~Jasmin Bumpas
The purpose of Kaiser Permanente’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is to “provide undeserved or at-risk high school students with supportive and meaningful employment experiences in the healthcare field”. Students are required to attend six Saturday educational sessions during the academic school year. After completion, students are offered a six-week, part-time internship at a Kaiser Permanente facility for the following summer.
I learned about this opportunity from a close friend applying to the program. This then encouraged and prompted me to apply for myself. Three days after applying, I received a call inviting me to an interview. Two weeks later, I received notification that I had been selected to join the program. Being in Kaiser Permanente’s SYEP program has made a tremendous positive impact in my life.
Growing up, I knew two things: I would attend college and would receive a job in the healthcare industry. As I planned for my goals, there were moments where it seemed as if these goals were out of reach. The idea that I would be the first person in my family to attend college not only created pressure for me to succeed, but ultimately motivated me to reach my goals and strive for more.
Attending Saturday preparation sessions helped me perceive my self-worth and capability. Each Saturday, I worked with like-minded individuals who pushed me to be my best. Not only did SYEP help me grow in terms of college preparation, it also taught me professional skills for a corporate setting. I was able to develop my interpersonal skills by interacting with diverse individuals through networking, my time-management skills by learning to balance school with the internship, and most importantly, my public speaking skills by giving presentations in front of large audiences. I was also given information on proper interview conduct and application formatting. Each of these assets prepared me for college and the real world.
Programs like SYEP are extremely beneficial towards those who come from minority backgrounds. Being in SYEP gives us access to resources and connections we might not have had growing up. Students get extra help getting a foot in the door and figuring out their life ambitions. I am extremely grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this program.
Now as a rising sophomore at Loyola Marymount University, majoring in Communication studies and minoring in Political Science, I can spend the next four summers of my college career working at Kaiser Permanente as a Community Health Intern. This opportunity was presented to me through Kaiser Permanente’s partnership with INROADS– a program designed by Frank Carr in 1970 to help “develop and place talented minority youth in business and industry and prepare them for corporate and community leadership”. While here at Kaiser Permanente, I am continually developing and applying all the skills I learned previously as a Summer Youth Intern. Mostly importantly, I am building my family and myself a brighter future by growing as an individual and learning through Kaiser Permanente’s culture, so that I can ultimately give back to my community with my newfound knowledge provided by this opportunity from INROADS.
~ Bria Toms
The Summer Youth Employment Program has set a very huge foundation for my career path. During the SYEP Program, I was partnered with the OBGYN department which is the third busiest department in the entire medical office building. During my time there, I was able to showcase all the skills I learned during the Kaiser Permanente Watts Work Preparation Program. All the necessary tools and skills I learned helped me tremendously as a lot of challenges and obstacles came about during my internship.
Qualifications:
Between the age of 16 to 20 yrs.
Proof of education (HS or CC)
Available part-time for 6 weeks
Group Interviews
Application
Consent of parent or guardian
Deadlines:
Applications made available in March
Application due in April
Contacts:
Carolyn C. Dallas
Business Coordinator
Youth Workforce Programs—Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region
393 E. Walnut St. 6th Flr.
Pasadena, CA 91188
(626) 405-5395
Carolyn.C.Dallas@kp.org
Trisha Lee G. Ramirez
Program Administrator
Undergraduate Summer Internship Programs—Northern California Regional Offices
Kaiser Permanente Northern CA Community Benefit
(510) 625-6172
kp.launch@kp.org