Return to Earn internships make a difference for students, employers

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Four County Community Foundation’s Return to Earn internship program has returned to help local businesses and students connect in 2023.

This initiative seeks to provide quality, paid summer internships for college students in or near their hometowns.

It gives college students opportunities to build their resumes and earn paychecks during their summer breaks while also creating the potential to return after completing their studies for jobs.

The foundation is seeking to support both interns and participating businesses by helping to pay for up to 50% of the interns’ salaries. Shelby Township is one of the communities included in the Four County Community Foundation’s service area. The Shelby Community Foundation merged with Four County Community Foundation a couple of years ago.

According to the foundation, in 2022, 10 college students took part in the program, working mainly in agriculture, municipal governments and STEM-related fields at sites in Imlay City, Almont, Armada, Romeo, Rochester Hills and Lapeer. In addition to their work-related duties, the students took part in virtual cohort meetings with Four County Community Foundation Executive Director Kathy Dickens to discuss everything from networking to crafting cover letters and resumes.

Madison Roush, who was an intern for the Romeo Downtown Development Authority as part of last summer’s program, has since been hired by the organization.

“I was one of (the) first participants in the Return to Earn internship program through the Four County Community Foundation, and I had a lot of support from Kathy Dickens and the other participants. The program gave us the opportunity to discuss working within our internships and the different workplace dynamics that we were experiencing,” she said in an email interview.

She said they were able to troubleshoot together and encourage each other.

“I was able to produce a capstone project for this program while interning at the Romeo DDA. This capstone project ended up being an all-day event with classic cars and dancing where I was able to get hands-on experience in event planning. Afterwards, I have been able to keep up with the other interns and their journeys as well as continuing my work at the DDA. This program gave me the opportunity to take a leading role in an organization that I might not have been able to without the partnership and support from the 4 County Foundation,” she said.

She said one of the key things that she would want people to know is that being genuine in your work and continuously trying new things or taking educated risks is the best way to find new things that you love.

“I appreciate that chance that I was given by the DDA and that they believed in me. Without the Four County Foundation, I am not sure if that chance would have been taken at that time, and I thank them for giving me that support,” she said.

Participating host sites appreciated the fresh perspective that students brought and the initiative they exhibited.

Romeo DDA Executive Director Elizabeth Miller saw potential in adding an intern as part of the Return to Earn program.

“I saw an opportunity to recruit a motivated, energetic and resourceful volunteer from VintageFest and created an internship,” Miller said via email.

With the help of Dickens, Miller presented this idea to her board and it was unanimously approved.

“I was able to tailor it to the Romeo DDA’s needs and make it our own,” Miller said. “Four months later, I am proud to say we have our first Administrative and Events coordinator. We balance each other out. Together, we are accomplishing great things for downtown Romeo.”

Roush recently graduated from Oakland University.

“The first event that she hosted on her own was Romeo VintageFest, and by all accounts, it was a roaring success. With classic cars, LIVE music and dancing in the streets, an antique auction at Town Hall Antiques, and a beer and wine tent at the Chamber of Commerce all being featured during the event, downtown Romeo was festive, fun and alive,” Miller said.

Miller said that if you see an opportunity, even if you’re not sure of the end goal, go for it.

“We entered into this internship, not knowing that we would end up hiring Madison and she would become an integral part of our team. Four County Community Foundation made this possible for our organization. Without the launch of this initiative and the co-funding vehicle, we wouldn’t have an events coordinator today. Downtown Romeo can proudly say Four County Community Foundation has been pivotal in our current success. We couldn’t be more grateful,” she said.

For more information about the Return to Earn internship program, contact Dickens at (810) 798-0909 or kdickens@4ccf.org. The foundation serves portions of Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland counties. To learn more about Four County Community Foundation, visit www.4ccf.org.