Right Track: Cultivating Saint Paul’s future workforce
For your company to stay relevant, it needs a workforce of the future.
Since 2014, the City of Saint Paul’s Right Track program has connected this workforce of the future to hundreds of organizations, government agencies and businesses through internships and professional development opportunities.
Saint Paul youth are talented, diverse and full of fresh, original ideas. Between their unique perspectives and energy, this up-and-coming generation is sure to take your business to the next level.
Apply to host an intern:
Right Track Employer Application
About Right Track
Right Track is a youth mentorship and employment program led by the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department. We work with employers like you to host interns, pay for wages, and provide training and enrichment opportunities.
Right Track offers six- to nine-week internships for young people through two different programs: Saint Paul Youth Jobs One (YJ1) and Youth Jobs Two (YJ2). We are always looking for new employers to host interns for both programs.
YJ1: Building foundational job skills
Youth Jobs One focuses on supporting young people ages 14-19 who are looking to build their foundational job skills, helping them secure their first or second work opportunity to practice workplace basics. YJ1 primarily provides city-subsidized summer jobs in parks, libraries and nonprofits. You can learn more about YJ1 here.
YJ2: Career exploration
Youth Jobs Two focuses on building on those foundational skills by providing paid internships to young people ages 16-21 at organizations and businesses of all kinds, from U.S. Bank to the State of Minnesota. YJ2 internships generally include more project-based work. You can learn more about YJ2 here.
Celebrate Right Track’s 10-year Anniversary by joining the #RightTrack100 Employer Challenge
The #RightTrack100 Employer Challenge is open to employers across all sectors in the Twin Cities metro area, with all participants required to commit to hosting one or more Right Track interns in 2023. The first 100 employers who participate in the #RightTrack100 Employer Challenge will have the opportunity to attend a Right Track partner networking event with Mayor Carter, as well as enter to win a round of golf for four of their employees at the Highland National Golf Course, a rental of a Saint Paul picnic pavilion for an outing with their team or a behind-the-scenes tour of the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory.
Get started with the #RightTrack100 Employer Challenge
Right Track can help your business tap into the bright workforce of the future. To learn more about the #RightTrack100 Employer challenge, fill out the Employer Application or contact Nardos Tesfalidet at nardos.tesfalidet@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Partners who have pledged to host summer 2023 Interns include:
A Better Road Foundation Inc |
Fairview Health Services |
Rabata Ramsey County Saint Paul Port Authority Saint Paul Public Schools Saint Paul Urban Tennis Sanneh Foundation Shakir Consulting Services Spark-Y: Youth Action Labs SPNN (Saint Paul Neighborhood Network) State of Minnesota The Advocates for Human Rights The CREW Urban Youth Equestrians The Good Acre The Salvation Army Eastside Tree Trust Twin Cities Trapeze University of Minnesota Urban Boatbuilders, Inc. Urban Roots MN Vivacity Tech PBC World Youth Connect YWCA St. Paul |
Other resources
- Video of January 13, 2022, Employer Engagement event: View here
- Timeline for YJ1 Youth
- Timeline for YJ1 Employer Partners (listed under "Important Dates")
- Timeline for YJ2 Youth
- Timeline for YJ2 Employer Partners
- Remote Work Guide