AKRON, OHIO — (Dec. 7, 2013)– Torchbearers, a local organization that supports young professionals, is developing two dynamic programs aimed at attracting and retaining Greater Akron’s next generation of leaders. The programs are supported by $65,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Intern Akron will connect Akron summer interns in both for-profit and nonprofit companies to community life and foster connections between interns, community leaders and other civic players. Interns will gain exposure to new places to live, play and volunteer while building relationships with peers and community change makers. The six- to eight-week program aims to create a deeper sense of attachment to Akron, and will help local companies attract young talent to the area. It will also provide career resources to interns who want to return—or remain—in Akron.
Torchbearers will partner with Leadership Akron, in designing and administering the program. Together they will create an interactive and robust program that will showcase
Torchbearers Ambassadors will help promote Akron as a vibrant place to work and live. Ambassadors will work with human resources representatives in local companies to connect with job applicants after interviews with the potential employees are completed and inform them about places to live, play and connect in Greater Akron and the region. The goal is to help local employers recruit and retain more of their employees, particularly young professionals.
Knight Foundation is providing $45,000 to support the internship program and $20,000 for the ambassadors pilot. The funding will go to resources needed to develop the programs and inspire participants to pursue careers in Greater Akron.
“These two programs will highlight Akron’s rich community life and encourage talented professionals who are considering Akron as a career destination to make it their home,” said Jennifer Thomas, Akron program director for Knight Foundation. “Building on the existing talent pool in Akron will add to the vitality of the city and create more opportunities into the future.”
The Torchbearers Ambassadors pilot will begin in early 2014, and Intern Akron will launch in the summer of 2014. Both programs will ultimately be maintained through fees from participating companies. Torchbearers will announce an application process and additional program details early next year.
Please contact Kyle Kutuchief at [email protected] for more information.
About Torchbearers
Torchbearers is a young professionals organization focused on building a better Greater Akron community through leadership development and service. Founded in 2003, the organization was created to strengthen the connection between Akron area nonprofits and young people and to further efforts to attract and retain young people to Greater Akron. Ten years later, the membership is nearly 100 strong and reflects the diversity found across the Greater Akron young professionals community. To learn more about Torchbearers, please visit www.torchbearersAkron.com.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. www.knightfoundation.org
CONTACTS:
Kyle Kutuchief, Press Secretary, Torchbearers, 330-612-2185, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2677, [email protected]