The Future Leaders Project (FLP) continues to expand in 2025, offering Washington State University Vancouver (WSU Vancouver) students even more meaningful and unique internship opportunities.
FLP is an initiative of Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW), Columbia River Economic Development Council and Washington State University Vancouver that seeks to connect students from communities that have experienced longstanding inequities and exclusion and first-generation college students with employer-sponsored summer internships, providing growth and professional development opportunities.
As FLP enters its sixth year, the number of participating employers has reached a record high of 23 host sites. What began in 2020 with just three employers hosting three interns has expanded to 23 employers, now capable of hosting 33 interns.
We are thrilled to welcome back many of our returning partners hosting FLP interns, along with 12 new host sites, including:
- ALS Northwest
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington
- Columbia Credit Union
- LEAD North LLC
- Love Overwhelming
- Outsiders Inn
- Summit Truck Body
- The Bioforge
- The Foundation WA
- The Nutter Family Foundation / Dozer Day
- Vancouver Farmers Market Association
- WSU Vancouver
Thanks to the generous support of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, 18 of the 33 internships being offered through FLP this year are grant funded. This funding has significantly expanded the number of internships FLP can offer to students. The roles span a wide range of skill sets and majors, including opportunities in fields such as computer science, human resources, social services, and communications.
Not only do we see the profound impact FLP internships have on employers and students, we hear it too. Toward the end of each summer, our team interviews FLP participants to learn how the program has impacted them.
Mike Bomar from the Port of Vancouver shared his enthusiasm for the program, saying, “I would certainly recommend this to anybody who wants a high-quality internship, but also the opportunity to help mentor and lead the next generation of leaders in our community.”
Echoing that sentiment, Sherrie Jones from Southwest Washington Contractors Association reflected on her experience: “It was a privilege to have two interns. They were instrumental in so much, and it was really wonderful to see them grow as professionals.”
Students have shared equally positive feedback about their time in the program. Joseph Reyes-Hernandez, who interned with Greater Portland Inc. in 2023 said, “I was able to utilize skills that I have been developing during my time in college and with a lot of different employers over the years.” This year, Joseph will have the opportunity to participate in a second FLP-connected internship, this time with the Southwest Washington Contractors Association.
Similarly, Jen Dixon, who served as a Human Resources Intern at C-TRAN, said, “I was given so many amazing opportunities to really develop my skills and get hands-on learning experience that I wouldn’t have otherwise.” At the end of her summer 2024 internship with C-TRAN, Jen was asked to join the Human Resource team full-time after graduation.
To hear more amazing testimonials from FLP participants, check out our playlist on our YouTube channel: https://buff.ly/KeOHwdJ.
Businesses interested in learning more about FLP and hiring interns, should contact Nolan Yaws-Gonzalez at nyaws-gonzalez@workforcesw.org or 360.567.1066.
WSU Vancouver students interested in learning more about the program should contact Bill Stahley at bstahley@wsu.edu or 360.546.9273.
For PY24, the Future Leaders Project is supported by $206,682 (65% of total) U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration federal funding and $109,947 (35% of total) non-federal funding from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.
