Step Up Youth Employment Program, Minneapolis

03/27/2026

Meet the Team Profile: Brad!

Q: What is your Step Up job title?
A: Career Experiences and Internships Coordinator
Q: How long have you been working with Step Up?
A: 6 months
Q: If you had to explain your job to a five-year-old (using only emojis, what would you use)?
A: I help young people get, prepare for, and succeed in summer jobs.
Q: Why do you think Step Up is important for Minneapolis? (provide your answer in a haiku form)
A: Young people need jobs. / Employers need talent and / diversity too.
Q: If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?
A: Anyone on the Foundations team to see what it's like on that side.
Q: Internal Soundtrack! If your job had a soundtrack, what would the theme song be and why?
A: Let's Go Crazy by Prince. Because sometimes all the systems involved Step Up make me feel a little crazy, and that's not always a bad thing. Also, Prince.
Q: Has your connection to the color orange changed?
A: I never wore orange until maybe 5-6 years ago. But it hasn't changed since then.

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03/25/2026

Meet the Team Profile: Mai!

Q: What is your Step Up job title?
A: Employer Engagement Manager
Q: How long have you been working with Step Up?
A: I am a Step Up alum and now a full-time Step Up staff!
Q: If you had to explain your job to a five-year-old (using only emojis, what would you use)?
A: 💼🤝📑🎉
Q: Why do you think Step Up is important for Minneapolis?
A: Step Up helps Minneapolis teens and young adults develop important life skills so that they are workforce ready!
Q: If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?
A: We don't have anyone like this on our team, but I would love to swap jobs with an amusement park ride operator—they bring so much joy to riders.
Q: Internal Soundtrack! If your job had a soundtrack, what would the theme song be and why?
A: "9-5" by Dolly Parton
Q: Has your connection to the color orange changed?
A: 💭
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03/20/2026

Meet the Team Profile: Emma

Q: What is your Step Up job title?
A: Youth Services Manager
Q: How long have you been working with Step Up?
A: 3 weeks!
Q: If you had to explain your job to a five-year-old (using only emojis, what would you use)?
A: 🧠🧡💻🧚‍♀️
Q: Why do you think Step Up is important for Minneapolis? (provide your answer in a haiku form)
A: Support the success of youth, Create a future bright ahead, New worlds in their hands.
Q: If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?
A: Maryan. I love design projects! 🎨
Q: Internal Soundtrack! If your job had a soundtrack, what would the theme song be and why?
A: The entire Lord of the Rings soundtrack: epic, inspiring, and full of energy. When I'm locked into a project, it's like a quest across Middle-earth.
Q: Has your connection to the color orange changed?
A: I intentionally selected the office space NOT painted orange. So, no. 🧡😆
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03/18/2026

Meet the Team Profile: Emily!

Q: What is your Step Up job title?
A: Step Up Foundations Coordinator
Q: How long have you been working with Step Up?
A: two weeks
Q: If you had to explain your job to a five-year-old (using only emojis, what would you use)?
A: 📣🤝 📝📈🗂️ 👥🎉
Q: Why do you think Step Up is important for Minneapolis? (provide your answer in a haiku form)
A: to be young and think - could I do more with summer? - yes, a Step Up intern
Q: If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and why?
A: I would swap with one of our young people and see what their awesome internship looks like.
Q: Internal Soundtrack! If your job had a soundtrack, what would the theme song be and why?
A: Yo-Yo Ma, Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude it's about new beginnings and incredible persistence.
Q: Has your connection to the color orange changed?
A: Slightly, yes. For the better!
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03/18/2026

Hundreds of Minneapolis youth are ready for Step Up Pro summer internships — and we need 50 more employers to help make it happen.
Host an intern, bring new perspectives to your team, and invest in local talent.
Learn more: https://www.achievetwincities.org/become-stepup-employer

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Step Up is more than an internship program — it's where youth ambition meets employer opportunity!

01/05/2026

🚀 Applications are OPEN! Minneapolis youth ages 14–21 can now apply for paid internships through Step Up. Apply today!

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01/05/2026

Tomorrow’s the day! Step Up applications open Jan 5. Paid internships for Minneapolis youth—get ready to apply! is a program of in partnership with and

01/04/2026

Applications open in 2 days! Step Up helps teens gain real-world experience and earn money. Don’t miss out! is a program of in partnership with and

01/02/2026

Ready to build skills and level up! Step Up connects Minneapolis youth to paid internships in 15+ career fields. Apply Jan 5! is a program of in partnership with and

11/06/2025

📽️ | Behind the Scenes at Anew Dimension Child Care 💛

This summer, we caught up with Step Up intern Maribelle during her internship at Anew Dimension Child Care, one of our 85 amazing employer partners. In her interview, Maribelle shared her favorite part of the day: the sweet chorus of little voices greeting her when she arrives and saying goodbye when she leaves, their joy made every shift special.

We love seeing Step Up interns like Maribelle build confidence, skills, and meaningful connections in their summer jobs. ✨

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11/04/2025

🌟 Step Up Summer 2025 Recap 🌟

This summer, 1,385 Minneapolis youth gained real-world experience through paid internships with Step Up! Before starting, 1,874 young people completed online training to prepare for the workplace. Even those who didn’t get placed still built skills and earned a stipend.

Together, Step Up interns earned over $2.1 million while working with 85 local employers, money that supports their futures and strengthens our city. Step Up is all about helping young people grow, learn, and take the next step toward their careers. 💼✨

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