The City of Holbrook administration has exciting plans to create not only a locally grown workforce, offering internships to entice youth to explore employment with the city, but build up the community as a whole.
Director of Administration Misty Hatch and Assistant City Manager/Financial Director Randy Sullivan are collaborating on what Hatch is calling her vision for the future of Holbrook.
“We want to see this community thrive, but not only as a community but with a community of leaders. There’s going to be no way for us to continue with a workforce if we don’t create the workforce. The vision is to find, one — the kids that are interested in those fields and, two—create a learning experience rather than a grunt work experience,” said Hatch.
Sullivan, who credited Hatch with coming up with the concept, noted that not only the city but other local businesses are struggling to find good applicants for positions. “We thought this might be a good way to find people that may have a passion for a given field and build them up. If these [interns] work out well, this could be the next generation of our workforce.”
Sullivan said the goal is to build leaders, not bosses. “We’re pushing the leadership aspect with all of our department heads. The idea is for them to build their crew up so that when they’re gone, [the crew] can take they’re spot. We want to build from within–build that culture. And the best way to do that is to start from the top, but you also start from the bottom and build them up too.”
Sullivan says it’s also about mentoring the youth. When students apply for the summer intern program, if during the course of the interview it becomes apparent that the applicant may be better suited to a job they hadn’t really considered, they can encourage them in that direction. The city is also partnering with Grow Arizona Workforce Network by sending applicants to its center before the interview to prepare their resume and get tips on how to present for an interview.
As far as offerings, Hatch cited as an example those interested in working for the police department. They can sign up as a ride-along in the patrol car or working in police administration. Other opportunities for interning include at the library, golf course, administrative office, animal control, fleet department and public works.
The hours are part-time, flexible and just for the summer. Each internship includes a $500 stipend upon successful completion. “That way, even if it’s hard they have something that they’ve earned from it,” added Hatch.
The other aspect of Hatch’s vision is to show kids in the community that there are more opportunities than they realize. “We lose so many talented kids after graduation, we want them to know we have a place for them here in Holbrook,” she said. There are no specific criteria for applying for the internships aside from being a high school or college student 16 and older, and a willingness to learn and explore.
“This opens such a bigger avenue of a bigger picture than just learning. It’s going to be learning, it’s going to be leadership, it’s going to show what Holbrook has to offer. My hope is that we’re going to build this whole new generation that’s excited to contribute to Holbrook,” said Hatch.
The city is also looking to expand its offerings to the community with more events. It is currently hiring a fulltime recreation and events coordinator to host monthly activities and create more communal experiences for those who live and visit Holbrook.
To learn more about the various internship opportunities and more available visit https://www.holbrookaz.govthen Human Resources under the Departments link.
