Prior to starting the internship, each Eureka! intern participates in job skills workshops covering professionalism, business etiquette, written, verbal and non-verbal communication and time management.  

In addition, interns are exposed to various sessions throughout the school year focused on career readiness. Many interns will have basic exposure to Microsoft Office programs and PC or Mac computers. For internships that require a more skilled intern, we’ll select a participant who has the ability to learn the skills quickly. 

Interns can shadow staff, complete projects, attend meetings and engage in other meaningful activities. Work can include both face-to-face and asynchronous tasks. Sponsors are not expected to provide 20 hours of face-to-face time with interns. 

Internship sponsors coordinate an internship placement at their place of business. It is important for sponsors to model appropriate behavior and provide support and guidance in the professional arena. Because interns are learning professionalism and other skills, compassion and patience with young people are also necessary traits of an internship sponsor. 

Sponsors receive an orientation, weekly visits from YWCA staff and ongoing support throughout the internship. 

Interns and their parents sign liability, medical and media releases in order to participate in the program. These releases exempt internship sponsor sites from liability. The internship sponsor site and YWCA Minneapolis Girls Inc. sign a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the agreement between both organizations. 

The tax-deductible donation to YWCA Minneapolis Girls Inc. supports the Eureka! Internship Program by covering intern stipends and other program costs. Upon completion of their internship, interns receive a stipend from YWCA Minneapolis Girls Inc. to honor their hard work and dedication over the summer. By receiving the stipend from Girls Inc., interns are not paid by their internship sites and are therefore considered volunteers, thus eliminating the need to be enrolled through Human Resources. The tax-deductible donation also supports program costs to prepare interns and sponsor sites prior to and during the internship. This includes an orientation and ongoing support for sponsor sites, a one-week job readiness boot camp for interns prior to the internship and weekly professional development support and supervision for interns throughout their internship.

Interns and their parents sign liability, medical and media releases in order to participate in the program. These releases exempt internship sponsor sites from liability. The internship sponsor site and YWCA Minneapolis Girls Inc. sign a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the agreement between both organizations.