Urban Innovation21 Celebrates the Start of the Region's Largest and Most Diverse Summer Innovation Economy Internship Program

PITTSBURGH, May 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the largest and most diverse innovation economy based internship program in the region, Urban Innovation21 will place 50 local students with paid internships this summer — at least 30 of them recipients of the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship. This initiative provides students from Community College of Allegheny County  (CCAC), Carlow, Duquesne and Point Park universities with work experience, helping young professionals to find opportunities within our region.  According to Alyssa Boehringer, the Program Manager for Internship Programs, Urban Innovation21 will provide approximately 100 paid internships for students in 2014.

Urban Innovation21 works to make sure all communities are connected to our regions prosperity by implementing initiatives to connect technology, life science, energy startups, advanced manufacturing companies to diverse populations. One way the organization supports these companies is by supplying paid interns to those companies. Approximately half of the interns are African American students and close to 50 percent are women, reflecting Urban Innovation21's commitment to create opportunities for underrepresented groups within the local innovation economy.

Over 10  of the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship recipients who attend CCAC will intern at local manufacturing companies. The Alcoa Foundation is funding this effort for the fourth consecutive summer .

UPMC affiliates funds 19 university students—also Promise Scholarship recipients—to intern in its various departments. The program supports the professional development of students, many of whom are first-generation college enrollees.

A networking event to kick off the students' internship assignment is scheduled for  Tuesday, May 27th, at  5:30 p.m. at the Community College of Allegheny County, Allegheny Campus. 

"With the support of the Alcoa Foundation, UPMC and other funders, I am excited that this internship program is the largest and most diverse internship programs of its kind in our region," said William Generett Jr. President and CEO of Urban Innovation21.

Urban Innovation21 Partners and Supporters:  Alcoa Foundation, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Carlow University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, the Heinz Endowments, the Hill House Association, Hillman Foundation, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, McCauley Ministries, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, PNC Bank, Point Park University, Reed Smith, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Reed Smith, Surdna Foundation, UPMC Health Plan, The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Federal Government Economic Development Administration.

www.urbaninnovation21.org

SOURCE Urban Innovation21