City Hall Internship and Mentorship

The problem

City Hall can feel like a locked building to a teenager. Young people are told their voices matter, but they're rarely handed a real seat at the table — or the skills to use one.

The plan

City Hall opens a paid internship and mentorship program for Tampa students: real assignments in city departments, one-on-one mentoring from public servants, and a front-row seat to how decisions get made. The application process is simple, public, and open to students across the city.

Mentors are city staff and community leaders who commit real time — not a photo op, but actual coaching on professional skills, civic knowledge, and career pathways.

How you’ll know it’s working

• Interns placed per cycle with published acceptance criteria
• Mentor participation across city departments
• Intern-to-mentor match completion rate
• Alumni tracking on education and employment outcomes

From the Blueprint

• Two tracks: eight-to-ten-week paid internships for high school juniors and seniors, plus longer college placements tied to academic fields.
• Each intern is matched with a city mentor and presents a final project in City Hall after orientation and mid-point check-ins.
• HR manages classifications and wage compliance so internships can count for academic credit where appropriate.
• First-year action: stand up the internship framework and place the first cohort of high school interns.