Local High School Students Celebrate Internship Placements with Top D.C.-area Companies

October 16, 2018

News

National Capital Region

Genesys Works Recognizes AT&T and Fairfax County Schools with Community Partner Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C., — The Genesys Works National Capital Region hosted its third annual Breaking Through Ceremony to commemorate high school seniors who were recently awarded professional internships at top Washington, D.C.-area companies.

During the event, Genesys Works – a workforce development nonprofit – recognized AT&T* and Fairfax County Public Schools with Community Partner of the Year awards, and honored Earl Epps, of Logistics Management Institute (LMI), as Supervisor of the Year.

“At AT&T, we know that building the workforce of tomorrow is just as important as supporting today’s. That’s why we’re proud to support organizations like Genesys Works that are leading the charge by serving high school students from underserved communities,” said Denis Dunn, AT&T State President for the District of Columbia, Maryland and Delaware. “Our Genesys Works interns become valuable members of our team. Watching them grow throughout their tenure with us – and seeing the relationships they build with their coworkers – reinforces the value of the program for us.”

The Breaking Through Ceremony showcased the success stories of nearly 40 high school seniors who recently completed an eight-week workforce training program and served as a rite of passage into their year-long internship placements at top area companies, including AT&T, Accenture, CALIBRE, Intelsat, Kirkland & Ellis, Kratos Defense, Microstrategy and Strategic Education, Inc., among others.

Internships give Genesys Works students real-world experiences in fields like information technology, finance, and business operations, and are arranged by nearly 200 established organizations nationwide. This fall, AT&T welcomed a total of 16 Genesys Works students as interns across the country, with four in the National Capital Region. AT&T is also hosting students in Genesys Works’ other regions, including Chicago, the Bay Area and Houston.

The internship program offers professional pathways previously thought to be unattainable to disadvantaged high school students from Fairfax County and D.C. public schools. Over the past three years in the Washington, D.C. metro area alone, Genesys Works has helped more than 150 students from 11 public schools complete trainings and earn paid internships.

“In the few months since I started with Genesys Works in the Washington, D.C. area, I’ve already seen the confidence and skills that this program equips our students with, which is in large part due to the support of our corporate partners like AT&T,” said Moishi Moses, Executive Director of the Genesys Works National Capital Region. “Our interns bring fresh perspectives to their offices and their coworkers often become close mentors. Our students are able to carry their experiences with them to their next chapter, whether that is launching their career, heading to college or both.”

Since 2016, AT&T has contributed $95,000 in fiscal support to the Genesys Works National Capital Region site, supporting program growth and event sponsorships.

To date, 95 percent of participating Genesys Works students at sites across the country have enrolled in college. According to a report by Columbia University, the social return on investment (SROI) of the program is 13 times what is spent – meaning that for every $1 invested in Genesys Works, there’s an economic return of more than $13. (1)

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. The company’s signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $450 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.

About Genesys Works
Genesys Works is a non-profit social enterprise providing pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Its program consists of eight weeks of technical and professional skills training, a paid year-long corporate internship, college and career coaching, and alumni support to and through college. Since its founding in 2002, Genesys Works has grown to serve nearly 3,000 students annually in Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington’s National Capital Region, and plans to expand more nationally. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org.

(1) https://genesysworks.org/model-impact/social-return-on-investment/

© 2018 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

For more information, contact:
Name: Allison Kopp
Phone: 678-313-2966
Email: akopp@voxlgobal.com

 

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