
• Serve as an industry expert in a classroom lesson.
• Assist with mock interviews or resume preparation.

Recurring Volunteer Opportunities:

• Supervise a school-year or summer intern.
• Host a skill-building “bootcamp” during school vacation weeks.
• Conduct weekly workshops.
• Serve on a curriculum advisory committee to support course development.

Signature Programming:

• Bootcamps: Vacation-week programs where students earn a stipend while gaining skills in coding, data science, robotics, financial literacy, and more.
• STEM Week: An annual October event that connects students to STEM careers through workshops, design challenges, field trips, and career panels.

If you or your company is interested in volunteering, contact Josh Bruno, Employer Engagement Director at Boston PIC.