Cradle to Career: Westside Future Fund’s Intern Program Enters Its Third Year
This month, a new group of young people reported for their first day of work on the historic Westside — work gloves on, ready to dig in. They are the newest members of Westside Future Fund’s Youth Community Impact Internship program, and they arrive at a milestone moment. What began three years ago with five interns grew to ten last year and now numbers twenty-two — a more than fourfold increase that speaks both to the appetite for opportunity among Westside youth and to Westside Future Fund’s deepening commitment to investing in the people who call this community home.
More Than a Summer Job
The intern program is built on a simple conviction at the heart of Westside Future Fund’s mission: real restoration must include the people who live here — and especially the young people who will inherit the neighborhoods being rebuilt. Open to residents ages 14 to 20, the program keeps young people engaged, employed, and learning marketable skills close to home.
Interns work side by side with Westside Future Fund and Integrity Home Solutions, one of the Fund’s key community partners, gaining real-world experience as they beautify neighborhoods, prepare and distribute resources for families in need, and help volunteer events run smoothly. Along the way, they develop the kind of skills — leadership, communication, teamwork, and professionalism — that carry far beyond the Westside.
It is cradle-to-career in practice. A young person can join at 11, grow up inside the program, and one day walk out the door toward college or a career, having spent their formative years giving back to the community that helped raise them.
A Program That Grows Its Own Leaders
The numbers tell part of the story. The deeper story is in the interns who keep coming back — returning summer after summer, taking on more responsibility, and becoming the steady hands that newer interns and first-time volunteers look to for guidance. As the cohort has more than quadrupled, so has the program’s ability to develop homegrown leadership from within the very neighborhoods it serves.
Their efforts touch nearly every Westside Future Fund Volunteer Corps activation, from the annual Ride for the Westside to community wellness projects and seasonal resource drives. Acting as both leaders and hardworking contributors, these young people are not simply supporting the mission — they are carrying it forward.
Meet the Graduates: Jonathan, Ryan, Kenzavious & Quinyanna
This year, the program celebrates a milestone of its own — a group of interns who are graduating and heading off to college this fall. Their journeys are a powerful illustration of what the program is designed to do: take young people from their first cleanup to their first day on campus, stronger and more confident for the experience.
Jonathan first connected with Westside Future Fund through Integrity Home Solutions and has been part of the work for four years. Much of that work has taken place in his own neighborhood — something he says changed the way he sees his community.
“Because much of our work takes place in my own neighborhood, I have developed a more hopeful outlook on what is possible. I now look around and believe in better things for my community and its future,” said Jonathan.
Jonathan points to the annual Christmas gift-wrapping event as his favorite — “the energy is unmatched, and the atmosphere is always so warm and welcoming” — and credits the people alongside him for much of his growth. “I have grown into a stronger leader and a more confident person,” he says. “The program has truly shaped me because of the extraordinary people I have been blessed to work alongside.” As he looks ahead, he plans to keep serving his community while pursuing opportunities in engineering and leadership at Boston University.
Ryan, who has volunteered with Westside Future Fund since she was young, takes a similar sense of purpose with her to college this fall.
“Volunteering with Westside Future Fund has allowed me to meet new people of all different backgrounds and perspectives. It can be a lot of hard work, but it’s for a good cause — and if you are able to help someone, then you should do it,” said Ryan. This fall, she’ll head on to North Carolina A&T.
Kenzavious came to the program with a specific goal: to dive deeper into HVAC and maintenance. A friend recommended the internship, and it has become a hands-on education in both trade and teamwork.
“My favorite part is that I learn something new every day,” he says. “Whether it’s a new repair, a new skill, or a better way to work with people, every day teaches me something.”
For Kenzavious, the meaning of the work came into focus in a single moment. “One moment that really stuck with me was when we got someone’s air conditioner working again,” he recalls. “Seeing the smile on their face and knowing we made a difference for them reminded me how important this work is.” It’s a lesson he carries beyond the job site — that there’s still work to be done in this community, and that real change happens when people come together and are willing to help one another.
The program, he says, “helped shape me into the man I am today,” giving him skills, confidence, and experience he’ll carry forward. This fall, Kenzavious will join the Army National Guard, and in the spring he’ll head to Albany State University to keep working toward his goals. His advice for anyone considering the program reflects how far he’s come: be ready to learn, stay open to new experiences, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. “Everyone starts somewhere,” he says, “and asking questions is one of the best ways to grow.”
Now in her second year, Quinyanna represents the continuity that makes the program work. She found her way to Westside Future Fund through a cousin already involved, and quickly discovered what keeps so many interns coming back: the chance to help others while seeing the difference firsthand.
“My time on the Westside has shown me that a strong community is built when people come together to support one another. It has helped me understand the importance of service, leadership, and being involved in creating positive change,” said Quinyanna.
She credits the program with sharpening her leadership, communication, teamwork, and professional skills — the foundation she’s carrying into her next chapter. This year, Quinyanna is headed to Georgia State University, where she plans to study nursing with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. “My goal is to work with children,” she says, “helping them receive the care and support they need.” Her advice to anyone considering the intern program is simple: don’t hesitate.
Building the Next Generation
From five interns to twenty-two, the growth of Westside Future Fund’s intern program is a measure of trust earned, leaders developed, and futures launched. Together with Integrity Home Solutions, Westside Future Fund is equipping young people with the tools, the experiences, and the encouragement to succeed, then watching them carry that momentum into engineering programs, nursing schools, and careers of their own.
As a new cohort begins its first week of work, the interns who came before them are proof of what’s possible. They embody the spirit of Westside Future Fund: to uplift, support, and inspire — and they stand as a reminder that the most lasting transformation of the historic Westside is the one being built, year after year, from within.
